By Caroline Wilson
Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale has rejected an overture from the AFL to serve in a key role under new boss Andrew Dillon in favour of remaining at the Tigers as the club enters a new era post Damien Hardwick.
In a decision which has key ramifications for Dillon’s restructure and places Gale in the box seat to serve as Tasmania’s first CEO, the long-serving Tigers chief confirmed he would be staying at Richmond for at least another season.
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale.Credit: Getty
The Gale move leaves a number of other club bosses, including Sydney chief Tom Harley, in the AFL’s sights as it searches for a new head of football – a job soon to be vacated by AFL CEO-elect Dillon. Ameet Bains (Western Bulldogs) and Simon Garlick (Fremantle) have also been linked to the role, but neither have been offered the job.
Dillon would not comment on his new executive team, but a new head of football could be unveiled as early as next week.
Gale has chosen to remain at Richmond to oversee the appointment of a new senior coach, expected to be announced by the start of October. Tigers president John O’Rourke said in a recent interview that he did not believe Gale should leave Richmond for a role other than that of a chief executive.
O’Rourke was also determined to retain Gale to lead the funding search and launch of the large-scale redevelopment of Punt Road.
The Gale decision could also lead to Tasmania moving to appoint him as chief executive by the end of next year. The team’s first chairman, Grant O’Brien, met Gale in Melbourne last week along with a number of famous native Tasmanian football names including Jack Riewoldt, Peter Hudson, Rodney Eade and Scott Clayton.
O’Brien has said the fledgling club would search for an experienced CEO, mindful of the Gold Coast experience. The Suns launched with all the senior roles taken by less experienced personnel as compared with Greater Western Sydney, which did the opposite.
Although the Tasmanian blueprint involved the appointment an interim CEO until the football team’s build was further advanced, the availability of Gale and his stated passion for Tasmania could see the team’s new board led by O’Brien change that strategy and bring forward the appointment from 2027 to the start of 2025. Both Gale and O’Brien grew up in Penguin in the state’s north.
Gale was the industry favourite to replace Gillon McLachlan as the AFL chief in a drawn-out process that drew the ire of the clubs. McLachlan has chosen to remain in the role for two seasons since his retirement announcement early last year and will now step away after the 2023 grand final.
The fall-out of that process, combined with Brad Scott’s appointment as Essendon coach last October, has left the AFL without a football boss under Dillon for the entire season. Acting football boss Laura Kane is expected to play a major role in Dillon’s restructure.
Two other members of McLachlan’s executive have announced their departure with Travis Auld, who also missed out on the top job, moving to take over as Australian Grand Prix boss and Sam Graham moving to an executive role with the Brisbane Lions.
Gale and Dillon, who both flew to the Northern Territory on Friday for the Garma Festival – Australia’s largest Indigenous cultural gathering – were unable to come to terms on a role that would have seen Gale oversee football, clubs, Tasmania and potentially integrity.
Although Harley has also been pursued, he seems likely to remain at the Swans. Garlick – who like Harley was interviewed for the top AFL job – said late last month he would remain at Fremantle. Garlick was contacted on Friday for comment.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.