Veteran AFL journalist Mike Sheahan believes Brendon Gale should be the future CEO of the AFL, should they side with someone that has clubland experience.
Following Gillon McLachlan’s sudden resignation from the role on Tuesday afternoon, Sheahan says there’s no question that Gale is the number one candidate.
Touted as being McLachlan’s potential successor for some time, Gale has been the CEO of the Richmond Football Club since 2009, taking the Tigers from a “basket case” to a “powerhouse”, winning premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020 and topping 100,000 members.
Gale’s experience as a past player, lawyer, chief of the players’ union and CEO has him as the pre-race favourite, according to Sheahan.
“I can’t give you any (names) that haven’t been canvassed but I think from clubland, Brendon Gale’s CV is impeccable,” Sheahan said on SEN Breakfast.
“I don’t know if he’ll get the job or not, but he certainly has to be the pre-race favourite, given his background as a player, 250 games, lawyer, ran the Players’ Association and took Richmond from being a basket case to a powerhouse.
“There’s no question in my mind that on the candidates that we know, Brendon Gale is my number one.”
Sheahan feels experience at club level shouldn’t be underestimated when choosing McLachlan’s successor, given their knowledge of the game and the intricacies that come with it.
“I think football’s big enough to say it can spawn its own people capable of running the competition, Gillon has done it well and I think Brendon or if there’s a better candidate at club level, they would do it well,” he added.
“I think it’s fashionable to say we’ll do this worldwide search, get these head-hunters in and come back with someone we’ve never heard of. I think it’s important to understand what happens in this industry because running the AFL is similar to being Prime Minister, except more people care about the AFL job.
“I can’t see how anyone at club level gets near him (Gale) in terms of his credentials.”
McLachlan will depart from his role at the end of the 2022 season.