AFL picks Andrew Dillon as new CEO to take over from Gillon McLachlan after long search

The AFL will appoint Andrew Dillon as its new chief executive after a prolonged worldwide search landed on the man in an office near incumbent Gillon McLachlan.

Dillon is currently the AFL’s executive general manager football operations, legal and integrity, as well as the organisation’s general counsel.

He will replace McLachlan at the end of this season in a move to be announced at a media conference in Melbourne on Monday morning.

McLachlan will continue as chief executive to work through issues including the entry of a Tasmanian club into the AFL and the ongoing independent investigation into claims of historical racism at Hawthorn.

Dillon (pictured right with outgoing CEO Gil McLachlan, third from left, at the St Kilda vs Port match on Friday) will not take over the top job until October 2

Dillon has been with the AFL for 23 years after originally coming on board as legal counsel and is currently the league’s executive general manager of football operations

McLachlan announced he was quitting the job in April last year and wanted to stand down at the end of last season.

But he was urged to stay on by the AFL commission amid a global search for a replacement.

The hunt ultimately landed on Dillon, who joined the league in 2000 as legal counsel.

Dillon has since held several positions including general manager of areas including legal and business affairs, as well as national and international development.

The way the search dragged on left some footy powerbrokers infuriated, with Eddie McGuire telling the league to ‘swallow its pride’ and keep McLachlan in the top juob in remarks made just last week.

McLachlan (pictured with deputy prime minister Richard Marles at the Anzac Day game between Collingwood and Essendon) is staying on board to keep working on big issues like Tasmania’s successful bid to join the AFL

Respected AFL reporter Caroline Wilson branded the long process ’embarrassing’ when league chairman Richard Goyder made an inappropriate joke in front of club heavyweights in Adelaide for Gather Round.

He reportedly suggested South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas should be McLachlan’s successor.

‘I have never seen an AFL chairman so underwhelmingly received by the rest of the clubs. The clubs are very disappointed with Richard Goyder and not happy with the process,’ Wilson said. 

‘Waxing lyrical about the South Australian Premier, his tall stature, his good looks and his amateur footy background, Goyder joked that Peter Malinauskas was not unlike Gillon McLachlan and maybe he should be the next AFL CEO.

‘Frankly, this was insulting, certainly to four of the five candidates who were in the room when he made that joke, all of whom have spent the best part of the last year devoting themselves to going for the job, and all of whom have had their brands tarnished by Richard Goyder’s performance.’

Dillon said he was in awe of his new position shortly after his appointment became official.

‘I am honoured and truly humbled,’ Dillon said in a statement on Monday.

‘Football has been a defining part of my life and it is a privilege to be able to lead the industry in ensuring our game remains relevant, accessible and welcoming to all Australians.’

The outgoing CEO is pictured with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas during Gather Round in Adelaide. AFL chairman Richard Goyder reportedly got club bosses offside with an inappropriate joke about the state leader taking over from McLachlan

‘Andrew has been a key leader and voice in every decision we have made as an organisation for many years,’ AFL chairman Richard Goyder said in a statement.

‘He brings not only experience across both elite and community football but also a key involvement in our major broadcast and partnership deals and in developing and shaping the AFL’s response to a number of key social issues.’

Dillon outlined a mission for the AFL to be ‘unrivalled in comparison to other sports and to develop a growing global interest’.

His appointment has prompted a reshuffle in other senior management roles.

The current general manager of competition management, Laura Kane, will now be acting general manager of football.

And the current general manager of legal and regulatory, Stephen Meade, will become the league’s general counsel.