Outspoken Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane has reportedly commenced a campaign designed to keep current Richmond CEO Brendon Gale from succeeding Gillon McLachlan as league boss due to claims that the AFL is already too Victorian-centric.
As first reported by Caroline Wilson of The Age, the vociferous Cochrane has made contact with each of the league's non-Victorian clubs in an effort to rally support for his crusade against the revolutionary Tigers' chief.
Wilson stated that Cochrane has already touched base with the respective presidents of the Fremantle, West Coast, Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Sydney, Greater Western Sydney and Brisbane Football Clubs to pitch his particular case.
Even prior to McLachlan's announcement that he would be stepping down from his role as the game's head at the cessation of the 2022 season, Gale was seen as one of - if not the - prime candidates to succeed the South Australian at AFL House.
Although Gale has recently put pen to paper on a three-year extension to remain at Punt Road, the 244-game Tiger's prospects of presiding over each of the competition's 18 clubs refuse to be dulled.
While claiming that the elevation of Gale would only see Victorian clubs offered what is perceived to be a cushy ride, it must be noted that the 53-year-old is a born-and-bred Tasmanian.
And given Cochrane has long remained a vocal critic of an expansion side from the Apple Isle being given the green light, the Queensland-based promoter is in direct opposition to Gale, with the Burnie-native already throwing his, and Richmond's, support behind the island state earning the AFL's 19th licence.
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A decision on whether or not the footballing state will be granted an invite to join the league is expected to be made when each of the competition's 18 presidents officially convenes in August.
A complete list of candidates to succeed McLachlan is yet to be made public, however, Gale is expected to contend with incumbent AFL employees Andrew Dillon, Travis Auld and Kylie Rogers for the role.
McLachlan has been linked with a key post on the Brisbane Olympic Games commission since July of last year.
… truth on both sides.
Yes – the “afl” is very much the vfl in all but name only… with vfl clubs (particularly the ones we all know) receiving advantages that the non-vic clubs miss out on and will never have. Gale my be born a Tasmanian but he’s been a Victorian for how long now? And a Richmond man at that (see aforementioned “ones we all know”).
… but then – yes, Cochrane is dead set against a Tassie team and Chocrane may just be worried that the Suns’ lifeline might be threatened, given that putting a team on the Gold Coast was always a bad decision and has hemorrhaged money ever since it was made (West Sydney was also a mistake). A Tassie team is far more viable that the Gold Coast even now (and certainly was back then) and Cochrane knows it.
I would suggest that the new CEO should be from one of the state leagues’ CEOs…. with remit to truly “equalise” the league rather than the “benefit the few and the league can live off their crowds” paradigm currently handing everything to 4 or 5 vic clubs on a plate.