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Andrew Dillon is the Next AFL CEO

Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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Brendan Gale would have been a better choice IMHO. Successful CEO at Richmond, from Tasmania, speaks well and thinks very clearly. It’s harder to be a CEO of a club than CEO of the AFL with no real competition. Even Perty would have been a better selection.

Edited by Jibroni

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    It is a bit of a yawn, but anyway...

    Although the consultancy fees involved in the process are disgusting, it has to be a long, thorough process to find a suitable candidate for an organisation the size, wealth and influence of the AFL. I'm glad they have taken their time.

    Having said that, it feels a little bit like a cookie-cutter appointment. A little bit "son of the regiment" which refers to military appointments being given to children of previous in-house high-ranking officers because they represent the desires of those committed to the system.

    He has to be able to oversee the Tassie expansion, along with the brutal and unavoidable conversation that will emerge around the 20th license. He has to manage the AFLW expansion. 

    I hope he is the right man.

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    All things considered Andrew Dillon has undertaken a long Apprenticeship at the top of the AFL so would have invaluable inside knowledge of how it all hangs together. This will allow Dillon to hit the ground running and not have to learn the ropes and get tripped up by all the seasoned experts in clubland, etc,etc. I would have had my money on Brendan Gale, he’s been brilliant at Richmond but he may have some short comings that we haven’t spotted??

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    15 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

    All things considered Andrew Dillon has undertaken a long Apprenticeship at the top of the AFL so would have invaluable inside knowledge of how it all hangs together. This will allow Dillon to hit the ground running and not have to learn the ropes and get tripped up by all the seasoned experts in clubland, etc,etc. I would have had my money on Brendan Gale, he’s been brilliant at Richmond but he may have some short comings that we haven’t spotted??

    he's spent 21 years getting to know the business and where the bodies are buried...and where to bury them...

    his big briefs will be racism and concussion until the next tv rights deal begins to open negotiations in 2028 or so

    he'll have a lot on his hands

    the indecision at governance level re the 4:3 split to not appoint kylie watson-wheeler becoming public is an indication of how fractious the relationships are at the decision-making level of the game

    Edited by whatwhat say what

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    The media pic of him in the stands with tricky Gill  & Geelong man Hocking isnt very flattering.

    Looks like he's drunk a skinfull and fallen off a tram.

    Edited by Deebauched

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    Those throwing up their hands at the consulting fees spent, don't really understand the machinery of corporate Australia or even the world. Even if Andrew was best placed and the preferred candidate at the beginning of the process you cannot make an appointment of that significance without due diligence. 

    I also chuckle at the 'old boys club' references. The AFL commission have already sanctioned a vision and strategy, which has been very successful and will set the parameters of what the candidate must bring to the table. This is why most appointments for a CEO role are done through internal promotion, as they are already onboard for what must be done to achieve their long term vision. They are also a known quantity, with an understood management and leadership style. The external appointments are more common when a company is failing to achieve and need a fundamental change in strategy and direction. 

     

     

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    three things which will govern his time:
    - racism investigation
    - concussion class actions
    - 20th team

    he won't get the juice from a nice broadcast deal for the next five or so years tho...

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    • Demonland changed the title to Andrew Dillon is the Next AFL CEO

    I don't know if he'll be a good appointment or not, but I have met him at a conference about 10 years ago. He's affable, articulate, smart and humorous. Hopefully all of those traits will be on show. And for those that like trivia, I also found out at that event that he did his articles under the late John "Darcy" Duigan who subsequently became Victoria's Chief Magistrate.

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    A year long search? It takes far less time to find a Prime Minister  or ambassador to a major overseas posting.  The AFL CEO is an overblown office clerk .....an employee. The same goes for all these sports muppets around the world.

    Just watch the corporate media go into their spin about what great and mysterious man Dillon is. What an interesting and diverse family background. A great man who says little but achieves so much.

    Dillon is now a member of an elite club and the media will love him for it. The media worship and celebrate rich and powerful people. How much will he pay himself? Tricky Gill made millions.

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    Concussions are the big challenge, and my guess is the AFL Commission wanted someone fresh with no legal entanglement in the concussion history. A woman would’ve been nice as well as the league attempts to sell itself as the worlds most holier than thou diversity organisation.

    That said, Goyder has kept Alan Joyce around for years at Qantas so he clearly doesn’t mind selling out employees for profits. Maybe they’ve checked Dills legal letters and found no huge red flags on the concussion front.

    20 teams will be a challenge, might require a fall guy as head of footy to move teams to 16 a side. AFLW being an over bloated mess with far too many teams for the skill level or interest isn’t a fun thing to deal with.

    But the broadcast money is locked in for now and there’s no team that really at imminent risk like the 90’s. ALP Governments across the country are mad for AFL footy (apart from funding our clubs redevelopment). And the only Coalition government just paid up for Tassie.

    The job is to negotiate a new TV deal every 5 or so years, a new CBA when that occurs and to get a new stadium once a decade. Plus as many club and ‘community’ facilities. Then to spin to fans that you’re on their side whilst slowly pushing the game as more and more of a tv product.

    You need someone who connects with politicians on both sides of the aisle and media execs. 

    Somehow AFL execs have framed this  as far more difficult than managing businesses that deal with fickle consumers, complex supply chains or products and very competitive markets. But I guess the money is for a lot of fans hating you and the risk of what happens if you stuff the job up. 

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    On 4/27/2023 at 10:30 AM, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

    Who does he barrack for?

    Tiges

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    On 4/27/2023 at 10:29 AM, Jibroni said:

    Brendan Gale would have been a better choice IMHO. Successful CEO at Richmond, from Tasmania, speaks well and thinks very clearly. It’s harder to be a CEO of a club than CEO of the AFL with no real competition. Even Perty would have been a better selection.

    Almost 100% certain that when the team is ratified by the commission that Peter Gutwein will be odds on favourite to be the sides' first Chairman, and Gale will be courted heavily for the CEO role. Given where the Tigers are (downwards trajectory) and Gale not getting the AFL role, it is almost convenient ;). 

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    On 4/26/2023 at 10:28 PM, praha said:

    A few in this thread completely oblivious to how long and tough the recruitment process is for a CEO, let alone the CEO for an organisation such as the AFL. That this bloke sat "down the hall" is completely irrelevant: only a consultancy firm could fairly and reasonably assess and audit the candidates next to selection criteria. Sure, for the team leader of the car park security, you might end up with a boys pick and a tap on the shoulder. We're talking about a fairly meticulous process. Most CEOs are hired from within, either through promotion, or succession plans. They still have to do their due diligence.

    There's already nuffies on Twitter starting with the "aNoThEr mALe cEO". Well yeah, he was probably the best candidate. We're not talking about a coffee barista here. It's the CEO of arguably the most politically and socially influential entertainment brand in the country. As if they're going to just go with "one of the boys", just 'cause. 

    Agreed

    The CEO of the AFL is probably in the top 3 of all sports positions in the country. Its such a part of the fabric of our culture that you can't expect an outsider to waltz in and be across the huge number of issues that must be dealt with on a daily basis.

    Imagine a candidate from the US that had little idea about the sport or the country or the networks that make up the code. Its a home grown code that punches above its weight. An 'insider' was always going to be the favoured candidate but they would be remiss if they didn't take a temperature check of other candidates.

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    2 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

     

    That said, Goyder has kept Alan Joyce around for years at Qantas so he clearly doesn’t mind selling out employees for profits. Maybe they’ve checked Dills legal letters and found no huge red flags on the concussion front.

    Really? Thanks Karl Marx

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