Grey Morris: Michael Solomon’s eventful reign as AFLNT chief executive comes to an end

THE end of the Michael Solomon era at AFLNT headquarters creates more questions than answers, writes GREY MORRIS

AFLNT boss Michael Solomon has announced he will resign as chief executive.

ANALYSIS

THE end of the Michael Solomon era at AFLNT headquarters creates more questions than answers.

Solomon’s reign as the caretaker of the Territory game officially closes on Saturday, March 17, the date of the NTFL Grand Final.

The biggest day in the 2017-18 season coinciding with the biggest departure from the administration lounge at Marrara’s Michael Long Centre, it seems the script writers got it right.

While a lot of Solomon’s achievements have been big - a 38 per cent increase in female participation, the VFLW licence, 28,000 people now participating in the game outside the major NT centres, securing funding for infrastructure upgrades, Federal Government funding for remote development, a live grand final telecast and establishing a three-year strategic plan - a lot of people will remember his time in charge as one of radical and unpopular change under the direction of league financiers the AFL.

Fly-in, fly-out player restrictions, bizarre residential qualifications for those not classed as fly-in players, a stormy relationship with the clubs, threats of big fines if they publicly criticise the league and an underdeveloped umpiring fraternity leave a lot of questions.

Then there was the reported inappropriate relationship with an Adelaide Crows AFLW player, the decline of the Tiwi Bombers on and off the field and suggestions Solomon had lost the support of some board members.

The decision to postpone last year’s St Mary’s-Wanderers second semi-final on the word of staff from the Bureau of Meteorology and reschedule it four days later left another sour taste in the mouth.

Joel Bowden has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Michael Solomon as AFLNT chief executive.

There was too much “we’ll fine you for that’’ when club officials spoke to the media on their dissatisfaction at the way the league was being run or while attempting to get their heads around the wording on new rules surrounding residency status and fly-in players.

So who will replace Solomon at the top of the AFLNT tree and become the ninth chief executive-general manager since the league moved its headquarters to Marrara in 1991?

The league’s chief operating officer Stuart Totham has the frontrunning position, having gained the respect of the Territory football community, government and corporate sectors and the industry itself.

Former operations manager Joel Bowden and board member Shaun Hardy have also been mentioned as suitable candidates.