Veteran AFL journalist Mike Sheahan believes the league treated Richmond’s Brendon Gale with “disrespect” during the search for the next AFL CEO.
After a lengthy search, Gillon McLachlan’s right-hand man Andrew Dillon was given the role.
Sheahan believes the perception from clubland was that Gale never had a fair crack at the position, but no one is sure exactly why.
“I think there was a push from clubland for Brendon to be in the mix and the perception at club level was that he wasn’t. That someone, or some group at the AFL, just had put a line through his name,” Sheahan told SEN Breakfast.
“No question it happened, but no one can find out why.”
Sheahan called out the AFL for their treatment of the veteran executive.
“I think that Gale was treated with disrespect in the process,” he said.
“I’m a fan of Andrew Dillon and he’s got the job, but Brendon Gale had to be a contender and a leading contender, and he wasn’t.”
Gale will remain Richmond CEO in 2024 and beyond.