Two roles at AFL House have been filled, with incoming AFL chief executive Andrew Dillion looking to finalise his team ahead of the off-season.
Dillon will officially take over from the departing Gillon McLachlan at the conclusion of September, with several roles around now also being filled.
After being appointed as the league's new boss, Dillon's old role as the AFL's executive general manager of football operations, legal, integrity and general counsel was made vacant, while the competition's executive general manager of finance, clubs and broadcast, Travis Auld, will also leave AFL HQ.
Since Dillon has taken on more responsibility as the CEO-elect following his appointment in May, general manager of competition management, Laura Kane, has taken on the role of acting general manager of football in Dillon's place.
Kane has now secured the role full-time, with the AFL making the announcement on Monday.
Becoming the AFL's first female football operations boss, Kane brings with her experience at North Melbourne and has been at AFL House since late 2021.
โThis AFL season has continued throw up a diverse mix of challenges at our competition and Laura has led the football department team brilliantly in what has been a record year for our game,โ Dillon said in a club statement.
โLaura's experience, expertise, temperament and resilience, paired with building a team of additional key football talent, is the right mix to lead the Football Department. As someone who was involved in both the day-to -day operations and strategic planning of an AFL men's program and also a key part of North Melbourne's successful bid for an AFLW team, Laura has brought to the AFL a keen sense of club experience and knowledge of the impact of AFL decisions.
โFootball is core business for the AFL and we have a responsibility to the clubs, players, coaches, umpires and the fans to deliver the best environments, the best resources, and the best competitions so our game can continue to be the best game in the world.โ
The general manager of football operations role isn't the only vacancy filled, with former Essendon football boss Josh Mahoney land the position of competition management on Monday also.
Mahoney, who will leave the Bombers at the cessation of this season, is set to overlook the AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW competitions in a widespread role.
Mahoney, a premiership player with Port Adelaide, has over a decade of experience in football operations with Melbourne and Essendon.
The AFL announced Mahoney's appointment on Monday, leaving the general manager of football performance as the next key vacancy needing to be filled, with the position remaining open since Brad Scott's departure last year.
โJosh is a very talented and experienced football person. As player, coach and then administrator, he has lived the highs and lows of the AFL ecosystem,โ Dillon said.
โHis experience at all levels of clubland will be a great addition to our AFL team.โ
