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Andrew Demetriou is proud of the AFL’s transformation under his watch and insistent his legacy should not be tarnished by the Essendon supplements scandal.
He will step aside as AFL chief executive at the end of the 2014 season, with current deputy Gillon McLachlan the early favourite to fill some of the biggest shoes in Australian sports administration.
Announcing his planned departure, Demetriou on Monday ruled out a move into politics and said he had no interest in running any other sport.
AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick expects the 52-year-old to make a complete break from the code he has been involved in as a player and administrator for 26 years – seemingly ruling out an ongoing role as an AFL Commissioner.
But Demetriou will surely not be short of job offers after overseeing the growth of the AFL into the behemoth of Australian sport.
“I’m young, I want to work,” he told a packed media conference at AFL House.
“I’ve got some roles left in me.”
Demetriou replaced Wayne Jackson as AFL CEO in 2003 after previous roles as AFL Players Association boss and football operations manager.
Since then the league’s annual revenue has expanded from $170.9 million to $446.5 million, the sport enjoys a billion-dollar TV rights deal and has overseen multi-billion dollar expenditure on new stadia.
The competition has expanded to 18 teams with the inclusion of Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney in traditional rugby league heartlands.
“I’m absolutely excited about what lies ahead for the expansion clubs,” said Demetriou.
“They’re not easy challenges, particularly the challenge of Greater Western Sydney.
“But we’ve always said it’s a 20-30 year exercise, a 20-30 year investment.”
Even Demetriou’s fiercest critics would acknowledge he has never shied away from difficult challenges.
The son of Greek-Cypriot immigrants has championed the causes of multiculturalism, women and indigenous engagement in Australia’s only homegrown football code.
But there have been hugely controversial issues in recent years, including accusations of tanking at Melbourne, the Kurt Tippett salary cap imbroglio at Adelaide and, dwarfing them all, the ongoing supplements scandal at Essendon.
It is still unclear whether ASADA will issue infraction notices to Essendon players for taking peptides.
Demetriou was defiant about how he’d handled the scandal since it broke.
“I’ll tell you what I didn’t do – I never injected anyone,” said Demetriou.
“The AFL has done all it can do in this situation. I’m proud of how we acted last year.”
He and AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick had become concerned back in 2012 about the increasing role sport science was having in the sport.
“Our job was to try and put as many preventative measures in place as we could,” he said.
“Even as good as our integrity department was, we didn’t pick that up.
“That’s not a fault. You don’t pick up every speeding fine, you don’t catch every person who breaks the law.
“What I would say is the AFL is better equipped today to tackle those issues.”
Having turned down a multi-million dollar offer in late 2012 to become the new NRL chief executive, McLachlan is the clear favourite to replace Demetriou.
The incumbent will have no official say in the appointment of his successor, but he did say the position would be best filled by someone with an Australian rules football background.
McLachlan enjoyed a long career as an amateur footballer and has worked for the AFL since 2000, rising to deputy CEO in December 2012.
Demetriou – a veteran of 103 games for North Melbourne and three for Hawthorn from 1981-88 – served under two Commission chairmen – the late Ron Evans and Fitzpatrick.
Demetriou informed Fitzpatrick of his intention to leave during a visit to the Super Bowl in New York in early February.
“For me the real strength of Andrew’s leadership … (has) been his determination to give our game an ethical underpinning, a conscience,” said Fitzpatrick.
“He can also be very pleased in the growth of the business during his time as CEO.”
Demetriou became emotional at times during the announcement as he paid tribute to his family.
He added he would leave with no regrets.
“I’ve always said it was a privilege and an honour to serve the game,” said Demetriou.
“I also believe the time is right.”
AFL GROWTH UNDER CHIEF EXECUTIVE ANDREW DEMETRIOU
AFL revenue
2003 – $170.9 million, 2013 – $446.5 millionAFL Surplus
2003 – $114.7 million, 2013 – $309.8 millionAFL player wages
2003 – $108 million, 2013 – $197.5 millionAFL attendance
2003 – 5.87 million, 2013 – 6.36 millionAFL club members
2003 – 463,171, 2013 – 756,717Grassroots players
2003 – 441,405, 2013 – 938,069Number of AFL clubs
2003 – 16, 2013 – 18
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