Richard Goyder set to be next AFL Commission chairman, replacing Mike Fitzpatrick

BUSINESSMAN Richard Goyder will be the next AFL Commission chairman after clearing the last impediment to his elevation.

Richard Goyder is set to become the AFL’s next Commission chairman.

BUSINESSMAN Richard Goyder will be the next AFL Commission chairman after clearing the last impediment to his elevation.

Wesfarmers managing director Goyder announced on Tuesday he would in November step down from that business after 12 years in charge.

AFL commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, set to notch a decade in that role next month, has made it known privately this is his final season.

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He has been on the AFL Commission since 2003 and is keen to travel and lessen his workload after nearly 35 successful years in business.

Goyder has been seen for some time as the natural successor to Fitzpatrick, but his heavy workload was the single challenge to assuming the position.

Geelong president Colin Carter, a former AFL Commissioner as well as recent Wesfarmers board member, said Goyder would be an outstanding Commission boss.

Wesfarmers CEO Richard Goyder. Picture: Colin Murty

AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

A Fremantle board member from 2006-2011, he was elevated to the AFL Commission in 2011 while also running Wesfarmers.

He rose to business success after leaving the family wheat and sheep farm southeast of Perth, studied commerce and joined Wesfarmers in 1993.

The Wesfarmers empire owns Coles, Bunnings, Target, Kmart and Officeworks, toppling BHP Billiton as Australia’s biggest company in 2016.

The only query is the pace of change — whether Fitzpatrick moves on during the season or when Goyder steps down from Wesfarmers in November.

Goyder, 57, deflected questions about taking over the AFL chair, noting he already served as a commissioner.

“I look forward to continuing in that role,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to the next phase of our life where we can be productive, do a lot of things, but perhaps don’t have the overbearing at time responsibilities of being a CEO.”

Carter told the Herald Sun: “I have no idea what the Commission will do but Richard is not only a terrific person, he has a very high standard of integrity and he is smart and a good listener.

“He would have to be a strong candidate and I am sure he would make a great chairman.

“He was the CEO for 10 of my 12 years at Wesfarmers and I have a pretty good understanding of him.

“He was on the Fremantle board, one of his sons played in the WAFL and he has got a very good feel for footy at multiple levels.”

The AFL said last night it had no comment to make on any Commission matters.

Former Carlton captain Fitzpatrick was elevated to the head of the AFL Commission after four years on the board, replacing Ron Evans at the 2007 AFL annual general meeting.

Retiring AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

But while Fitzpatrick has been at the helm during a period of unprecedented growth and expansion to 18 teams there have also been significant challenges.

The AFL has endured four years of turmoil during the Essendon supplements saga, with Fitzpatrick directly involved in brokering a contentious settlement to James Hird.

More recently he was accused of an expletive-laden tirade against Sydney chairman Richard Colless after Sydney’s recruitment of Lance Franklin.

Colless accused Fitzpatrick of exploiting the league’s cost of living allowance, which was subsequently withdrawn.

Fitzpatrick is ready to step down given his AFL commitments barely let up given a stream of events and commitments.

He was urged to return from London for the inaugural AFLW game, flew to Houston for the Superbowl the next day, then returned to Melbourne for an AFL Hall of Fame selection meeting only days later.