Mark Robinson: Industry tattle suggests Jeff Browne is shaping to replace Richard Goyder as AFL Commission chairman
The shock announcement this week that Collingwood president Jeff Browne had already set up a succession plan had the industry talking. MARK ROBINSON reveals just what is being said.
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The shock announcement this week that Collingwood president Jeff Browne had set up a succession plan after just three years in the job presented a raft of curiosity.
The tattle among industry figures is that Browne is shaping to be the replacement for Richard Goyder as AFL Commission chairman, joining counterparts Craig Drummond (Geelong) and David Koch (Port Adelaide), in the race for head office.
The prevailing view is the next chairman would be a person with club experience, which is the preferred thinking at club level, after Goyder revealed earlier this year that he would not be running for re-election.
Eddie McGuire said in June that Koch was “lobbying” for the role, but Browne maintains he’s not. Asked on Thursday if he is considering a Commission push, Browne said: “It hasn’t occurred to me and it’s not part of my plans.”
Off the record, clearly it has occurred to others in the industry who have recently encouraged Browne – who has decades-long involvement in the game – to consider the role.
Whether he makes a play or not, his name will now be among the list of potential candidates.
Certainly, Browne would believe he has the credentials to be the AFL’s top man and, more importantly, would be confident he’d have the support from most of the current club presidents.
A commission push to replace good friend Goyder – they were both board members at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – would give 70-year-old Browne 12 months to get his ducks in a row.
They include anointing Venture capital funds manager Barry Carp – one of the board members who joined the Magpies when Browne took over as president in an overhaul after the Do Better Report – as his successor.
The Do Better reference is important there because Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly is facing accusations of racism and bullying levelled by a former employee and that is one duck that Browne has to square up to before he departs office.
Clearly, he can’t cut and run before that is resolved. The matter is in court and will be defended, but already the accusation has damaged the football club and Kelly.
Like it or not, racism claims stick like a Beau McCreery tackle.
Another duck is completing the formation of the football department for 2025.
Season 2024 was one of forced change at Collingwood, prompted by the sudden departure at the end of 2023 of footy boss Graham Wright for an overseas sabbatical.
Wright’s departure meant Brendon Bolton transferred from assistant coach to footy boss, while Justin Leppitsch – who was strategy, innovation and list management – took on a bigger role in list strategy and recruiting.
Collingwood might disagree, but rival clubs were surprised there was so much significant movement in a program that ultimately delivered them the 2023 premiership.
It’s more tattle, but rival clubs believe there was unrest there, and that Wright was never returning because, in part, his relationship with Kelly was not as strong as it once was.
Like Browne, Wright was only in his role for three years.
For 2025, Browne is determining whether to return Bolton to assistant coach and appoint a new footy boss, or leave Bolton in administration and bring in a new assistant coach.
With former players Hayden Skipworth, Scott Selwood, Jordan Roughead and Neville Jetta on the coaching staff – and concussion retiree Nathan Murphy to join that group – the view is coach Craig McRae would like a senior assistant who has had coaching experience.
Former Suns coach Stuart Dew, currently working part-time at the Brisbane Lions, is one name in the mix, as is former Port Adelaide coach and one-time Collingwood captain Mark Williams. Matthew Knights is another name.
“Right now, I’ve got a couple of things to fix up, (to then) move on knowing we’re in good shape there,” Browne said. “We’ve got record membership, we’re making good money, we’ve got a squad which is still good and still capable of winning the premiership and we’ve got the best coach in the AFL.”
He bristled at suggestions that the drama at Melbourne with Christian Petracca had meant the club had escaped media scrutiny after missing the finals in 2024.
“What do you mean by that?’’ he asked. “I’m happy for anyone to scrutinise what we have done and what we are at Collingwood.’’
A tough draw, a tight competition and injuries to key players all played a role this season, Browne reasoned.
“It’s too easy for people to point to the changes in the football department and claim there was some sort of friction or unrest … there wasn’t,” he said.
“I think we had all our luck in 2023 and we paid for it in 2024 with bad luck.’’
Browne, meanwhile, also allayed fears his departure from Collingwood was a health issue.
Diagnosed with myeloma, a form of blood cancer, at the start of the 2023 September campaign, Browne said he was in remission.
“I had a monthly check-up last Friday and I got all the clear. So I am in remission and they said it’s a deep remission,” he said. “That means I should be cancer-free for up to five years … I pole-vaulted out of there. All my blood tests came back positive – no sign of myeloma.’’
He maintained that he was elected to the Magpies board for three years and would complete his term.
“I’ve loved my time at Collingwood, I’ve loved every minute of it,” Browne said.
“I was elected for three years and I knew I would be there for three years.
“I wanted to help turn the club around and bring success on a number of fronts.”
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