The king is dead, long live the king. But who will be the new monarch of Australian football?
It appears the incumbent’s deputy, Gillon McLachlan is the favourite to ascend to the top job. However, is more of the same necessarily a good thing for the code?
Andrew Demetriou, who is to step down as CEO after an 11-year reign at the end of this season, has spruiked his number two’s credentials and abilities for quite some time.
The two have always appeared to have a very good working relationship.
However, after having one CEO in the position for over a decade, it may not necessarily be healthy to follow-up with a man who in all likelihood may be a clone of the original.
McLachlan has some powerful supporters across the AFL landscape, with many club presidents firmly in his corner.
In fact, North Melbourne president James Brayshaw went as far as saying McLachlan should be announced as Demetriou’s successor within 48 hours of the latter announcing his plans to depart.
McLachlan comes from a very different background to his current boss – he is an avid polo player who, courtesy of being the son of a wealthy pastoralist, was educated at the prestigious Melbourne Grammar School.
He joined the AFL in 2006, when one of Demetriou’s key lieutenants, Ben Buckley, was lured away to head up the FFA.
During his tenure at AFL House, McLachlan has been involved in some of the most crucial decisions of recent times – the expansion to an 18-team league, various stadia deals and two key TV broadcast deals.
But all the time he has done in it concert with his mentor.
It would be healthy for the Commission to cast its net wider than just within the walls of AFL House.
Often big business – and make no mistake, that is exactly what the AFL is – can be greatly rejuvenated by sourcing a CEO from outside the normal hierarchical ascent.
It is time the AFL pursued that approach or, at the least, very seriously considered the idea.
When all is said and done, the serious maladies that have plagued the AFL in recent times and seen them the recipients of considerable flack – the Essendon drug scandal, Melbourne tanking and Adelaide’s salary cap and draft breaches – all involved substantial input from McLachlan.
The move to simply install him in the top job may not be the best option for the league.
With that in mind, there is a man who would make an ideal new AFL CEO. His name is Brian Cook, the current CEO of the Geelong Football Club.
He is a man with vast experience in football administration and to date, everything he has touched has turned to gold.
Cook, born in Scotland, moved to Australia as a young boy.
He played nearly 50 games with the Hawthorn reserves before transferring to Melbourne, where he played four senior games.
As was the case with many Victorian-based players in the 1970s and ’80s, he made the move to Perth as a result of academic pursuits.
While studying in the West he played WAFL senior football for both East Perth and Subiaco.
Not long after he finished his studies, he entered the world of sports administration where he has been ever since.
In 1990, he was appointed CEO at the West Coast Eagles. When he arrived at Subiaco Oval, the Eagles were in a parlous financial state.
During his nine-year tenure, he helped turn the club into one of the most powerful in the competition – both on and off the field.
Revenues rose exponentially, memberships skyrocketed, sponsors flocked to get involved and the club won two flags – 1992 and 1994 – to spirit the premiership cup outside Victoria for the first time in history.
In 2000, he moved back east, where he took up the CEO role at Geelong, ironically the club the Eagles beat to win their first two premierships.
Once again, Cook worked his magic.
It was a case of déjà vu given he arrived at Kardinia Park at a time when the Cats were facing massive financial problems.
Cook, in unison with president Frank Costa, set about turning the club around.
The measures he took were at times controversial but in the end his methods proved to be extremely prescient, as Geelong was able to enjoy the most successful period in its history.
Premierships in 2007, 2009 and 2011 ran in parallel with a remarkable financial turnaround and the redevelopment of the club’s home from a glorified suburban ground to a state-of-the-art, 21st century football stadium.
There is absolutely no doubting Cook has the runs on the board. He is a passionate, insightful and highly intelligent businessman who has a particularly strong football background.
And importantly, in this era of a national competition, Cook has experienced the world of football administration on both sides of the country.
In the main, there has always been a strong Victorian flavour to the sport’s administration, with many non-Victorian clubs feeling aggrieved that the powers that be do not always understand the issues that confront non-Melbourne clubs.
Cook is fully aware of those challenges and boasts a CV that indicates he is certainly a man who could succeed in the job.
fairness
Guest
How much research did you do for this article Glenn? You fail to mention McLachlan's football background. Whilst not making the AFL (he wasnt far off), he had a storied career in the VAFA with Uni Blues in A Grade over a great many years. His love for the game cannot be questioned. If you had done your research, you would have found that over his career, Demetriou was known as a noted delegator to his staff. And McLachlan went to secondary school in South Australia - at St.Peters, not Melbourne Grammar. And if you want the AFL to cast a wider net, then doesn't that suggest they go outside of AFL entirely?
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
I'm not too fussed. Anyone who swears on a stack of Bibles never to invite Meatloaf back maybe? Not just to the Grand Final, but to the country as well!
