AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has defended his leadership of the competition amid ongoing reports on internal tensions.
Dillon has come under scrutiny for the management of the league's executive team in the past year.
Laura Kane's duties as Executive General Manager of Football were reduced and experienced football figure Greg Swann was recruited to boost the department.
The exit of long-time government relations head Jude Donnelly before Christmas heightened internal tensions, with some reports linking it to outgoing chairman Richard Goyder.
However, Dillon insisted these "teething issues" had been resolved, and said the league is entering the 2026 season strongly with the experienced executive team, which includes new chief operating officer Tom Harley.
"We have got a super-experienced executive team, and I am just really confident, super excited for the year ahead," Dillon said on Thursday.
"Greg Swann and Laura [Kane] leading the footy, Tom Harley coming in as chief operating officer. Again, a really experienced executive team.
“I am not going to go into coming and going and work issues, but Greg and Laura are super-experienced administrators, and they are both doing an incredible job."
