After seeing off the threat of the century, AFL boss looks to prosper

The bullish mood of AFL boss Gillon McLachlan for the 2021 season is stark in contrast to the fear he felt a year ago when the future of the league was under threat.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan pictured earlier this week at the funeral of Michael Gudinski.

The bullish mood of AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan ahead of the 2021 season is stark in contrast to the fear he felt a year ago when the future of the league was threatened by coronavirus.

McLachlan is mindful the AFL faces several challenges in 2021 as reigning premiers Richmond prepare to host Carlton in the season opening clash at the MCG on Thursday night.

But the 48-year-old feels confident in the AFL’s position just 12 months after stating the pandemic posed the greatest threat the league had faced in a century.

“Today, a year ago, the reality was setting in and we had big decisions to make,” he told The Weekend Australian.

“I am certainly aware of the risks and the realities and there is every likelihood we will have our lumps and bumps and challenges but I feel like we are well prepared and we have plans.”

When McLachlan announced the suspension of the league after the opening round last season, it was estimated the AFL faced a $1 billion budget black hole.

The league tapped the NAB and ANZ for a credit line of $600 million in the immediate aftermath of the season suspension in order to help desperate clubs.

But ultimately the AFL reported a loss of just $22m, despite the hefty cost of relocating the competition to Queensland in July which came to $67m.

When including a $14.3m grant from the Victorian government for the redevelopment of Marvel Stadium, the statutory loss was reduced to $8.4m.

McLachlan’s optimism is based in part on the manner with which the competition dealt with a disastrous 2020, but also by what has unfolded over the past month.

The AFLW competition is into its seventh round and is generating admission revenue for the first time, while 50,000 fans are expected at the MCG on Thursday.

Provided the health outlook remains strong, it is expected the capacity restrictions in Victoria will be lifted beyond the current position of 50 per cent in coming weeks.

“We have come through as well as we could have hoped from this time a year ago and I am incredibly bullish,” McLachlan told The Weekend Australian.

“We see opportunities to build. There are challenges ahead, but I am massively bullish about this season, both at the community and elite levels, and how we can continue to grow our hold on the Australian communities.”

The most significant challenge remains COVID-19 and the clear hurdles it presents despite the current health status in the infancy of the vaccination roll out across Australia.

Border restrictions have caused issues this AFLW season. Only the first six weeks of the AFL season have been scheduled, though the broader fixture has been issued.

A month shy of entering his seventh season in charge of the AFL, McLachlan is hopeful of avoiding using the buzz word of the 2020 season — agility — as much as possible.

But he is mindful that with short, sharp lockdowns now favoured by state governments to deal with outbreaks, the fixture may be even more difficult in 2021.

“I hope not to use (agility) as often,” he said.

“There will certainly be some times where we will have to be more agile than ever, because the borders when they close, they will come quicker and harder and be retrospective, so it is going to be required, but I am just hopeful I don’t have to use it as often.

“I am sure there are going to be impacts, but they are going to be less substantive in their impact on our supporters and our members (than in 2020).”

The pandemic aside, the league is facing issues in relation to race and concussion, along with questions about the commitment to Tasmania and community football.

Over the past week a coronial inquest into the factors that contributed to the suicide of former Tiger Shane Tuck, a son of AFL legend Michael Tuck, in 2020 has begun amid concerns about the impact repeated concussions had on his mental health.

Carlton great Ken Hunter has outlined his desire to donate his brain for research after linking a battle with depression in the latter stages of his decorated playing career to concussions.

In the weeks following the leaking of the Do Better report, which led to the end of Eddie McGuire’s two-decade long reign as Collingwood president, former Magpies Andrew Krakouer, Leon Davis and Shae McNamara have spoken of their experiences with the Magpies while supporting Heritier Lumumba.

The AFL appointed commission member Professor Helen Milroy to co-chair a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council in late February aimed at improving access to the game at all levels.

“We know we are on a journey that probably never ends, but it is a journey that will take us forward in the future,” McLachlan said.

At a meeting with its 18 clubs in Melbourne this week, discussions began in relation to where and what the AFL will look to invest in, though the AFL chief said it was important to remain prudent for as long as the pandemic continues.

Football department spending remains a hot topic after a reduction of 33 per cent to the soft cap last year, with clubs allowed to spend $6.2m.

Negotiations with the AFL Players Association over a new collective bargaining agreement will continue as footballers look to rebuild after significant wage cuts in 2020.

The average player salary last season was $259,651, a reduction of almost $104,000 compared to 2019.

After 16 players earned more than $900,000 that year, only four topped the mark in 2020.

“As we come out of (the pandemic), we have had a recalibrated cost space and made big cuts … and we are confident that, certainly by 2022, that we will be back with a level of normality in our commercial arrangements, our crowds, other stuff, the challenge is where to we reinvest?” McLachlan said.

“What are the right areas? We had very real conversations with our clubs (on Wednesday) about that and there are competing interests.

“The challenge for us is getting the right settings for our ongoing investment. We have come off a rerated revenue and a cost basis on where we invest and they are going to be difficult but they are fabulous discussions to have and decisions to make.

“That is a huge series of work to be done in coming months with our clubs and decisions to be made by the commission.”