Veteran AFL columnist Caroline Wilson has grilled the league over what she deems an “embarrassing” search for its next CEO, with no end in sight for current boss Gillon McLachlan.
McLachlan, who has been the head of the AFL since 2014, announced last April that he would step down from his role at the end of 2022, but still remains in the role.
Wilson said current AFL executive Andrew Dillon remains the favourite to replace McLachlan, with Bulldogs president Kylie Watson-Wheeler also having “jumped into contention” in recent weeks.
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She revealed that there were still calls from those within the AFL commission for McLachlan to remain in charge, and said the lengthy search for his replacement has caused drama around the competition.
”I’ve never seen such unrest and dissatisfaction among clubs for a number of reasons,” she told 9News Melbourne.
“The dissatisfaction is largely aimed at the chairman, Richard Goyder. I think it (the CEO search) has been embarrassing. It’s been unprofessional to be generous.”
Wilson predicted that an announcement on McLachlan’s replacement would be made “in the coming weeks”, but admitted that the current CEO’s end date remains uncertain.
McLachlan was in Adelaide for the AFL’s inaugural Gather Round at the weekend and revealed South Australia would continue to host the round for the next three years.
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