‘Floundering' AFL stuck in crisis mode amid AFL Commission leadership vacuum emerges: ‘Nobody wants the job'
The AFL entered crisis mode last week when football boss Laura Kane issued three separate statements on the handling of a concussion incident.
The second correspondence left umpires privately seething before the AFL accepted in its third and last that it 'failed' in its processes.
AFL Players' Association president Paul Marsh condemned league bosses while Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley spoke out against the 'inconsistencies' and 'lack of confidence' stemming from decisions and their messaging.
Kane and her department recently received support with the appointment of respected administrator and part-time consultant Geoff Walsh to a full-time role.
But Wilson said the problems continue above with CEO Andrew Dillon and AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder.
'The first thing that has to happen is there has to be a change at the top,' The Agenda Setters expert said on 3AW.
'Most people agree, and the chorus has become deafening, that Richard Goyder needs a replacement.
'For the first time in memory, in the history of the commission, there is no succession plan — just as (former AFL CEO) Gillon McLachlan had no succession plan, which started a lot of this problem.
'There is no succession plan on the commission. Nobody on the commission wants the job, apparently, and Richard Goyder was saying there was no one on the commission he believes can do the job.'
Football legend Leigh Matthews said: 'You've got to laugh at that, Caro.'
Wilson replied: 'Don't shoot the messenger.'
The commission is made up of Goyder, Dillon, Paul Bassat, Robin Bishop, Denise Bowden, ex-AFL player Matt De Boer, former Sydney Swans CEO Andrew Ireland, ex-Hawthorn president Andrew Newbold, former GWS director Gabrielle Trainor and Simone Wilkie.
A recruiting firm has been hired to find candidates, Wilson said, adding 'in the meantime the (club) presidents are circling'.
Sydney Swans president Andrew Pridham is seen as a 'strong choice', with Port Adelaide's David Koch and former Collingwood chairman Jeff Browne also candidates.
Wilson said she was unsure if Goyder planned to step down when his term expires at the end of the year, or stick around during the transition to a new chair.
'That has to change. Andrew Dillon needs a strong chairman,' Wilson said.
'Andrew Dillon then needs to make (sure), and people internally are saying this, not just one person but several — never waste a crisis. Everybody admits there is a crisis.
'The communication department is floundering, the footy department is floundering.
'The legal counsel, in my view, is floundering. There's no structure. The AFL has become a regime of crime and punishment.
'The umpiring is floundering. Never have I seen the players and umpires more at odds with each other.
'Never have I seen players so disgruntled with head office over fines and the refusal to listen.
'Never have I seen the coaches more unhappy about the lack of respect they're being shown on every level.'
Wilson also said she was 'disappointed' to say the communication from the AFL to the fans has been lacking like never before.
'Every interview they do is sort of manufactured,' she said.
'Someone commented about Laura Kane's recent interviews — it was like reading in an AI interview, artificial intelligence.
'These are smart, good people, but none of them are showing leadership and none of them seem to be in the right roles.
'And everyone is saying they need a deputy or they need another strong person.
'Well, no, you step up and do the job or step down.'
The AFL has yet to recruit a chief operating officer to work alongside Dillon, who wants an experienced club boss to take on the role.
Simon Garlick (Fremantle) has been considered the frontrunner with Tom Harley (Sydney) and Ameet Bains (Bulldogs) appearing less likely to swap clubland for AFL House.
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The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
Ginnivan takes on Adelaide Oval crowd, but Crows have the last laugh with stunning win
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News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Extraordinary': Crows edge Hawks in thriller as clutch hero leads stunning AFL flag push
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Hawthorn meanwhile fell to 13-7 and is suddenly in jeopardy of missing the top eight ahead of clashes with Collingwood, Melbourne (both MCG) and Brisbane (Gabba) on its run home. The 3-2-1 (via Jack Jovanovski) ... 3. 'EXTRAORDINARY SEQUENCES' AS SKIPPER, SPARKPLUG STEER 'TREMENDOUS' FIGHTBACK It was Jordan Dawson who spearheaded the initial comeback after quarter-time, but fourth-quarter matchwinning moments from Izak Rankine and Taylor Walker ensured the Crows overturned an eight-point three-quarter-time deficit to win by 14 points and temporarily claim top spot on the ladder. The spectacle well and truly lived up to its Friday night billing, with the visiting Hawks throwing everything they had at the hosts in the first and third quarters, but Adelaide again proved why it's shaping as an almighty premiership threat eight years on from the false dawn of 2017. 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Will Day was outstanding (in the first quarter), and (Dawson) just went to the centre square and … stood right beside him as if to say 'OK, we know we've got work to do, let me lead the way here, and I'll take the most dangerous'.' Dunstall added: 'This has been a tremendous surge by the Crows.' Thilthorpe kicked three goals in the quarter, and all in all, it was eight unanswered goals between late in the first quarter and early in the third. Dunstall said at the main change: 'They've had a dominant second term where they were just controlling every single category, (the) ball living in their forward half, (and) defence completely on top on the rare occasions the Hawks did go forward. This is impressive.' In the second quarter alone, the Crows were +9 for inside-50s and +22 for contested possessions. 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'He's had seven touches in the last quarter, five of them result in scores, he's kicked two himself, and he's had about three different opponents … sometimes you've just got to dip your lid, and Izak Rankine is the one.' Dunstall said: 'This is a team that's got some matchwinners. This man here, Izak Rankine, is worth his weight in gold. He can turn a game in the space of 10 minutes.' Rankine finished his night with an equal-game-high nine score involvements to go with his three goals. Two massive Taylor Walker set shot goals provided the Crows the buffer they needed to close out the deal. Walker also posted seven score involvements for the evening. 