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Demetriou gives out cancer now? please.
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
The final decision Jack will rest with the AFL commissioners.
Johnno
Guest
Youth is the way, get someone under 40 in. Freshen the game up. In other words someone born between 1975-80. 35-39 age range.
NeeDeep
Roar Pro
James HIrd isn't doing anything for 12 months and I reckon he could hold down the top spot for a season if the AFL wants some time to fully consider all the other options. After all, Bomber's coaching despite being fined and the players are still playing, despite admitting being jabbed with who knows what! I don't see why James should be the only one on a paid holiday. This may be a good way for him to work off some of his debt to the game. I think Cook would be the best possible choice and I'm not sure about McLachlan. I liked the work of Adrian Anderson as well - felt he was a stand up operator and certainly no "kiss-ass". Failing that, maybe Jeff Kennett could take a crack at it!
Jorji Costava
Guest
They did that up at Footscray and North Melbourne a few administrations ago. They renamed Footscray 'Western Bulldogs' and North Melbourne renamed 'Kangaroos' for a while, but went back. Expect the Bulldogs to go back to being Footscray sooner or later.
Martin
Guest
The problem with obtaining an outsider is that he/she would have to re-arrange everything to be seen as doing something. Sometimes, a steady as you go approach is more courageous than simply moving the deck chairs.
hoopster
Guest
With the MCG out of commission, crowds may be down on previous years.
BigAl
Guest
What is Ben Buckley doing these days ?
jack Nimble
Guest
Who makes the call for installing the new AFL CEO? Cooky would b great, but I can't see it happening. Dimitriou was embarrassingly bad. More blood on his hands today with the sad passing of Dean Bailey imo, the fall guy for the 'there's no such thing as tanking' debacle created & accommodated by AD.
clipper
Guest
Don't rub it in too much HarryHP - if the AFL's opening round is anywhere near as abysmal as the NRL's, then they will be gloating all week!
Jorji Costava
Guest
Brian Cook would be the perfect choice, so I agree 100 percent. Cook also played a bit for Melbourne in the 1970s and turned around two struggling clubs including stadium upgrades to turn those two teams into money making machines the envy of the AFL. Icing on the cake is he just did an MBA at Harvard Business School in the USA last year and seems to be positioning himself for a tilt at the top job. McLachlan seems to be up with the new media in IPTV and had a big hand in stadium deals, but could not get the Etihad Stadium stiched up which has paralysed a bunch of Melbourne clubs so in my book, he has floundered in some areas within his influence. Demetriou probably protected him a bit from the wrath, but his head should be on the block for cocking that one up. Not really sure an ex polo player will get football respect either. The footy world needs you to have street cred in the clubs, being a member of some toff polo team would leave me very wary of who I was dealing with. We saw what happens when Melbourne brought in that tennis joker McNamee. What they failed to realise is he had wads of Victorian taxpayers money to prop up the tennis, footy has to earn it the hard way. In short Cook in, McLachlan OUT!
Gyfox
Guest
Cook is definitely someone who could do the job. But he still has work to do at Geelong - finishing their stadium & ensuring the team doesn't slide. Buckley went out of contention when he went to FFA. All those wonderful things he said about soccer show that he's not completely committed to Aussie Rules. The last thing we need is a professional sports administrator who doesn't love the game 100%. Which leaves us with McLachlan. He has a love of the game - importantly at the local community level. He refused the NRL overtures. And why would you have invested time & training on him if you didn't 't want him for the big dance?
HarryHP
Guest
Cook should be considered, along with Andrew Ireland (ex Lions and now Swans), and possibly Trevor Nisbett of the WCE. However, I, like most, believe its Gillon's job to loose. Gill is exceptionally well connected and is a great lobbyist. Frsh change is often needed when an organisation becomes stale and stagnant (or certainly when its plummeting). The AFL is going along rather nicely, and Gil will be, judging from what I have read about him, his own man and quite a different beast to Demetriou.
HarryHP
Guest
Don't you have NRL poor crowd discussions to attend to?
Cat
Roar Guru
Cook deserves a shot, if he wants it, but as a Geelong man I hope we don't lose him.
HarryHP
Guest
I reckon Buckley let his brand down with this time at the A-league. While he was in charge, crowds plummeted, 2 new teams came and went, and in the middle you had the World Cup bid fiasco. Had Buckley done a great job, he would probably still be there and the AFL would be looking to poach him back. It will be a step down for him, but I reckon Buckley's future as a CEO in the AFL is at club level now.
The High Shot
Roar Pro
Give it to Kelvin Sheedy after all his recent successes and measured public statements.
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
Using that approach Christo would also put a cross through McLachlan so who do you believe has the necessary skill set to undertake the role with respect to the success of the expansion teams?