Gillon McLachlan believes he will work seamlessly with newly appointed AFL boss Andrew Dillon

After a 12 month process, the AFL finally found a replacement for Gillon McLachlan. So how did the league settle on Andrew Dillon? Check out the full timeline of events here.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says he will work “seamlessly” with CEO-elect Andrew Dillon on a transition period that involves resolving the Hawthorn saga as he raised the possibility of an exit from the AFL earlier than October 2.

AFL legal counsel and football boss Dillon was on Monday announced as the league’s new boss after 23 years rising through the ranks of AFL House.

While the AFL commission decided last weekend that Dillon was the best candidate after an exhaustive 12-month search, the possibility of McLachlan remaining as boss was still a live consideration until late last week.

Dillon, 52, three years older than McLachlan, was finally informed late last week that he would be the league’s new chief executive before discussions on the transition took place in recent days.

AFL chairman Richard Goyder, newly appointed CEO Andrew Dillon and Gillon McLachlan. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

McLachlan told the Herald Sun on Monday that Dillon, a lifelong Richmond supporter, was the “right person to take over”, adamant the pair’s strong relationship would mean they could successfully navigate any challenges across the next five months.

It means McLachlan will eventually remain in the job for 538 days despite last April’s announcement that he would depart as AFL chief executive.

He raised the possibility that he might depart earlier than October 2 if the league was able to resolve the Hawthorn saga — which could be headed for mediation — and clinch a pay deal with the AFL.

McLachlan was to head overseas to Europe for several months in the northern summer but will now cut that trip short and instead be away for two or three weeks.

He said Dillon was keen for him to be part of the transition period and he was happy to help.

“I am thrilled for Andrew. It’s very clear in my mind he is the right person to take over. It’s a huge job and he will have to make the most of it. There will be change and I will be there to support him in that transition like good businesses do,” McLachlan said.

“We will work well together and he will take over at the very latest on October 2 and it will work seamlessly. I am very confident about that.

“I was prepared to go whenever. The commission has asked me and frankly Andrew has asked me to have a transition period. If you look around it’s pretty normal in most businesses and he needs to map out his vision and the team he wants to take him forward. There are some big things on foot that need to be closed out and we will work together to do that. We will keep up the momentum. I am pleased to help and he will do a good job.”

Dillon said on Monday he and McLachlan would work together on those twin priorities, with AFL executive Travis Auld leading the league’s work on the pay talks.

Andrew Dillon said he has no issues with the transition period. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Gill and I have worked together very closely for 23 years. We have got no issues about how it’s going to work. The biggest concern over the next five months particularly for my wife is how Gill and I are going to work on the break-up. It happens in corporate Australia all the time, transition periods, and with the professional relationship we have got there will be no concerns.”

The AFL has elevated executive Laura Kane to its interim executive football boss, with Stephen Meade the new legal counsel.

While Dillon has an unimpeachable football resume that includes playing, coaching, running an Auskick clinic and coaching his three daughters, there will be perceptions another internal hire for the AFL means it is not breaking the “Boys Club’ reputation.

But Dillon fiercely pushed back against that narrative on Monday.

“I think you only have to look at the calibre of our executive team, and the calibre of my football integrity and legal team to say that there’s no boys club here. We’ve got a talented diverse workforce and everyone’s opinions are listened to and acted on. The more diverse the talent, the better the decisions you get. So I don’t buy that one bit.”