Gillon McLachlan has announced he will step away from his high-ranking role at AFL House.
McLachlan, whose departure was first reported by The Age's Caroline Wilson, declared his exit plans during a Tuesday morning press conference.
The 49-year-old reportedly mulled the prospect of walking away from the job pre-pandemic but stayed on, remaining motivated to keep building the game as well as furthering the development of the AFLW.
A long-time league executive, McLachlan was appointed to his current role in April 2014 - taking over from then-boss Andrew Demetriou.
AFL chairman Richard Goyder paid tribute to the job McLachlan has done throughout his nine years in charge in a heartfelt statement released by the AFL on Tuesday morning.
"Throughout his time as CEO, Gillon has focused on the supporters, ensuring the game remained affordable and accessible," Goyder said.
"His commercial acumen has resulted in extraordinary growth in our broadcast rights and our AFL industry revenue, but his commitment to local community football has ensured that financial growth has been shared across our game and been channelled into greater investment in local infrastructure and an exponential growth in the facilities and programs that provide an inclusive environment for girls and women."
Goyder commended McLachlan's leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and his commitment to building community football.
"As an industry, we owe Gillon a debt for his ability to lead his team at the AFL and the wider industry and ensure that every part of the football community worked together to get through Covid. Again, Gill was driven by bringing all 18 AFL clubs and 14 AFLW teams through the pandemic in strong shape, but also ensuring we continued to support community football to get back up and going again.
"He knows how important football is to the community – and I think that commitment to local football and access for all will be one of the legacies when he does finish later in the year, along with his commitment to changing the culture of the industry and championing greater gender equity across the AFL and clubs. He should be truly proud of the way he and his team have shaped the AFL, its competitions, its culture and its community."
Goyder confirmed McLachlan would remain in his role for the remainder of 2022 before stepping away and also advised that the league would employ an executive search firm to help appoint a successor to McLachlan, stating it would be a lengthy process.
"Gill has given advance notice of the timing of his departure but is committed to working with his team to finalise a big strategic agenda in 2022 with a number of key strategic initiatives that – once resolved – will ensure we have the balance to set up all levels of football for growth over the next 10 years."
"Gill has built a strong executive team internally, but this is an important decision and we will undertake a rigorous process to ensure we have the best person to take over the role," Goyder said.
According to Wilson, in-house candidates to replace McLachlan reportedly include Andrew Dillon, who is currently serving as the league's GM of football operations, finance guru Travis Auld and Richmond CEO Brendon Gale, who has achieved vast success re-building the yellow-and-black powerhouse over the last decade.
McLachlan stated his appreciation for being able to serve as CEO and claims he is satisfied with where he is leaving the game.
"I came into this role because I am passionate about football and the way it connects people in local communities right across the country and I will leave with that love even stronger than it was. Football is an intrinsic part of life and I have seen that first-hand at community club level and in working for the AFL over the past 20 years," he said.
"I told Richard when he took over from Mike Fitzpatrick that there is a time frame on the role of CEO and I would depart when the time is right. Nine seasons is a long time but I feel that with AFLW going to 18 teams, people returning to AFL games, the balance sheet is in good shape, we are investing more in community football, there is a good plan for 2022 and the time is right.
"Our team at the AFL has been extraordinary - particularly over the past two years when – like everyone in the community – we have had to do less with more as we navigated the pandemic. It is also where the collective goodwill of the industry – players, clubs, umpires, staff and our supporters and members – came together to ensure we all put the game first in every decision.
"I want to thank the club CEOs and presidents in particular and also Richard and the Commission for their support. We have a very full agenda in 2022 and I have undertaken to resolve a number of key priorities including the broadcast deal, CBAs, club funding and put a position on Tasmania to the clubs by August and if I can do that, I will leave the game happy.
"We have emerged from Covid in good shape and that has taken discipline and hard work. We need to make the right decisions over the coming months to ensure all levels of the game are set up for sustained growth over the next decade and I am keen to get that right before I go."
Speaking during a press conference at AFL House on Tuesday morning, McLachlan was understandably emotional as he conveyed his love for football and his devotion to his role.
"It's an honour and a privilege to serve this game. It's the best game in the world. That's why everyone loves it so much," he said as he became teary-eyed.
"The responsibility has never been lost on me and I feel good that the game's in better shape now than when I took over, but the scoreboard will be for others to judge.
"I'm leaving now because it feels right: right for the AFL, right for me, right for my family. It's clearly more complicated than that but actually, in simple terms, it's not. The AFL's in incredible shape on whatever metric you assess it."
McLachlan also extended thanks to friends he had made at AFL level and across the league landscape.
"I could never have imagined, when I started, that the friendships I would take from the AFL would be by far the most significant thing in my time here," he said.
"It's not just at the AFL, it's across the clubs and our commercial and broadcast partners. The greatest game in the world is so because there's a bloody lot of passionate, mercurial people in and around and I think footy brings out the best in them."