Major AFL Tasmania shake up sees chief executive depart

A nationwide restructure of the AFL has had huge effects on the set up of AFL Tasmania, with the chief executive moving on. THE LATEST >>

AFL Tasmania Communications and Partnerships Manager Damian Gill watches Kingborough Council debate the Future Directions Plan for the Kingborough Sports Precinct. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

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AFL Tasmania’s chief executive Trisha Squires will be departing the role for AFL Queensland as part of a nationwide restructure of the AFL.

In the restructure, each state will no longer have a chief executive, with the states to be governed out of AFL House in Melbourne, but each state will have a head position.

Squires, who was been in the role since February 2018, will fill that role in Queensland, while Damian Gill, formerly AFL Tasmania’s public affairs and infrastructure state manager, has been awarded the position at AFL Tasmania.

It is part of a nationwide sweeping restructure that has seen 20 per cent of the roles directly affected.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said it was part of a focus on community football.

“Community Football at all levels will always remain a priority,” McLachlan said.

“Each State and Territory has different challenges and areas of focus, but a national model of co-ordinated programs with localised delivery will help each market grow the game and provide the necessary support to our community leagues and clubs.

“We are also committed to the $18m investment into Victorian regional community football that we signalled last year.

“We have built an outstanding team at the AFL. There will be great people who leave our organisation whose commitment and passion will leave a lasting legacy.

Departing AFL Tasmania CEO Trisha Squires at Blundstone Arena. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“The AFL and Club finances will continue to be significantly impacted beyond this season and we need to make sure we focus our energy and our resources on our new key priorities in order to rebuild the industry’s financial strength and safeguard the game.”

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