Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon has urged new AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan to “radically review” policies of affordability when he officially begins in the top job.
McLachan, groomed by Andrew Demetriou to be his successor for the past three years, was announced as the new CEO at an 11am press conference at AFL House.
The AFL has endured a rugged opening to the season, with ticket prices, the cost of food and drink and general affordability of matches for families one area of concern among supporters.
Gordon, in charge of one of the AFL’s battling clubs, said McLachlan, 40, would make alleviating these concerns a priority.
“I think the whole question of affordability of the game for the average fan is something that the AFL needs to take a whole new look at. Not just a question of ticket pricing, but the question of affordability generally in terms of access to the game,” he said.
“I think we need to be encouraging people to be at the game. More and more we are competing against TV to watch our own product.
“I just think we need to introduce policies that radically review the question of how easy it is for a family to take their kids to the game and enjoy it as generations of Australians have over the last 100 years.”
Speaking on 3AW, Gordon said there was a “tension point” between the AFL’s right to make a profit and the need to keep the sport within reach of the average family.
“We clearly haven’t got that balance right. I think that will be one of the priorities for Gillon,” he said.
Gordon said he had been impressed with McLachlan’s negotiation skills, having worked closely with him on the equalisation sub-committee.
“I think he would have learnt a lot from working with Andrew Demetriou,” he said.
McLachlan, born into a wealthy South Australian farming family, is renowned for his negotiation skills, although Essendon supporters have questioned how he handled the supplements issue last year which resulted in the suspension of coach James Hird and other staff. However, he has the support of the majority of clubs.
He has been involved in all major deals in recent times. He is also overseeing the game’s next broadcast rights contract, negotiating with the Western Australian government over Perth’s new football stadium, planning the AFL’s strategy over the potential purchase of Etihad Stadium and working with Cricket Victoria and St Kilda over a proposed joint venture at the Junction Oval.
McLachlan has three children with wife Laura, the daughter of wealthy former Spotless chairman Brian Blythe. He has a strong love for suburban football and is still a regular attendee at Uni Blues matches in the VAFA where he was a former ruckman, best and fairest and is a life member.
He is well connected with friends in major industries and through the football world, including Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and Elite Sports Properties boss Craig Kelly.
McLachlan’s impressive resume includes a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Adelaide and a Bachelor of Laws (hons) from the University of Melbourne.
He worked in a strategic role at Anderson Consulting (now Accenture) which involved a number of industries in several countries. This included a six-month contract in the Philippines.
He joined the AFL in 2000 as a strategic planner under then AFL chief Wayne Jackson and was appointed general manager commercial operations in November 2003 before taking on the key broadcasting major projects roles in 2006.
He became chief operating officer in 2008 with the responsibility for broadcasting and digital media, fixturing, venue agreements and stadia infrastructure.
Having been approached to leave and run the National Rugby League in 2012, the AFL moved swiftly to retain him, ensuring he was given a healthy pay rise and elevated into the deputy CEO role.
