Dillon insists strong AFL leadership despite Caro claims

Caroline Wilson has made a huge call on Andrew Dillon, stating her belief that the AFL boss will be out of his role as league CEO by the end of 2026.

As reported by Wilson, Dillon was caught in a scandal involving long-term AFL staffer Judith Donnelly, who was blamed and ultimately sacked for the debacle that has been the AFL commission since the introduction of Dillon.

Accused for the tensions and faults surrounding Laura Kane, Donnelly was reportedly forced out of her role, and it may not bode well for Dillon in the long term.

“A big story that has been happening has been the leadership changes in footy at the AFL, where Greg Swann came in, took over from Laura Kane, but that was never properly explained,” Wilson told Don’t Shoot the Messenger Podcast.

“It was said that they were going to share the role; that hasn’t worked. There has been real leadership tensions between those two, between people working under Laura Kane and Greg Swann. It’s been embarrassing.

“They have not got on, and it hasn’t really worked. Jude Donnelly, who is a bit of an unofficial chief of staff to Andrew Dillon, a big supporter of Andrew Dillon who lobbied hard for him to get the job with Andrew Demetriou and others – was blamed by Richard Goyder (departing chairman) for the commission stories, bizarrely, because of her friendship with Jeff Browne (former Collingwood CEO).

“She was blamed for the stories about the leadership tensions between Laura Kane and Greg Swann, wrongly.

“Her role was corporate but largely involving government. She was involved in the Tasmania stadium deal, the amazing Brisbane stadium deal that has got the AFL the best deal ever with the new stadium post Olympics.

“Andrew Dillon basically said to her, Richard wants you gone. Andrew Dillon looks weak, Richard Goyder looks like a bully, firing bullets on the way out.

“Andrew Dillon should have stood up and said no! Richard backs Laura Kane, he blamed her for some reason for the Laura Kane debacle.

“I think it’s difficult to see how Andrew Dillon lasts the year. I think his leadership has been so badly diminished by this, unless he really did want her to go and he was just pretending when he told her… apparently there were tears at this meeting, it was really emotional.

“The stories that people were told about why she’d left… there was just misinformation going everywhere.

“The plan is, unless something goes horribly wrong, that (Tom Harley) will be the next CEO of the AFL.

“The fact that he is there (as COO) – will it happen within a year? Maybe I’m being unfair, but I think the poor handling of so many issues last year on and off the field – off the field mainly, despite the fact that they boast about the ratings and the crowds and this and that.”

With Wilson’s massive call at the forefront of their minds, Kane Cornes and Sam Edmund discussed the current climate at AFL House.

Cornes wonders if the league needs to address such a significant statement made by a respected journalist.

“That’s the biggest statement out of it all,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“No one knows the inner workings from the outside better than Caro. That’s why we always take her insights and informed opinions on these things so seriously.

“Almost once Caro marks you publicly like that it’s very rare that you come back from that. It sounds extreme but that’s the reality of it.

“The AFL has a new media manager (Stacey Oates) now in place - Do you think they need to respond to this? Do they need to come out publicly and allay fears and leadership concerns?

“Andrew Dillon has recently returned from India, ‘Swanny’ (Gregg Swann) is at the Super Bowl, and I’m not sure what Laura Kane’s up to as we don’t hear as much from her as we used to when she took over.

“I just feel like there needs to definitely be stronger leadership and brings the fans along for the ride of what exactly is going on. Just calm the nerves down. ‘We are in control’ - I just don’t think we hear that and we don’t have the reassurance.

“I feel it’s a secret society at AFL House, don’t you think?”

Edmund doesn’t necessarily agree they need to respond, but did float the concerns inside the organisation right now.

“It doesn’t matter what we hear, we need to see it,” Edmund said. “There’s been so much volatility at AFL House.

“We’re talking about the two biggest pillars in the organisation. The Head of the Commission and the disaster that process was with Richard Goyder wanting to affect that process.

“The you’ve got the CEO in Andrew Dillon potentially not being there by the end of the year according to Caro.

“You’ve got the head of the football department clashing with other members of staff in Greg Swann and Laura Kane.

“So it’s cross, cross, cross, really, at the moment.

“But I don’t think they need to respond publicly, no. I don’t think they’re going to buy into everything.”

Speaking on Thursday, Dillon is confident the leadership of the AFL and his own is in strong shape.

“The AFL is in an incredibly strong position,” he said.

“We have a super experienced executive team, I am just super excited for the year ahead.

“Greg Swann and Laura leading the footy, Tom Harley coming in as chief operating officer and a really experienced executive team. I am excited for the year ahead.

“The integrity department at the AFL is super well resourced and led by a very experienced administrator in Tony Keane and I have absolute faith in what they do.”

Listen to the full discussion below: