AFL boss Andrew Dillon on new football roles, draft rules and more of the league’s big issues

AFL boss Andrew Dillon has opened up on the changes at AFL House as a list of candidates for football’s two new key roles is revealed. Plus, more on the big issues around umpires and TV.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon says he has already been overwhelmed by interest in his two new key football roles as he denied Laura Kane’s gender played a role in criticism of her recent performance.

Dillon will in coming weeks hire a new chief operating officer and a football performance boss after aggressively recasting the AFL’s football team on Thursday.

Dillon denied the AFL was in “crisis” in a series of media interviews on Friday morning after changes that include splitting the football role into two portfolios.

And he confirmed to the Herald Sun the league could yet make alterations to the bidding system around academies and father-sons ahead of November’s draft as part of the league’s equalisation measures.

Andrew Dillon with Laura Kane. Picture: Getty Images

Dillon also defended the league’s move to broker a TV deal with no free-to-air football on Saturday, saying the league had bowed to popular demand by allowing Seven to broadcast Thursday night football every round.

The AFL will now move to hire a second-in-charge, with Fremantle’s Simon Garlick, Sydney’s Tom Harley and Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains the three contenders.

The league wants to hire a football heavyweight for the new football performance role in coming weeks.

The leading contenders would likely be Port Adelaide’s Chris Davies, Geelong’s rising star Andrew Mackie, GWS football boss Jason McCartney, Lions head of football Danny Daly and Richmond list boss Blair Hartley.

Dillon told this masthead he was excited by those who had put their names forward for both roles, with a potential starting date to be dictated by their current contracts.

“I think we have got two really significant roles for the industry in market at the moment,” he said.

“I have received a lot of interest in them in the 24 hours since so hopefully we will make some considered appointments there but we will have a really strong field.”

“What is important for me is that it is the right structure not just for now, but into the future.

“The team in here understands it and they are all behind it. (The changes have been) well received but we will be judged by our actions and not our words.”

Dillon has made some big calls in recent days. Picture: Michael Klein

Amid criticism of the AFL’s northern academies by St Kilda president Andrew Bassat, Dillon would not rule out changes in addition to a recent revamp of the draft points index which will mean fairer value paid for NGA and father-sons.

“We are looking at the Tasmanian list rules. They will be in place for the end of this year,” he said.

“Part of that is you can trade two years in advance which will affect the Tasmanian list rules. There may be some learnings from the establishment of them that may have impacts.

“I don’t want to speculate unnecessarily but equalisation is the absolute cornerstone of our competition and it’s a job that is never finished.”

Kane will move into a new role with responsibility for mental health and concussion and will remain on the AFL executive.

Clubs were at times dissatisfied with her performance but Dillon said it was not a gender concern for the 34-year-old lawyer.

“I don’t think so. Laura has come through a club. She was at North Melbourne for seven years and had incredible relationships with the football departments. In her role she will still be interacting with coaches and heads of football and the like every day.

“I don’t think they did (have issues with her being female). There are always issues with the AFL with 18 clubs. It’s a hyper-competitive competition and there has always been tension with the clubs but it’s not a gender thing.

“Laura has broken down a lot of barriers, she is an incredible administrator and she will continue to be incredibly successful and she will be a great help for me and the team going forward.”

Increasing the number of Indigenous players in the AFL is an important concern for the league. Picture: Getty Images

AFL CHIEF EXECUTIVE ANDREW DILLON ON:

NEW PATHWAYS FOR INDIGENOUS PLAYERS

“One of the changes yesterday is the talent department moving into game development. So we have got an uninterrupted pathway for boys and girls from five to 18, and then next bit will be an increased focus and investment for the Boomerangs and Woomeras which is the Under-15 representative teams for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys and girls and the scholarships that flow out of that for them in their 16th, 17th and 18th years. Having that in the game development department allows for seamless transition into that as well.”

THE INTEGRITY TEAM AND PUNISHMENTS BEING MOVED FROM LEGAL COUNSEL STEPHEN MEADE TO A NEW 2IC

“The thing with the sanctions and inconsistencies, it’s a debate that has been had since day dot and I wouldn’t be sheeting it home to any one individual because it’s never been any one individual making that decision.”

INCREASES IN THE SOFT CAP

“That is discussion going on and ultimately it’s a decision for the commission but we have been consulting with clubs and also the coaches as well.”

The umpires have been a hot topic of discussion. Picture: Getty Images

A FULL TIME BASE FOR UMPIRES

“We have got a very good facility at the moment but getting an elite facility for the umpires is a very high priority for us.”

IS THE AFL IN CRISIS?

“No, we are not but the AFL competition is an issues-rich environment and we know that. After round 11 we have record crowds, we have viewership at its highest levels, participation is on track to be the highest ever and we have record club memberships. Overall the game is tracking well.“

THE BALANCE OF NO FREE TO AIR FOOTY ON SATURDAYS

“We have got as much footy on free to air as there has ever been. Three games a week and some extra blockbusters. The fans were asking for more games on Thursday nights and we see it with ratings up 30 per cent. The games had to come from somewhere. There are more people watching AFL on TV than ever before so we are really happy with that.”