In today’s AFL briefing, your wrap of footy news
- Gillon McLachlan says Brownlow betting scandal was a case of “human failure” and not a larger issue in the league.
- Dyson Heppell has no issue with handing over the Essendon captaincy.
- And in case you missed it, Richie Vandenberg has quit the Hawthorn board.
New Hawthorn president Andy Gowers wants Tuesday night’s election result to serve as a “turning point” that unifies the club and its members at a time they have “a lot of work to do”.
Hawks members voted in Gowers over previous president Jeff Kennett’s favoured successor, Peter Nankivell, which was confirmed at the annual general meeting after months of warring between the rivals.
Former Victorian deputy premier James Merlino was elected as a board director, while Katie Hudson and Anne-Marie Pellizzer were re-elected, but Box Hill president Ed Sill and lawyer Maria Lui, the chair of the Hawks Foundation, were unsuccessful.
Change is already sweeping through Hawthorn, with football director and ex-Hawks captain Richie Vandenberg, who was set to become vice-president if Nankivell prevailed, already tendering his resignation.
“Hawthorn has and always will be a huge part of my life. I love this club, and taking on the role of president is something that means a great deal to me,” Gowers said.
“You, our loyal members, are the lifeblood of our club and are the reason we exist. That is why it is such an honour and privilege to be appointed to the position.
“It comes at a time when we have a lot of work to do. It is clear we have some challenges ahead of us, but you should take comfort in the knowledge that your board (and) the club’s staff and players are ready for those challenges.”
Gowers spent the past two days at Waverley Park, including addressing staff, and has revealed his three-point plan for the Hawks.
It is based around unity, regaining Hawthorn’s status as a “family club” and playing to win.
“This is about the next chapter in this football club’s famous history. I will bring my own style of leadership, and it will include engaging with you all,” Gowers said.
“Being the president is somewhat surreal, but I see this as a real opportunity to unite our club. There are so many Hawthorn fans who I have spoken to who are no longer members because of their feelings towards the club.
“I hope Tuesday night was a turning point that allows us all to reconnect, unify and ensure we are always operating like the family club.
“In terms of communication moving forward, I plan to give you the information you want and need in a transparent way because that is what you deserve as a member.”
Gowers plans to hold a fan summit early next year as an initial building block towards unification.
Brownlow betting scandal the result of ‘human failure’
Outgoing AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says he is confident the Brownlow betting affair – one of the most serious integrity scandals to hit the league – was the result of “human failure” and not a systemic problem within the AFL.
And McLachlan said the league was as close as it had been in decades to introducing a Tasmanian side to the competition, but would not give a timeframe for how much longer Tasmanian fans will have to wait.
Gillon McLachlan spoke about Tasmanian footy and the Brownlow betting scandal on Thursday.Credit:AFL Photos
The AFL has no plans to change its Brownlow Medal voting system, despite the arrest of four men in November, including an AFL umpire, who allegedly leaked Brownlow Medal votes from specific matches of the 2022 season.
“I’m not saying I wasn’t surprised, maybe [even] shocked by what was alleged to have happened. But in the broader sense, I’m incredibly proud of our industry. I’m proud of our players, our female and male athletes, I’m proud of our clubs, I’m proud of my team – unbelievably,” McLachlan said.
“I’m accepting of human failures. People make mistakes. [The AFL has to have] the best systems and process and culture, we do everything we can to avoid that knowing that in life, these things … happen.”
McLachlan was cautious not to disclose any specifics regarding negotiations over the Tasmanian bid for a 19th licence, or the timeline for the team’s potential introduction.
The bid has been delayed as the Tasmanian government attempts to secure funding for a stadium to be built in Hobart and McLachlan indicated that finding a funding partner was a priority.
“We’re optimistic there’s a really strong story in a business case [to get a partnership], but that’s our job to prosecute with the state government,” he said.
There is a gap between the funding the AFL and state government were willing to put forward, and the projected cost of the stadium. In June, McLachlan said the stadium was essential for Tasmania’s bid to snag a standalone team.
Earlier this month, The Age reported that the Tasmanian branch of the ALP and the Greens were opposed to the state government’s promise to allocate $375 million towards the stadium, and the federal Labor government was yet to consider a business case that is likely to request at least $250 million in federal funding for the stadium. There is growing disquiet in Tasmania about the conditions attached to the bid.
There is also no guarantee of support from the 18 club presidents, whose support is needed for the Tasmanian team’s inclusion. Under league rules, the AFL Commission’s decision to grant the new licence can be overturned if 13 of the 18 presidents vote against. McLachlan had previously indicated he wanted broad support across the clubs before a licence was granted.
“Things sometimes take as long as they take,” he said. “We’ve come a hell of a long way this year … this is the closest we’ve been in decades.”
He said there was “broad but not universal support” for the bid among club presidents, who had “all the information on the 10 or 11 pieces of work that we’ve been doing down there”.
“The big piece is the stadium,” he said.
Heppell ‘not tied’ to Dons captaincy
Dyson Heppell is no certainty to retain the Essendon captaincy in 2023 and says he will make way for someone else if the club feels there is a better option.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as skipper, but I’m not tied to the role at all,” 30-year-old Heppell said on Thursday.
“If the group and the club feel that there’s someone else that’s better off to lead the group going forward, then I’m more than happy to step down and hand the reins over.”
Sam Walsh.Credit:AFL Photos / Getty Images
The midfielder signed a one-year contract extension with Essendon earlier this year, following interest from Gold Coast.
“I want to be there still while the next captain comes through and help mentor, help guide and develop them as well,” he said.
Heppell made his debut for the Dons in 2011, and has played 213 games. In 2017, he took over as captain from Brendon Goddard (who stepped in as captain after Jobe Watson was suspended) in the aftermath of the club’s drug scandal.
Meanwhile, Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps says midfielders Sam Walsh and George Hewett are on track for 2023 after suffering an injury-disrupted end to their 2022 campaigns.
The Blues just missed out on a first finals appearance since 2013 with close losses to Melbourne and Collingwood in the last two rounds of last season. Hewett missed a large chunk of the end of the season, while Walsh missed the crucial round 23 match. Both were dealing with back injuries.
Walsh is yet to join his teammates at Ikon Park for training in the lead up to Christmas, but Cripps was confident he would be back by January.
“He can run a lot better than me so doesn’t need as many weeks to get fit,” Cripps said.
Inside midfielder Hewett has returned to training, in a positive sign of his recovery from surgery.
“He’s done a lot of work … we definitely missed him at the back end of the year,” Cripps said. “I was chatting to him yesterday. He said he was handling the load really well.”
Hewett averaged almost 29 disposals in his 15 games with Carlton last season, but did not play after round 18 because of the injury. The Blues won only one of the five games he missed from that point.
With Jon Pierik
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