Andrew Dillon has reportedly been selected as the AFL’s next CEO and will replace Gillon McLachlan.
Multiple outlets on Wednesday night reported Dillon was now poised to step up from his current role as Executive General Manager of Football Operations.
McLachlan announced his decision to resign from the top job over 12 months ago, with the extended search for his successor drawing criticism from many club presidents and CEOs.
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“After months of speculation I can now confidently report to you, it is my belief that the AFL Commission has decided on Gillon McLachlan’s replacement and that is Andrew Dillon,” Sam McClure, who broke the news, said on 3AW.
McClure added he believed Dillon would be confirmed as McLachlan’s successor next week following an expected announcement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of funding for a stadium in Tasmania this weekend.
“It’s taken months to convince Dillon in his desire for the job given his under-the-radar status and nature, but his experience and his intelligence have shone through,” McClure added.
In recent weeks, Western Bulldogs president and Disney executive Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Chief Financial Officer Travis Auld and Dillon were seen as the two leading candidates for the role.
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.
It was reported by Seven News’ Mitch Cleary earlier this month Dillon had sought advice from McLachlan’s predecessor, Andrew Demetriou, in his efforts to be named McLachlan’s successor.
