AFL searches for replacement for former football operations manager Simon Lethlean

THE AFL will be forced to poach a senior football figure from one of its 18 clubs this year after the sex scandal that has rocked AFL House.

New Lions Football manager David Noble.

THE AFL will be forced to poach a senior football figure from one of its 18 clubs this year after the sex scandal that has rocked AFL House.

The league will appoint its third head of football since March after father-of-four Simon Lethlean resigned over an affair with a junior AFL staffer.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan admitted today the league did not have a suitable internal candidate to replace Lethlean.

The Herald Sun understands the AFL would like to find a full-time replacement before the end of the season.

MARK ROBINSON: LOSING HIS JOB LEAST OF LETHLEAN’S PROBLEMS

McLachlan said he had no “visibility” of Lethlean’s affair when he promoted him to replace Gold Coast-bound Mark Evans in March.

AFL club figures the league would consider include Geelong’s Steve Hocking, Greater Western Sydney footy boss Wayne Campbell and Brisbane’s David Noble.

St Kilda’s Ameet Bains and Hawthorn list manager Graham Wright are also seen as rising stars, with Bains recently considered for the Hawks’ CEO role.

Many of those club staff have long-term contracts which contain clauses releasing them only upon a promotion further up the AFL chain.

Under-pressure Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert would be a left-field candidate given his friendship with McLachlan.

Lethlean and commercial operation manager Richard Simkiss, who also resigned, were both promoted by McLachlan in March.

Brisbane football manager David Noble is a candidate for the vacancy at AFL House.

McLachlan said the AFL would quickly advertise the role, which will be temporarily filled by AFL legal boss Andrew Dillon.

Clubs fear the league might steal one of their key executives before the end of the season, causing significant disruption.

In the past two years the AFL has poached Travis Auld from a Gold Coast team still battling for relevance and Brisbane Lions list manager Peter Schwab to oversee the league’s umpires.

Clubs will be unimpressed if they lose an elite football boss — potentially during the season — after an own goal by the AFL.

“We’ll work at the right speed to get the right outcome,’’ McLachlan said.

“When I had discussions with Mark (Evans) about his appetite for the Gold Coast role, I knew I had an internal replacement,’’ he said.

“Right now I am really confident in our team, but I would be looking outside and I don’t think there will be an internal candidate.

“I am just being frank. We will get the best possible candidate. There are great candidates at clubs, some very strong candidates.”

The scandal follows the AFL accepting the resignation of diversity manager Ali Fahour last week after his savage punch during a suburban football game.

McLachlan said this had been perhaps the toughest 24 hours of his time as AFL boss.

But he said the AFL’s swift response to uphold its standards should be a message it was serious about respect and responsibility at all levels.

Asked about the damage to the AFL’s brand, he said: “I think our image is always a work in progress.

“People look at an organisation that takes accountability for its mistakes,” he said.

“Everyone looks at themselves and knows people make mistakes.

“What defines our organisation is how we respond rather than the issues themselves.”

AFL diversity manager Ali Fahours resigned last week.

BOUNCED

Three high-flyers at AGL House have departed inside 10 days

SIMON LETHLEAN

- Lawyer and one-time Hawthorn draftee (spent two years on the list without playing a senior game)

- Joined AFL in 2004 as manager, legal and business affairs

- In 2008 took on additional roles of scheduling and broadcasting

- Promoted to AFL executive in 2011. Held role as manager, broadcasting, scheduling and major projects; and deputy general counsel

- In mid-2015 appointed general manager, game and market development

- In March this year appointed AFL football operations manager, succeeding Mark Evans

- AFL announced his resignation today for an “inappropriate relationship” with a younger woman who works in the AFL industry

RICHARD SIMKISS

- AFL general manager, commercial, for past decade

- Promoted to AFL executive in March this year

- AFL announced his resignation on Friday for an “inappropriate relationship” with a younger woman who works in the AFL industry

ALI FAHOUR

- AFL diversity manager who resigned last week after receiving a 14-match suspension from the Northern Football League for punching an opponent.

- Banned from playing football for life due to accumulation of suspensions

- Charged on summons by Victorian police on July 7 with recklessly causing injury, intentionally causing injury and unlawful assault. Due in court on October 11