Carlton chief executive Brian Cook has outlined his preferred candidate to replace Gillon McLachlan as AFL CEO.
Cook would like to see someone from one of the 18 clubs succeed McLachlan in the league’s top job.
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale and Western Bulldogs president Kylie Watson-Wheeler are two names who have been linked to the role out of AFL clubland.
Current AFL executives Andrew Dillon, Travis Auld and Kylie Rogers have also been mentioned as potential candidates.
Subscribe to the SEN YouTube channel for the latest videos!
Sportsday co-host Sam McClure asked Cook: “Who would you endorse as the next CEO?”
Cook replied: “It’s a tough one, isn’t it?
“I would probably endorse someone who has good football experience, good football business experience, so therefore probably someone from one of the AFL clubs.”
McClure said further: “So you wouldn’t endorse someone already at the AFL? Like an Andrew Dillon or a Travis Auld.”
Cook responded: “They’re both very, very good.
“But if you ask me for my preference, I would say someone from within the AFL clubs.”
Cook was also asked whether an AFL team in Tasmania could work without an existing club being relocated to the Apple Isle.
The Blues chief believes a 19th licence in Tasmania is a “free option” for the AFL.
“Tasmania has a better chance of working than not working,” he said.
“I’m a bit of a believer in this is a free option that the AFL has been provided by the Tasmanian Government.
“If you put the stadium together with the dollars the Government are going to give to the new club plus other dollars, I think it works out to be about $900 million, something like that.
“It’s a free option. The AFL don’t need to put anything in as this stage.
“There are other issues – there’s the talent distribution, there’s the staff distribution, there’s the stadium.
“I think we should be discussing this very much at a high level. I think it’s a good option.”
The 18 AFL club presidents will vote on whether to award Tasmania a new licence in August.