Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley to become AFL chief operating officer
The shake-up at AFL House is set to take its next step, with Andrew Dillon landing his 2IC and likely successor in a former Geelong premiership captain.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sydney chief executive Tom Harley is set to be named as the AFL’s chief operating officer on Thursday, completing the final piece of Andrew Dillon’s administrative shake-up.
This masthead has confirmed Harley’s elevation to the 2IC role, which will likely see him positioned as the long-term successor to Dillon in the future.
It is understood he has narrowly beaten Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains for the role.
Harley’s portfolio of tasks will likely include strategic and growth opportunities, marquee rounds and events, and, importantly, building better relationships with the clubs.
It comes just a week after the AFL appointed Brisbane Lions chief executive Greg Swann as executive general manager of football performance, following the splitting of Laura Kane’s football operations role in two after a few challenging months at league headquarters.
The AFL has been searching for a COO in recent months, with Harley long considered one of the favourites, given his impressive playing and administration experience as well as his intimate knowledge of the northern market challenges.
A Harley-Swann combination will be seen as a huge boost for the AFL - and for Dillon - after a recent series of missteps which included the mishandling of the Lachie Schultz concussion controversy.
Harley is highly regarded at club level - which will become an important part of his brief - having been a respected, dual Geelong premiership captain (2007 and 2009) before turning his hand to football administration as one of the key figures in the Swans’ recent history.
He initially worked in the media, spent time as general manager of AFL NSW/ACT before joining the Swans as general manager of football in 2014, a role he undertook for four seasons.
He then replaced Andrew Ireland as Sydney’s chief executive at the start of 2019.
Harley will become Dillon’s right-hand man at AFL headquarters with a timeframe for his starting date yet to be revealed.
Swann will start his role as the AFL’s executive general manager of football performance on July 21, after finishing with his time with the Lions.
Swann’s duties will include game analysis, match review panel, player movement, umpiring and laws of the game.
Kane will now be executive general manager of football operations, overseeing the AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW competitions.
Originally published as Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley to become AFL chief operating officer
Dons set for 51-year first, McKay still missing for Blues’ trip west
Bailey Smith is back, Harry McKay is still out and the Bombers have somehow found two more debutants to unleash ahead of their clash with the Cats. FULL TEAMS.
Trade intel: $1.8m for Harley? Worpel, Starcevich latest
Whichever Victorian club wins the Harley Reid sweepstakes is going to have to pay a lot — in salary and trade — to drag him out of West Coast. And, that has some reconsidering.