After steering the league through a turbulent 2020 season, ex-Bulldogs skipper Robert Murphy believes that the AFL's Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan could be moving on to a much larger role.
Following this week's news that Brisbane will host the games of the XXXV Olympiad in 2032, the former Dogs defender claimed that McLachlan had been approached to head up the global event.
Speaking on his regular afternoon program 'Bob and Andy' on SEN, the two-time All-Australian disclosed that an anonymous source had alerted him to McLachlan's potential career shift.
“A little birdie has told me that with the recent news Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympic Games, Gillon McLachlan, AFL CEO, has been sounded out to be the CEO of that Olympics and is weighing up that as his next step,” Murphy said.
“Just watch this space, put that little seed in the dirt.”
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Veteran journalist and broadcaster Andy Maher believed that it would be in McLachlan's best interest to take up the offer.
“That makes so much sense," Maher said in response to Murphy.
"Do that job, international exposure, IOC positions there after if he wants, introduction to a whole new level of sport administration and executives.
“It sort of feels like it would be an appropriate and understandable next step.”
McLachlan, 48, has held professional links with the AFL since the year 2000, when he was hired by former league CEO Wayne Jackson as a strategy consultant.
The South-Australian has worked in various posts at AFL house since the turn of the millennium, including as General Manager of Commercial Operations.
McLachlan has held been employed as AFL CEO since 2014.
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With this narrative still in the germination stage, McLachlan has yet to publicly comment, but with 11-years until the cauldron is lit at the 'Gabba, he has plenty of time up his suited sleeve to weigh up his options.
Should the long-term league employee decide to vacate his current post, there is sure to be robust discourse surrounding his heir apparent.
In June of this year, Garry Lyon stated that Richmond CEO Brendon Gale was the obvious selection to succeed McLachlan.
“(Brendon Gale) is the next CEO of the AFL. I'm declaring it,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.
“If you were to lock me (into a date), I would say 2023.”
The former Melbourne's captain's comments came after McLachlan himself disclosed his tenure at AFL house was inching towards ending.
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“As a chief executive, you've got your run at it,” he told SEN WA in June.
“I think eight to 10 years is what feels to me about right if everything goes well.
“I've done seven years and I've got some stuff to do, but I think it has its time."
Although foreshadowing an exit, McLachlan then believed he still had plenty left to achieve whilst still in the role.
“At the moment, I'm still enjoying it and I've got things to do, but I'm certainly in the second half (of my tenure) no doubt," he continued.
“You're conscious with public life that there is a lifespan, but I'm enjoying it. I've been very lucky.
“It's a position of great privilege because this game means so much to so many people and I've been very lucky.”
