AFL hires Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann as head of soccer efficiency

Swann has a document of constructing choices comparatively rapidly after consulting with the related events, quite than lengthy deliberations, a way that’s seemingly on the AFL.

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The AFL view of his appointment is that it’s going to enhance membership relations and the boldness that golf equipment have within the head workplace after a troublesome half-season replete with challenges and controversy over numerous points, together with the sanctioning of gamers for off-field indiscretions and match evaluate instances and the dealing with of umpiring.

Whereas the information was broadly welcomed at membership stage, some golf equipment – St Kilda being probably the most vocal – have been agitating for modifications to the expertise academies within the northern states. These arguing for change may discover that Swann, given his expertise as Lions chief govt, is unpersuaded by their academy issues.

Swann has intensive media relationships and is predicted to be inspired to be a extra public and open communicator for the league on soccer issues.

“Greg has a deep love and understanding of the game, he respects its heritage and has a great instinct on the future direction of footy. He understands how much it means for so many people,” Dillon stated.

“As I said last week, the game is the reason we exist; it is as big and as good as it has ever been, and the AFL football department must continue to evolve.

“I have great confidence in Laura and Greg to lead our newly announced football department and continue to work with our clubs, players, coaches, umpires, venues and officials to keep our game strong, and to ensure footy remains the number one sport in the country — by every measure.”

Swann, 63, was chief govt of Carlton and Collingwood, earlier than taking the highest job on the Lions in 2014.

He took over at a time when the Lions had been struggling financially and performing poorly on the sector, and he was accountable for the appointment of Chris Fagan as coach on the finish of 2016.

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Swann leaves the Lions in strong well being being debt free, working out of a brand new $80 million high-performance centre, having simply gained a males’s premiership and prone to have $10 million in money reserves on the finish of the yr.

Lightheartedly describing the AFL because the “mothership” when saying his transfer to Lions gamers and workers on Monday, Swann famous Brisbane’s enviable document of enjoying up to now 5 grand finals for which they’ve competed – three AFLW grand finals (premiership in 2023) and the previous two AFL deciders (premiership in 2024.

Swann will end on the Lions on Friday, July 18 and begin at AFL Home on Monday, July 21.

The AFL remains to be looking for a brand new chief working officer, who could be second in cost and a doable successor to Dillon. Three membership CEOs – Tom Harley from Sydney, Simon Garlick from Fremantle and Ameet Bains from the Western Bulldogs – are on the shortlist.

A supply near Garlick, who don’t need to be named, stated he was uncertain of pursuing the place.

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