AFL issues redundancies nationwide as clubs begin to cut assistant coaches
A significant restructure of the AFL executive will be included in cost-cutting measures that will result in mass redundancies across Australia.
A significant restructure of the AFL executive will be included in cost-cutting measures that will result in mass redundancies across Australia.
About 20 per cent of AFL employees were informed on Monday they would lose their jobs after months of uncertainty as the AFL confronts a $400m loss this year.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, who pledged to forego at least half his salary this season, confirmed the cuts extended to the executive team, which was trimmed from 11 to eight.
The measures will extend to the competition’s 18 clubs, with high-quality assistant coaches being informed they will lose their jobs from next season due to a cut to football department spending.
Former Bomber and Docker Dean Solomon, who was an interim coach on the Gold Coast after Rodney Eade was sacked in 2017, will finish as assistant coach at the Suns this season.
Fremantle assistants Anthony Rock and Michael Prior, along with strength and conditioning coach Jason Weber, have also lost their jobs.
They were informed prior to the Dockers’ departure for Cairns for the latter stages of this season after their clash against the Giants in Perth on Saturday night.
Senior coach Justin Longmuir will handle the line duties of Rock and Prior for the rest of the season.
McLachlan, who addressed all staff on a teleconference on Monday, said it was another testing day for the competition in a brutal year.
“For our industry and game to emerge stronger from this ongoing COVID-19 challenge and the increased uncertainty we face over coming years, we need to significantly change our business model, not only for the AFL, but the wider football community,” he said.
“We have very clear priorities that we need to focus on, and I am confident that we have made the right decision around the structure needed to deliver on those key priorities.
“We know that everyone in football is hurting and there are hard decisions being made, but we simply cannot shift the burden to our members, supporters or the 1.7 million people who participate in our game, because every family is facing the impact of this pandemic.”
The United Services Union, which represents many AFL employees, was critical of a process where a percentage of those who will be made redundant will go through a three-week process, including an interview, to see whether they hold their jobs or are redundant from November 1.
Union organiser Troy Dunne described the league’s treatment of loyal employees as “nothing short of appalling”.
“It is shocking that Mr McLachlan thought it was appropriate to use a video call from his car to tell staff that hundreds of jobs will be gone in a matter of weeks and more than half of them will need to apply for positions in a new structure that hasn’t even been revealed yet,” Dunne said.
Dozens of those made redundant on Monday had been stood down when the competition was suspended in March.
A skeleton staff returned when the league resumed in June and have been handling the demands of an extraordinary season, which included the abandonment of Victoria by all Melbourne-based clubs and Geelong.
Key departures from headquarters include Darren Birch, who had been the head of AFL Media.
Ray Gunston, who had been in charge of the Marvel Stadium redevelopment, will move to a consulting role. Patrick Keane will continue with his role assisting McLachlan, but will no longer be part of the executive.
Ken Wood, a longstanding employee who was in charge of salary cap duties at the AFL, is among those to depart.
Travis Auld, who has been tasked with handling the demands of the AFL fixture this year along with his broadcast and club duties, will be tasked with rebuilding the financial strength of the league and will also take over the Marvel Stadium redevelopment.
Former North Melbourne coach Brad Scott, who had joined the league in a football operations role, will now head AFL Victoria, while Trisha Squires will move from the Tasmanian chief role to be in charge in Queensland.
“The reality is that we will lose talented, committed, passionate football people from our organisation and that is incredibly difficult, but this pandemic has forced every business, every family and every individual to take steps that no one had planned,” McLachlan said.
“The necessity of operating differently during the pandemic, along with experiencing a reduction in revenue, has forced us to explore and understand what we can do differently and what we are capable of, and also what we need to continue to achieve to keep the industry strong.
“The challenge is far from over and we will continue to be flexible in how we respond, but it was important to take decisive action now to re-set our focus, our model of operating and our expectations.”
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