Proposed rule change would block former CEOs like Gillon McLachlan from board seats for nine years
Updated ,first published
In today’s AFL Briefing
- Dreamtime on ‘G Clash’ is no longer a fully ticketed game
- Matthew Lloyd believes the Bombers are in “crisis” and the manager has concerns about his future as we head into a crucial fortnight for the beleaguered club
- The AFLW season will feature five doubles matches, starting with Carlton and St Kilda
AFL clubs to consider proposed ineligibility period for commission
Peter Ryan
Former AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan will not sit on the AFL Commission until 2032 under a proposed package of changes to the AFL constitution aimed at setting term limits for 10-member board members.
A former AFL chief executive would not sit on the commission for nine years after leaving his role as a senior executive, according to a proposal sent to clubs for feedback.
McLachlan completed his term as AFL CEO in 2023 and joined publicly listed Tabcorp Holdings in August 2024, where he continues as CEO.
The league’s proposal is not an unusual practice in corporate governance because it allows for a cooling-off period after a CEO resigns to provide fresh air for new leadership without the presence of a recently departed executive on the board.
The nine-year non-election period is in line with proposed nine-year term limits for AFL Commission members and is just part of a series of changes already flagged by new commission chairman Craig Drummond.
McLachlan has not expressed interest in joining the commission since leaving the AFL but is seen as a quality sports administrator.
Drummond, who was Geelong chairman from 2021 to 2024, officially joined the AFL Commission as chairman in March following a lengthy process to find a replacement for former chairman Richard Goyder. Frustrated clubs criticized the lack of succession planning.
According to the proposals being considered, two current commissioners would have to give up their positions by the end of 2026, and five changes are expected to be phased in by the end of 2028.
The proposed term limit for future AFL Commission members would be nine years or three consecutive or non-consecutive three-year terms, with the potential for terms to be extended if a sitting commissioner is appointed as chairman.
Five current members of the AFL Commission were appointed in 2017 or earlier, with Paul Bassat being the longest-serving member of the commission since 2012.
Constitutional reform needs the approval of three-quarters of the current 18 clubs, with the hope that the proposals will be passed by the end of June.
The current structure of the AFL Commission began in 1993, when clubs handed over to the league the power to make decisions in the best interests of the game.
There is no former AFL CEO serving on the AFL Commission.
Dons lose Wright ahead of fortnight AFL campaign
Essendon lost ruckman Peter Wright to a knee injury ahead of a tough three-game period against underdogs Richmond, West Coast and Carlton.
Dons coach Brad Scott confirmed Wright will miss at least one game after it was confirmed he suffered knee ligament damage in Sunday’s 43-point defeat against Fremantle.
“Yeah, that’s not good,” Scott said on Fox Footy.
“He actually took a knock to his knee in the first quarter… He was able to play the game under some pressure, but the scans showed some PCL and MCL damage.
“He definitely won’t play this week. We’re hoping it’ll only last a few weeks.”
The injury blow came as club legend Matthew Lloyd warned the Bombers were in “crisis” and outlined concerns over Scott’s future as manager entering a crucial period for the beleaguered club.
The Bombers (1-9) will face Richmond on Friday night in a Dreamtime clash between the bottom two sides of the table before taking on the West Coast in Perth.
“This is a big fortnight for them,” Lloyd told the AFL website.
“I don’t even want to think about what would happen for Brad Scott if they lost to Richmond because I think it’s a win that they just have to put pen to paper and get it.
“This will show them where they stand as a club, both internally and externally.”
-Scott Spits and AAP
Tigers give up ‘fully ticketed’ status for Dreamtime
A crowd of more than 70,000 is expected at Dreamtime on Friday night for the ‘G clash between fallen giants Richmond and Essendon after the Tigers reversed an earlier decision to make it a fully ticketed fixture.
The AFL’s estimate of 72,000 comes as both clubs rebuild their lists and occupy the bottom two spots of the rankings with a 1-9 win-loss record.
To make matters worse, the Tigers are struggling to identify 26 fit players. Football boss Tim Livingstone checked with the AFL last week to see if state league players should be called for reinforcements.
The Bombers lost to Fremantle in front of an MCG crowd of 25,100 on Sunday, while Richmond suffered a 36-point loss to St Kilda in front of 31,000 fans at Marvel Stadium.
The Dreamtime game was the only Richmond home game originally scheduled to be fully ticketed this season.
“Initially, due to the high demand for Dreamtime during ‘G games, this game was considered fully ticketed to ensure all fans could enjoy a blockbuster experience,” the Tigers website said.
“The club, together with the AFL, have decided to open this game to general admission.”
Football fans complained early in the season about paying extra for a reserved seat if they did not have a season reserve seat, due to inflationary pressures on household budgets and rising fuel costs.
Last year’s Dreamtime match was attended by 76,051 people, down from 79,359 in 2024. The lowest post-COVID crowd was 70,226 in 2022.
Richmond are certain to make one change after defender Campbell Gray injured his hamstring against the Saints, but they could make four changes if necessary and still name a 23-man squad and three emergency squads.
Mykelti Lefau, Samson Ryan, Jasper Alger and Kaleb Smith are also likely to be candidates. Tom Sims is closing in on a return via the VFL but the Tigers are still determining his return-to-play schedule.
Nick Vlastuin was not cited by the match review official for his dangerous tackle on Saint Ryan Byrnes.
Byrnes received a free kick but his header did not hit the ground and he continued playing.
Luke Trainor (dislocated toe) and Sam Grjl (corkie) are both expected to be healthy.
Steely Green had his thumb scanned on Monday, but the Tigers expect him to be available as well.
One day, two games: AFL locked in double header
Carlton and St Kilda will kick off the 2026 AFLW season with a double-header featuring both men’s and women’s teams at Marvel Stadium for the annual ‘Spud’s Game’ on 9 August.
The bold move to launch the 11th AFLW season was confirmed by the league’s general manager of football, Laura Kane, on Monday.
The event is the first of five double-headers that will take place as the AFLW and AFL seasons overlap. The women’s match between St Kilda and Carlton will start at 16.35, while the men’s match in the 22nd round will start at 19.20.
Doubleheads have both lovers and haters; Some argue that they give the women’s game greater attention in front of a wider and more diverse audience and the chance to play in bigger, better venues.
But critics argue that only the most die-hard football fans are willing to sit in a stadium for six hours, risking a thin crowd waiting for the curtains to be raised.
“Success looks like a lot of people coming, a lot of people watching, the players integrating and the fans of those two clubs seeing both teams back to back at Marvel Stadium,” said Kane.
“The players, especially our captains, asked me a few things… and they wanted to play rep football, they wanted to play double-headers with the men and they wanted to play in stadiums like this. [Marvel]so they need to come up with a few more things for us to wear our skates on next year.
The fixture announcement comes in a crucial week for the AFLW; Coaching changes have been locked in at Hawthorn and Richmond, with the league confirming there will be a football match with AFLW representing Ireland on 1 August.
The match, which will feature 46 Irish players in the AFLW competition, will be the first to represent the AFLW since Victoria’s match against the Allies in 2017.
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Hannah Kennelly is an award-winning sports journalist and Formula 1 writer for The Age.Connect via email.