'They (the Hawks) came out firing and we didn't bring our best contest, but unbelievable effort from the boys to fight back in that second quarter, and then from there on, it was just an arm wrestle,' Dawson told Fox Footy after the final siren. Of Nicks' message at quarter-time, Dawson said: 'I mean, we haven't had too many quarters like that this year. He was really calm, really measured, (just talking about getting) back to our process, to keep trusting each other in our roles — which we've been doing the whole year — but we got away from that, we got a little bit too sucked into the contest. Unbelievable to turn it around, and it just shows the maturity of the group.' 2. HAWKS' BLOW IN FINALS RACE AS SCRIPT BRUTALLY FLIPPED AMID 21-YEAR FIRST It was a Hawthorn blitz early in proceedings at Adelaide Oval, and it was all about its work at clearance. The Hawks were comprehensive at the source, winning the first-quarter count 15-5 to give themselves quality scoring chances. Evergreen forward Jack Gunston booted two of the first three goals for the Hawks, who hit hard off counterpunch, characteristically looking to go through the corridor as they piled on five unanswered majors before Adelaide's first to lead by 26 points at the first change. 'They were on fire. Perfect what-to-do on the road is get off hard, win the clearances, win the contested ball, tackle hard and put Adelaide on the back foot,' Adelaide Crows icon Mark Ricciuto assessed on Fox Footy. Dunstall added the Hawks' clearance ascendancy was a rarity this season: 'Fifteen to five for clearances … that's an advantage they've rarely enjoyed this season. And then that translates to a territory advantage … the defence stood up; they conceded 1.1 from 11 inside-50s.' The Hawks finished the opening term +20 for points from clearance. Six of their clearances came via Will Day, with that being the best effort in a quarter by a Hawthorn player this season. But in the second term, the script was completely flipped on its head as the home side got to work. The Crows went on an unanswered run of eight goals to strike fear into the hearts of the Hawks, lifting their intensity to a critical level. It was the first time the Hawks had been held scoreless in a second quarter since Round 22, 2004. 'It was an extraordinary first quarter from the Hawks — they fired their best shot — and the Crows just said 'I see that and I'll raise you',' Dunstall said at half-time. Hawthorn allowed Adelaide 23 more contested possessions in the second quarter alone. The Hawks still had nine more clearances at half-time, but they'd been overtaken for territory, with the Crows generating four more entries. 'Hawthorn can't allow 22 (contested possessions) against (in the third), because then it's not going to matter what they do in front or behind the ball, it's not going to be enough,' Buckley said. 'We'll see — Dawson and Day, we'll see Newcombe and Berry; we'll see these matchups through the middle of the field … those contests are going to be instructive.' Conor Nash broke Adelaide's run of eight-straight goals at the six-minute mark of the third quarter, before the Hawks incredibly went on another rampant run of majors — booting five in a row for the second time on Friday night. Lyon said the response from Mitchell's charges was 'fantastic' after giving up the first goal of the term to trail by as many as 22 points, generating their scores off the back of 10 intercept marks in the quarter. 'Let's just put this in perspective. They gave up 20+ contested possessions in the second quarter, so to go in and gather yourself, give up the first goal of the third quarter, and then bang five in a row — fantastic response,' Lyon said. But inaccuracy was problematic in the final stanza, with the Hawks managing a measly 2.4 to Adelaide's 6.2 as they surrendered their eight-point three-quarter-time lead. The loss means the Hawks could finish the round as low as seventh on the ladder, with daunting matchups with Collingwood and Brisbane among its last three games of the home-and-away season. And in a year where it appears 15 wins might be necessary to guarantee a place in September, Hawthorn will simply have to win one of those Pies and Lions games to get to that number and give themselves a chance. 1. SAM'S FORWARD GAMBLE FALLS FLAT Sam Mitchell's bold selection call to play four tall forwards justifiably prompted plenty of media attention in the lead-up. They hadn't done it all year, so why now? Mabior Chol was the man recalled on Friday night after missing with a groin complaint, lining up alongside Jack Gunston, Calsher Dear and Mitch Lewis. Speaking pre-game, the senior coach told Fox Footy his reasoning: 'A bit of availability, we play three a lot of the time on the field — and you'll only see three on the field at once — it (also) fixes a bit of second-ruck issues for us. It'll be good to get 'Mabs' back, he's been important for us all year.' Chol bagged an early goal — an impressive set shot — to settle nerves, but from that point on, there was basically nothing to note from himself and the likes of Dear and Lewis. Typically, Gunston was the one consistently presenting a threat, kicking two in the first half and finishing the night with four majors and seven score involvements. Halfway through the third quarter, Mitchell made his move — an admission of sorts — tactically removing Dear from the contest after the young high-marker went scoreless with no marks and just three disposals in 67 per cent game time. 'It's an interesting one, (subbing) Calsher Dear. Lewis is the one that can't really get to the contests at the moment,' Lyon said of the move. Mitchell's choice to name James Worpel the sub initially looked a perplexing one on paper, but you got the sense it was to rebalance the side if the plan to field four talls didn't bear fruits. Lewis kicked his first of the night with a snap at the 23-minute mark of the third, capping his night with seven disposals and four marks. Lewis, Dear and Chol combined for two goals. Again, it was the small who went to work for Hawthorn, with Nick Watson and Jack Ginnivan combining for 12 score involvements, and Dylan Moore adding five of his own and a goal.
