Former Uni Blacks president Nick Carah scores role at AFL House
Gillon McLachlan, Andrew Dillon and Laura Kane all had history in the VAFA. Now, the brass at AFL house is adding another heavy hitter from Melbourne’s amateur footy competition.
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Another VAFA heavyweight has scored a prominent role at the AFL.
Nick Carah, the former president of the University Blacks Football Club and current treasurer, is the latest ex-amateur player to land a gig in football’s main office.
Former AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan was captain of the University Blues while current league boss Andrew Dillon played 290 games in the amateur ranks with Old Xaverians.
While having an impressive business CV, Carah has never worked at an AFL club but he will be the AFL’s new general manager of football – operations.
He will work alongside Josh Mahoney, the general manager of football – performance, underneath executive general manager of football Laura Kane.
Interestingly, Kane also has an extensive background in amateur football having been president of Melbourne University Women’s Football Club where she is also a former player, coach and now life member.
Carah has been working as an AFL match day manager. He was managing director of real estate firm Jellis Craig until February and remains chair of the Jellis Craig Foundation.
He had previously worked in sales at Macquarie Bank and in a senior executive role at Bendigo Bank.
There has been a push from some AFL clubs for better connection between the league’s football department. Veteran administrator Geoff Walsh, who had been working part-time at the AFL, will now increase from two to four days a week in the football department.
The AFL is also on the lookout for a new second-in-charge underneath Dillon and has advertised for a new chief operating officer.
A current or former club CEO or senior club executive are the preferred candidates.
Former Richmond boss Brendon Gale had been earmarked for the job but instead took the inaugural Tasmania Devils CEO role.
Matthew Chun had been acting in the COO role but earlier this year moved to be the chair of Marvel Stadium, overseeing operations there.
Dillon said the decision to bring on a COO was to bolster club experience on the executive team and play a lead role in driving the AFL’s strategy and ambitious growth agenda.
“I have made no secret that relationships with the clubs is a key priority and this role continues to reinforce the work the executive team has already done,“ Dillon said.
“If we are to remain the number one sport in the country, then we need to work hand-in-hand with the clubs to deliver the best possible experience for our fans, our participants, our people across the industry and our partners.”
Experienced AFL general Managers David Grossman, Tristan Salter and Simon Kelleher will form part of the COO’s team.
Originally published as Former Uni Blacks president Nick Carah scores role at AFL House
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