AFL officially announces Andrew Dillon as league’s next boss

The AFL has finally announced its next kingpin after an “embarrassing” talent search that has drawn widespread criticism.

Gillon McLachlan’s successor has been confirmed. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards.

The AFL has announced Andrew Dillon will be the next chief executive of the game — but not just yet.

The announcement came on Monday morning after the decision was rubber stamped during a meeting of club chief executives.

It had been reported in recent days Dillon had been awarded the job after a 12-month search following Gillon McLachlan’s decision last year to step down from the role.

Dillon has worked in Australian football for 20 years and joined the league’s head office in 2000 where he has since been promoted to a position of Executive General Manager of Football Operations.

The league has announced a media conference with Dillon has been scheduled for Monday morning.

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Andrew Dillon, on the left, alongside James Aish of the Dockers and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The announcement comes with a twist with McLachlan to remain in the job through to the end of the 2023 season in October. It follows weeks of speculation senior powerbrokers were pushing for McLachlan to stay on for an extended period of time before giving the job to Dillon.

Dillon said in a statement released by the league he wants Aussie rules football to be the “No. 1 choice” for boys, girls, men and women in Australian sport.

Dillon’s first statement also signalled his intent to grow the sport to a global audience and to make it more accessible for all Australians.

“Football has been a defining part of my life and it is a privilege to be able to lead the industry in ensuring our game remains relevant, accessible and welcoming to all Australians,” Dillon said in a statement.

“It is important that we continue to strengthen every part of our game, from the 18 AFL clubs, who all now have both AFL and AFLW programs, right through to the grassroots and I am looking forward to working with our AFL team, our clubs, our players and the wider industry to ensure our game expands its reach.

“Every touch point in footy should be a positive and memorable one, from attending a match, to a parent signing their child up for Auskick for the first time, a player being drafted, or a community umpire debuting on a Saturday afternoon. Our game connects with so many, and I am driven to ensure we continue to make all these moments unforgettable.

“It is really important that we are a game for everyone, a game that is accessible, affordable and safe and a game where everyone feels welcome.”

Dillon’s promotion has seen a shuffle off the AFL’s executive team with Laura Kane promoted to a role as acting general manager of football, while Stephen Meade has been appointed as the AFL’s general counsel.

It comes after recent criticism of the administration surrounding a decision to conduct an independent search for McLachlan’s replacement with reports a New York based recruitment firm was paid around $1 million to conduct a global search.

After 12 months, the league has handed the job to the man who sits in the office next to McLachlan’s.

Veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson last week slammed the league for the shambolic process which saw several senior figures in the game publicly snubbed after applying for the top job.

Bulldogs president Kylie Watson-Wheeler was at one point identified as a serious contender, while there was also reported to be plenty of support for Richmond CEO Brendon Gale to become the next boss of the AFL.

Gillon McLachlan has not announced his next move. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Wilson said the way the search has carried out “did damage” to Gale’s reputation.

“I’ve never seen such unrest and dissatisfaction among clubs for a number of reasons,” she told 9News last week.

“The dissatisfaction is largely aimed at the chairman, Richard Goyder. I think it (the CEO search) has been embarrassing. It’s been unprofessional to be generous.”

Dillon joined the AFL in 2000 as Legal Counsel and was appointed General Manager - Legal and Business Affairs in July 2004.

At the end of 2011, Dillon was appointed General Manager of National and International Development and General Counsel.

In 2013, he was appointed General Manager, Legal, Integrity and Compliance in addition to General Counsel.

He took on the role of Game Development in March 2017, which saw him involved in community and state football leagues, football facilities and infrastructure, in addition to the relationships with all AFL state bodies.

Dillon acted as Executive General Manager of Football Operations from July 2021 and was formally appointed to that role in addition to his other duties in September that year.