Ex-AFL boss Gillon McLachlan poised for top Racing Victoria gig with Simon Lethlean

Ex-AFL boss Gil McLachlan is looking like a sure thing for a top Racing Victoria gig, with rumours swirling his mate Simon Lethlean is joining him in the saddle.

Former AFL boss Gil McLachlan is looking like a sure thing for a top Racing Victoria gig — but will his mate Simon Lethlean join him in the saddle? Picture: Alex Coppel.

While ex-AFL boss Gil McLachlan is odds-on for the chairman’s job at Racing Victoria, whispers are mounting Simon Lethlean, his bestie in the footy boys’ club might saddle up with him.

Lethlean is out of a job after being surprisingly flicked as St Kilda Football Club CEO and the odds of him joining the racing ranks are shortening.

While McLachlan, the former AFL CEO, is yet to officially show his hand about taking over as Racing Victoria chairman, it has now got to the point where it would be “a shock if he didn’t do it.”

The ghost of Gil still looms strong with the former AFL honcho at a recent Marvel Stadium shindig on Wednesday to celebrate the redevelopments, with a special VIP concert to see Pink (random fact; the pop star has been renting a home on Haverbrack Ave in Malvern while here with her family.)

Could ex-St Kilda chief executive Simon Lethlean join Racing Victoria? Picture: David Crosling

Premier Daniel Andrews has been sniffing around for the Blackstone Group gig. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Word is Gil is shoring up a paying gig before he signs to RV, causing some consternation at the delay given the gig has been held open for around eight months.

His connections with Crown have long been rumoured with the latest whispers he is being sounded out for a cushy gig with Blackstone Group, the new owners of the casino.

He may have some competition though, we hear none other than former Premier Dan Andrews has also been sniffing for a gig there.

But back to the Lethlean situation, which adds to the intrigue given the pair have been good mates for a long time.

They worked together at the AFL before McLachlan actually had to sack ‘ol mate after a sex scandal in 2017.

While getting your best mate in as your sidekick makes sense, given RV is a mess and needs a major shake-up, there are concerns that a “non-racing” person in the critical CEO role is a risk.

Outsiders have previously failed in the job, which is why the Lethlean development has raised some eyebrows.