Rita Panahi: Rotten AFL culture exposed by workplace affairs
IF the AFL is genuinely concerned about the treatment of women in the workplace, why did it take a Herald Sun report for the league to act, asks Rita Panahi.
Rita Panahi
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- Two AFL execs forced out over affairs
- Details of AFL staffers’ affair leaked
- OPINION: More Rita Panahi
THE AFL’s ugly underbelly and deep seated cultural issues have again been exposed.
A little over a week after diversity manager Ali Fahour resigned after punching an opponent, AFL executives Simon Lethlean and Richard Simkiss were forced to resign over claims of misconduct after the Herald Sun reported one inappropriate relationship and inquired about others.
If the AFL is genuinely concerned about the treatment of women in the workplace then why did it take a Herald Sun report for the league to act?
During this afternoon’s press conference league CEO Gillon McLachlan praised Lethlean and Simkiss for “owning the decision” and “taking responsibility for their actions” but the truth is that neither the executives nor the AFL did anything until the media forced their hand.
HOW TWO AWAY GAMES RUINED AFL CHIEFS:
SIMON LETHLEAN’S FINALS FROLICS STUN COLLEAGUES
RICHARD SIMKISS GOSSIP TRICKLE TURNS INTO FLOOD
An AFL insider told the Herald Sun last week: “Everyone in the AFL knew about the affair as she confided in work colleagues about it. They were not hiding it.”
Are we expected to believe that no one in a position of power at AFL House was aware of these relationships involving powerful male executives and younger, female underlings until the Herald Sun report and subsequent inquiries?
McLachlan said that he had not spoken to the women involved.
“The only information I have is from the two men who have taken accountability for their actions,” he said.
“Both men have been honest and forthright to me and did not want the AFL to be affected by their actions.
“We are committed to the process of change. It is being seen and felt across our industry.”
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HOW THE HERALD SUN BROKE THE STORY
July 9: AFL SENIOR MANAGER HAD AFFAIR WITH YOUNG EMPLOYEE
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Asked about Lethlean’s recent promotion to football operations manager, McLachlan said: “I had no visibility of these actions when Simon was promoted.”
In the end the AFL took the only course of action possible and parted ways with Lethlean and Simkiss but the image obsessed competition again finds itself at the centre of a damaging scandal.
The AFL has long seen itself as far more than the country’s leading football league; it is heavily invested in its role as a champion of progressive values.
It is easy to grandstand about ‘respect and responsibility’ but it takes far more than themed rounds celebrating women to change the entrenched boys’ club culture in the football industry.
— Rita Panahi is a Herald Sun columnist
Email rita.panahi@news.com.au or follow her on Twitter@RitaPanahi.
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