Brendon Gale’s first official Devils meeting gave him an insight into what to expect

The incoming CEO of the Tasmania Devils AFL team has had his first official meeting with club officials in an unlikely location. He will have “a full dance card” on his to-do list early next year.

Richmond AFL club CEO, Brendon Gale, at the Tigers Punt Road Oval headquarters. Stuart McEvoy/The Australian.

Brendan Gale has had his first official meeting with Tasmania Devils officials who say that despite a “full dance card” in 2025 their new CEO will have a soft landing when he hits the ground early next year.

The architect of Richmond’s triple premiership era, Gale, 56, met with Tasmania Football Club officials in Sydney last week, where chairman Grant O’Brien is based.

The 244-game former Richmond ruckman/forward, originally from Burnie, will kick things off in January but officially sink his teeth into his role in February.

Brendon Gale at Punt Rd Oval . Pic: Michael Klein

“We’ve had a session with Brendon to bring him up to date and to allow him to start thinking about it,” O’Brien said.

“But we are keen for him to have a complete break and that’s the plan.

“He will have a soft start in January and we will unleash him in February.”

After 16 years at Punt Road, the former lawyer at commercial firm King Wood Mallesons, and CEO of the AFL Players’ Association from 2005 to 2009, Gale is set to lead Tasmania’s new AFL team.

A NAB AFL Auskick exclusive Tasmania Devils shirt.

Among his initial priorities will be the construction of the Devils’ High Performance Centre, the multi-purpose stadium at Macquarie Point, and appointing the inaugural coach.

“He is excited, we are excited to have him joining us,” O’Brien said.

“Whenever you speak to him you get a sense as to why he’s as well-credentialed as he is.

“He knows the game, he knows people and importantly, he knows Tassie – all the ingredients that have had us excited since we were fortunate enough to get his signature were on display when we met with him.”

O’Brien wants Gale to be “fresh” coming into his new role.

“Our meeting was brief – we don’t want to engage with him fully,” O’Brien said.

“We need to ensure he gets a break from the time he’s had at Richmond and in the system, and comes fully-charged and ready to go in early February.”

Gale’s introduction to the TFC will be gentle.

“Part of the discussion with him was to make sure he doesn’t have too full a dance card when he arrives,” O’Brien said.

“We didn’t get into it too deeply – if we load him up too much his mind is going to be switched onto that.

“It was more to get a sense of what he needs when he gets there so he’s not buried when he arrives, that he’s able to step into the momentum that the club has already created.

“It was a soft touch – not days of strategy and downloading because that would defeat the purpose of wanting him to arrive fresh and ready to go.”

Originally published as Brendon Gale’s first official Devils meeting gave him an insight into what to expect