The AFL’s Chief Operating Officer Gill McLachlan has advised the AFL Commission that he will remain in his position, effectively ruling out a move to the NRL CEO job, following David Gallop’s departure.
AFL Media Relations manager Patrick Keane made the announcement a short time ago.
McLachlan was in the target sights of the Australian Rugby League Commission and had emerged the clear frontrunner for the job, with the potential move recently talked up by ARLC chairman John Grant.
However, in a statement made on Tuesday afternoon, McLachlan said he continued to enjoy the challenges associated with developing and growing Australian football.
“There is still much to achieve at the AFL as we continue to strategically position the code for ongoing growth in popularity and participation,” he said.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said he was pleased that McLachlan would remain a key member of the AFL executive.
“Gill has played an important role in many of the AFL’s significant commercial outcomes in recent years and still has much to contribute to the AFL’s future strategic direction.”
It is believed as recently as yesterday three names were being considered for the NRL job – with interim CEO Shane Mattiske not one of them. With McLachlan not an option, Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys as well as Panthers Group chief executive Warren Wilson appear to be the other chances.
More to follow
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Melbourne news AFL dominates sport understandably ,rarely NRL appears.Contrast with Sydney 9/10 and 7 give AFL coverage just about every night in some shape or form. Sydney voices perhaps more magnanimous.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
No its gold.gold,gold.
TC
Guest
Phew, thank goodness that's all that is meant by post turtle. When you mentioned our PM, I had horrible visions that left me feeling quite anguished. TC
Redb
Roar Guru
haha gold :)
Redb
Roar Guru
Sydney news first. Heaps of examples of minor Sydney Stories parading as national interest. Take the blinkers off.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
If he happens to be the same guy who called Brisbane a football city,no thanks. Not delusionists. People like John Fahey and Bernie Fraser(former Reserve bank governor) have rl backgrounds.Even Kevin Ryan,Nick Greiner(doubt he would want it anyway),Wayne Goss(Qld). One thing sure and certain he wont be beholden to News Ltd
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
And you guys believe all that is written up in the media,when the ARLC has kept their cards pretty well close to their chests,leaving journos such as Rothfield to speculate tsunmai style. One thing for sure this new mob,doesnt leak like a sieve like it's predecessor. And of course the old tortoise and hare analogy can be thrown up,as a retort. Let's just wait and see who gets the gig.Maybe we will strike it lucky,and get a compliant media,who rarely questions any rugby league decision and scrapes for the crumbs of info.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Based in sydney with plenty of Melburnian and AFL input.Not the other way round in Melbourne. Offsiders is not Sydney based else Medusa would not get a guernsey.. National news a Sydney construct.So now Sydney broadcasters construct news ,it would appear.I have read the lot now.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Spot on Dingo. Described very well!
Redb
Roar Guru
Adrian Anderson? what no takers. #damn.
Redb
Roar Guru
All TV networks are based in Sydney. The 'National' News at 5pm most days is a Sydney construct.
Redb
Roar Guru
Both Sydney media outlets and RL journos ran with a conspiracy theory that the AFL timed it to distract from the Dally M. Just laughable stuff. Tin foil hat anyone?
Dingo
Guest
@ Floyd Calhoun. Is this what you mean? "When you're driving down a country road and you see a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle. You know he didn't get up there by himself. He doesn't belong there; he can't get anything done while he's up there; and you just want to help the poor, dumb thing down." Thanks wikipedia.
Brewski
Guest
American football and Australian football thankyou !. And FWIW at lower levels of those particular games there is plenty of rep games both here and O/S.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Whoever gets the gig, it's a safe bet they will be a 'post turtle'. Let me know if you're unclear what a post turtle is. I'll give you a clue, our Prime Minister is one.
The Link
Guest
You can't get a sense of Rugby League from un-named sources in a media article, just as you can't from forums.
Brewski
Guest
Thats a shame, every time i think of brewski, i think beer.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
No on the stadium aspect I do not agree the code is 20 years behind Jaceman..Two large stadiums in Sydney of a decent standard.Parramatta needs a roof at either end less than 5 years to develop and build. The other outlying ones Manly,Penrith,Canberra,cronuula could all be complete within 10 years if funding was available. The one thing I agree on,we are behind in stadium imprvments,but rationalising or centarlising will not work in Sydney ,no matter how much you market it for a normal NRL club game for the outer clubs.
Australian Rules
Guest
Von, YOU said "I also believe that there was a little bit of “ok AFL, watch what we can do now, look at who we can chase”" They're your words, not mine. You carry on about blaming the media - well, the media report the story, the ARLC made it clear they wanted Gil, so I'm not sure what you're on about. As for the rest of your garbled response, and "Smoke all that, bro"...that pretty much sums up your contribution to the thread.
Vic
Guest
If England had the equivalent of AFL, they would be playing all their London games at stadiums like Wembley and Twickenham in front of 70 to 100k a match instead of 25 to 35. English rules soccer is simply run as a selfish business and not for the fans. Do not know why people in Blighty put up with it. The sport has been taken away from those who made it.