7NEWS
10 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Izak Rankine gifted contentious 50-metre penalty in dying stages of thrilling Adelaide win
Controversy erupted after a contentious 50-metre penalty during the thrilling last quarter between Adelaide and Hawthorn on Friday night. Before eventually going on to win by 14 points, the Crows were gifted a certain goal when Izak Rankine was walked to the goal line because James Sicily encroached on the mark. Sicily and his nearby teammates Massimo D'Ambrosio and Jack Scrimshaw protested that it should have been play on because Rankine appeared to run off his mark. Replays later showed the reason Rankine moved off his mark was because the ball was in fact touched before it got to him, meaning it shouldn't have been a mark in the first place. But it was paid as one, and the umpire wasn't satisfied that he moved enough to call play on. 'Hawthorn thought it was play on — it wasn't,' James Brayshaw said. Matthew Richardson added: 'Izak Rankine thought it was play on', and Kane Cornes said, 'He played on!' Sicily could be heard pleading his case to the umpire after the goal was kicked, which extended the Crows' lead at the time to 12 points, giving them the buffer they needed to hang on with 14 minutes left. 'Even he thought he played on,' Sicily said of Rankine, to which the umpire responded, 'He (the controlling umpire) didn't call play on, the umpire didn't call play on.' Cornes couldn't believe it: 'It's just a disgraceful 50-metre penalty. 'The player on the mark reacts to the player with the ball. He's allowed to move because he's played on. 'And we'll have a look at it — it's touched anyway, so that's the reason Izak Rankine played on, that's the reason Sicily reacted. 'How can you miss that? Crows spearhead Riley Thilthorpe slotted four goals in the comeback win, which returns them to top of the AFL ladder. The fast-finishing Crows kicked six goals to two in the last quarter for a gutsy 15.11 (101) to 13.9 (87) triumph. The Crows slipped 32 points down late in the first term before a sell-out 50,654-strong crowd at Adelaide Oval. They recovered to take the lead, only to lose it and trail by eight points at three-quarter time. The Crows, with stars Rankine and Taylor Walker kicking two goals each in a final term, then finished with a flourish. Walker converted two long-range set shots to seal victory — he kicked three goals for the game, as did Rankine. Adelaide sit top with a 15-5 win-loss record but Collingwood could reclaim pole position with a victory over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night. Hawthorn (13-7) remain in fifth — only a win ahead of ninth spot — and hold fresh concern over influential midfielder Will Day, who limped from the field late. The Hawks were gallant but ultimately overpowered by the Crows who were well-served by Irish-born defender Mark Keane (21 disposals, six marks), halfback Wayne Milera (19 touches) and winger Dan Curtin (20). Key forward Thilthorpe's four-goal haul was complemented by Rankine and Walker while captain Jordan Dawson kicked two majors from his 21 disposals. Hawthorn stalwart Jack Gunston booted four goals and Jack Ginnivan (19 disposals) two. Hawk duo D'Ambrosio (25 possessions) and Karl Amon (23) were standouts and skipper James Sicily dominated in the air with 11 marks. In a wildly fluctuating fixture, Hawthorn raced to a 32-point lead late in the first quarter. The Crows hit back with 6.6 to nothing in the second term for a 16-point advantage at halftime. Adelaide went 18 points up before a steely response from the Hawks returned six of the next seven goals as the visitors edged eight points clear at the final change. The Crows then jumped 12 points up before two goals from Gunston, both from holding free kicks, out the Hawks one point up. Adelaide responded with the last three goals of the game, with Walker's two long bombs sending the sell-out crowd into raptures.
