Former federal MP Damian Drum joins AFL Victoria board

Former Fremantle coach and federal MP Damian Drum is hoping his strong country footy background can make an impact on the AFL Victoria board.

Former federal and state MP Damian Drum wants to be a “voice” for country football after accepting a role as an external director on the AFL Victoria board.

The absence of a member with a strong country football background was a glaring deficiency of the governing body until the appointment of the former AFL player and coach, who began his playing career at Congupna.

The AFL Victoria board is chaired by former Essendon president Lindsay Tanner and includes AFL executive member Rob Auld and AFL Victoria chief executive Greg Madigan.

Drum, who retired from federal politics in the lead-up to the 2022 election, said easing the burden on volunteers who were “getting swamped by regulation” was one of his immediate goals.

“My initial experience with Greg Madigan and Rob Auld has been very positive,” Drum said.

“They are hell bent on helping any way they can.

“We can’t physically and financially prop up clubs that aren’t in a position to look after themselves.

“But there are a whole heap of things we can do along the way.”

Damian Drum coached Fremantle Dockers for three seasons. Picture: Ian Cugley

Drum played for Geelong between 1982 and 1989 before launching a coaching career that included three seasons in charge of Fremantle.

After losing his job at the Dockers midway through 2001, Drum was appointed coach of now defunct VFL club Bendigo Diggers for one year before entering politics at state level.

During his time in the Victorian parliament, Drum also had a stint as chairman of the Bendigo Football-Netball League, which is poised to lose its second club in as many seasons with Maryborough set to leave.

Damian Drum has joined the AFL Victoria board. Picture: Zoe Phillips

But Drum said clubs questioning their involvement in leagues wasn’t an issue confined to Bendigo.

“It’s a really strong issue floating around footy at the moment where you’ve got clubs beating their heads against a wall because they simply can’t get juniors,” he said.

“The reason they can’t get juniors is because that league has got three or four other teams that don’t have juniors.

“It simply doesn’t work when you come in over the top and inform clubs and leagues what their structure is going to look like.

“But when clubs and leagues are probably 90 per cent of the way there and just need a little bit of assistance, there is a role to be played.

“Everything to do with country footy involves risks, but there is also a risk in not doing anything.

“Sometimes we need to look at the cost of not making a decision.”