AFL Commission chair Richard Goyder has revealed he plans to remain as football’s head for three more years.
Goyder surprised senior AFL people when he revealed his intent to remain in the job until 2028 at a meeting late in the season, according to two sources with knowledge of the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity.
AFL commission chairman Richard Goyder.Credit: AFL Photos
Goyder has been contacted for comment.
The AFL contacted club presidents during the year to sound them out on their view of the chairman, the commission, how long they thought Goyder should remain in the role, and thoughts around succession.
It is unknown if Goyder received the feedback from the club heads before making the comment about staying on for three more years. Certainly, if there was a view from presidents that he should continue in the job, it was far from unanimous.
AFL club bosses had expected that Goyder – who replaced Mike Fitzpatrick as commission chairman in 2017 – would remain until the next annual general meeting in March next year, but he was expected to announce a timeframe for his departure ahead of the end of his latest three-year term, which expires in March 2026.
Goyder said at the time of the appointment of Andrew Dillon as chief executive to replace Gillon McLachlan that he “was not going anywhere” as chairman. Dillon competed his first 12 months as AFL CEO last month.
New AFL commissioner Matt De Boer Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Former Fremantle midfielder Matt de Boer and ex-Collingwood player, Sydney Swans director and deputy chairman of the Australian Sports Commission Andrew Ireland also joined the AFL Commission at the time of Dillon’s appointment.
Two sources with knowledge of his situation, who wished to remain anonymous, said Goyder had been eager – for the sake of the AFL’s stability – to remain for at least the first year or two of Dillon’s tenure.
AFL clubs have been eager to be organised for the inevitable succession plan and to have a stronger say in the choice of the next chairman.
Earlier this year, outgoing Collingwood president Jeff Browne promoted former AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou as a strong candidate to replace Goyder.
The Age reported earlier this year clubs felt the next AFL chairman was not currently on the AFL Commission.
Current and former club presidents including Craig Drummond (Geelong), David Koch (Port Adelaide), Andrew Pridham (Sydney) and Luke Sayers (Carlton) have variously been put forward as potential commission chairs.
In June this year the club presidents met ahead of the Australian Football Hall of Fame dinner to discuss succession plans for the chairman.
When contacted for comment, an AFL spokesman said Goyder is not up for re-election until March 2026.
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