The AFL will unveil its new chief executive on Monday, with long-time senior league staffer Andrew Dillon’s promotion to the top job made official.
Foxfooty.com.au understands the 18 club chief executives in a telephone hook-up on Monday were told Dillon had been confirmed as Gillon McLachlan’s successor. It comes less than a week after Dillon reportedly had been selected to replace McLachlan.
The AFL has called a press conference for 10.15am (AEST), where it will make a “major announcement”.
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SEN reported there would be a “transition period”, which would see Dillon officially take over as the league’s boss at the end of the men’s season, which is the first week of October.
McLachlan in April last year announced his intention to step down as AFL chief executive at the end of 2022 season after finishing an important to-do list, which included striking a new broadcast rights deal, putting a final position to the 18 AFL clubs for their decision on a 19th licence being awarded to Tasmania and completing new Collective Bargaining Agreements for both the women’s and men’s competition.
While the CBA remains outstanding, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement on Saturday that his government would cover the $240 million shortfall for the $715 million multi-purpose stadium in Hobart means the most significant hurdle to a Tasmanian-based AFL team has been cleared.
Dillon joined the AFL in 2000 as Legal Counsel and was appointed General Manager – Legal and Business Affairs in July 2004.
At the end of 2011, Dillon was appointed General Manager of National and International Development and General Counsel.
In 2013, he was appointed General Manager, Legal, Integrity and Compliance in addition to General Counsel.
He took on the role of Game Development in March 2017, which saw him involved in community and state football leagues, football facilities and infrastructure, in addition to the relationships with all AFL state bodies.
Dillon acted as Executive General Manager of Football Operations from July 2021 and was formally appointed to that role in addition to his other duties in September that year.
McLachlan will soon end a 23-year association with the league, which will include 10 seasons as chief executive after replacing Andrew Demetriou in 2014.
MORE TO COME
