Richmond president Peggy O’Neal to oversee Commonwealth Games

A trailblazing AFL club boss is set to take up a new role overseeing the delivery of the Victorian Commonwealth Games.

Peggy O'Neal celebrates with Dustin Martin and the Premiership Cup after Richmond defeated the Adelaide Crows in the 2017 AFL Grand Final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Richmond Football Club’s trailblazing president Peggy O’Neal will oversee the delivery of Victoria’s 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Ms O’Neal, who was the first woman to serve as an AFL president and will hang up the boots on a successful 10-year term in December, will be the chair of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.

The role is critical to the success of the major event, and includes monitoring logistics and finances to ensure the competition runs smoothly.

In 2006, the late Ron Walker was chair of the organising committee in Melbourne and credited with helping to ensure those Games were among the best ever.

A new Board has also been announced to support Ms O’Neal and chief executive Jeroen Weimar, and includes experienced sports leader and First Nations advocate Belinda Duarte, and corporate and public sector executive Lisa Gray.

Richmond’s Head of Womens Football Kate Sheahan and AFLW player Sabrina Frederick with Peggy O’Neal. Picture: Ellen Smith

Representatives from the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia also sit on the Board, and include Dame Louise Martin, Katie Sadleir, Ben Houston, and Craig Phillips.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery, Jacinta Allan, said the board members “will give a depth of experience to the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games and provide invaluable leadership to deliver this global event to be hosted across regional Victoria”.

The regional Games in Victoria is the first of its kind, with four hubs established in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland, with athletes’ village and specific sports programs.

It is likely to cost billions of dollars to set up and host, but the government says there should be a return of more than $3 billion to Victoria’s economy as well as thousands of jobs.

Ms O’Neal said helping to ensure a successful Games would be an honour.

“I love sport and what it means for communities across Victoria,” she said.

“I am delighted to be part of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games and to work with the Board, to ensure that the diverse voices in our State are heard as we make decisions throughout the delivery of the Games.”

Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy Shaun Leane said the government was excited to have Ms O’Neal on board and paid tribute to her “significant contribution to the Victorian community through gender equality and developing female leaders in sport”.