AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon was hard-pressed on a range of issues in the competition when taking his place on Fox Footy's AFL360.
Dillon was quizzed on the return of James Hird to Essendon as senior coach, queries about Tasmania and the future of Gather Round and how representative football will be immersed into the league.
Dillon said the following on AFL360...
James Hird to Essendon
“What people sometimes potentially overlook is that James had a year off and came back and coached the Bombers back in 2015.
“He's been an assistant coach at the GWS Giants since that time, and even now he's got an active role with Port Melbourne in the VFL.
“So he's part of football at the moment, so ultimately it'll be a decision that the Essendon footy club will make.
"I spoke to the chief executive (on Tuesday), and it didn't even come up."
Big Vic clubs struggling
Three of the bottom four clubs in the competition are big Victorian sides in Essendon, Richmond and Carlton.
"There are cycles in an equalised competition.
"The heartland, where all the biggest crowds, the biggest amount of participants, the biggest amount of talent, of course, we'll be working closely with all those clubs.
"You can see upside in Carlton and Essendon.
"When you look at the ladder and see three of the bottom four clubs Victorian, there has to be (someone) in 18th position."
Tasmania stadium build
"Brendon Gale and Grant O'Brien are doing an incredible job down there.
"There's a fair bit of work to do. It's complex. But the stadium is the No.1 thing, and that's our big focus at the moment. It's on track.
"There's two builders in it, so it's a competitive tender. And then we'll deal with whatever comes.
"The teams in with a license. The stadium will get built, and they'll be starting in 2028."
Gather Round
"We're just dotting I's and crossing T's. When lawyers get involved, they can complicate things.
"It'll be sooner rather than later."
State of Origin
"We had the All Stars in 2025. Origin game at the start of this year. There's a real appetite for it.
"We're talking with different governments about that. Again, in parallel or a little bit after the announcement of Gather Round, we'll see a plan for representative footy for the next few years.
"Just keep the (Vic jumper) on the hanger."
Mid-season byes
"I've been here when we had a weekend of no footy. A weekend where there was one game. We did it over two weekends. We've done it over three weekends, where we have six games each weekend.
"It's a balance. What we do have to have is players have a week off. The team you barrack for will miss one week.
"We want to make sure we keep a Thursday night game, a Friday night game, three games on Super Saturday, which is really important, particularly for (the major broadcasters). And then we also want to have a couple games on a Sunday.
"Doing it over five weeks, with the King's Birthday, means we can have a full slate of games and no overlaps. I know everyone wants their team to play every week, but the byes are part and parcel with what we deal with. When Tassie comes in, by necessity, have a bye every weekend."
Wildcard Round
"I'm getting more confident by the week (it will be embraced).
"What it does do, and you look at the ladder we've got now. Carlton wins two games in a row and are a couple games out. It gives hope to the fans, and that's an important part of it."
Waverley/Caulfield training grounds
Melbourne has been linked with a move to Caulfield, and away from Casey. They could move to Waverley, which was previously occupied by Hawthorn, in the interim, as the training grounds get built.
"Ongoing discussions with Melbourne. I'm not privy to the discussions they're having with the Melbourne Racing Club and the government. But we do know the purchase of Waverley for the industry last year was important, and we're working with (the Demons) on that.
"For a short time, it will be important for Richmond, if Melbourne did move, it opens up Gosch's Paddock for Richmond. The beauty is, it's a ground for the industry. Freo trained on it the other week before the played the Bombers, and it worked really well."
