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AFL administrator Jason Mifsud has saluted his “open and transparent” relationship with clubs despite becoming embroiled in two controversies this year.
The league’s community engagement manager claimed in Brisbane on Tuesday he had never been more passionate about his job, barely a month after offering his resignation in the fallout over discredited allegations about Melbourne coach Mark Neeld.
Mifsud had to apologise to Neeld after being revealed as the source of ex-Saints’ coach Grant Thomas’s blog that incorrectly claimed the Demons’ coach had interviewed his indigenous players as a group and the rest of his list individually in the pre-season.
And in March, Matt Rendell resigned after Mifsud revealed the Adelaide recruitment manager’s views to the AFL hierarchy.
It was claimed Rendell said he would not draft an Aboriginal player unless he had one white parent.
However, Mifsud said there had been no fallout with clubs following the controversies.
“We’ve got a great relationship with all of our clubs,” he said.
“It’s open and transparent. That’s the most important thing.
“My passion and energy and desire to be a part of that has never been greater.”
Mifsud did not believe the recent dramas had made his job harder.
“We are really driven to continually deliver great results in the future,” said Mifsud, in Brisbane to help launch this week’s AFL Indigenous Round.
“Our clubs have been terrific. Our players have really led the way in terms of providing guidance as to what our programs need to look like.
“(And) all 18 clubs have been ambitious in terms of the work they want to do for this round.
“I think the future is really bright.”
Mifsud said the seventh Indigenous Round looked set to be the biggest yet with a record 90,000-strong crowd predicted for Saturday night’s “Dreamtime at the G” clash between Richmond and Essendon.
The MCG clash will follow a curtain-raiser between 18-24-year-old indigenous men from around Australia involved in the league’s Footy Means Business program.
The year-long program, run by AFL community engagement coordinator and former Brisbane and Fitzroy indigenous great Chris Johnson, is only partly about developing the participants’ football.
It’s also aimed at improving leadership, personal and business skills.
All entrants must be employed, in an apprenticeship or in an educational program.
From all over Australia, they must also have shown leadership in their communities, with the aim that they will share what they learn.
There is also the chance they might catch the eye of AFL talent spotters.
Previous entrants include Hawthorn rookie Amos Frank and Isiah Stevens, who was rookie-listed by Greater Western Sydney, but has since been cut.
“Hopefully, they can learn some things and, hopefully, we can get a couple of kids drafted as well,” Johnson said.
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