Andrew Pridham believes timing is ripe for AFL’s first review in 30 years

Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham believes the AFL is overdue for a significant review of its operations

Swans chairman Andrew Pridham has called for an independent review of the AFL.

Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham believes the AFL is overdue for a significant review of its operations and feels the current crisis is the ideal time to investigate whether change is needed.

Pridham, who was on the AFL’s coronavirus crisis cabinet, said an independent assessment into all elements of the competition is timely in order to ensure further success in the future.

The AFL Commission and the presidents and chairmen of all 18 clubs met again on Wednesday as an extraordinary season nears its conclusion on Saturday week.

It was reported a potential reduction in the number of AFL clubs was among the matters raised in the latest meeting.

Pridham said it was not appropriate to comment on matters raised in a meeting that was supposed to be confidential.

But he is adamant a sweeping review should be instituted with no expectations or outcomes predetermined and is confident it would be of benefit to the competition.

“People should not fear analysis and review of what you do. They should see it as an opportunity to get better,” he told The Australian.

“In any business, you have got to review yourself thoroughly. You have to have good governance.”

The last full review of the competition was undertaken by David Crawford, then a senior partner at KPMG, in 1992, with his report presented to the AFL on the eve of the 1993 season.

It is not the first time Pridham has called for the AFL to undertake an independent review. When he did so in 2017, he was told it was not the right time.

But given the current climate, plus the amount of time that has elapsed since the Crawford Review, he believes it is a matter of critical importance.

“When is the right time? Is it after 30 years? Is it after 40 years?,” he said. “If the game wants to continue to be the premier sport in Australia, you can’t sit back and wait and think everything is going to continue as is.

“I point to Rugby Australia as exhibit A. They would have thought nothing could go wrong with rugby in Australia.

“I don’t have any specific views or agenda but the world has changed a lot in the past 27 years.

“We are in a rapidly changing environment, not only with COVID, but with the media landscape, player contractual agreements. The way of the world has changed.

“This should be seen as an opportunity, not a threat. We have crisis. Let’s see how we can best reset to thrive. We have the greatest game in the world and we need to make sure it keeps getting better.”

This week saw a milestone of 100 days reached by some clubs in hubs in 2020. Last month, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the cost of the use of hubs this year would exceed $60 million.

The Australian reported in September the AFL was facing a $400 million revenue shortfall as a result of this year’s crisis, with clubs saddled with more than $150 million in debt.

Up to $300 million has been drawn on a credit line of $1 billion secured in the aftermath of the season suspension in March.

Clearly, though, the AFL has managed to reduce some of the financial devastation by managing to restart the season and reach a point where there are only three matches left to play.

On the Nine Network’s Footy Classified on Wednesday night, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire dismissed the suggestion the existence of some clubs was in question.

McGuire was involved in the meeting given his role with Collingwood.

He was also a member of the coronavirus “war cabinet” with Pridham and fellow club presidents Jeff Kennett and Peter Gordon.

“I don’t think there is any attack on the 18 clubs. Everybody wants to get the 18 clubs through,” he said.

“There were a number of scenarios that were placed in front of us, whether we get back to what we were this time last year, or whether we have the same again in hubs.

“Everybody is very focused on the figures and what needs to happen and Andrew Pridham’s position was that maybe it is time to have a good look at everything.

“Not that there’s anything necessarily wrong, but after 27 years, which was the term that was used, maybe it is time to have a look at what is going on.”

Pridham said his call for a review was not a criticism of the current AFL regime. But he feels it could help the competition to thrive over the next two decades.

“We have been through a tough season and done well, so let’s seize the opportunity to get even better,” he said.