‘Not going anywhere’: Goyder meets AFL chiefs after Qantas retirement
AFL chairman Richard Goyder will convene the AFL Commission on Monday for the first time since flagging his intention toretire as Qantas chairman, and will reiterate his intention to stay on in the role for another two years.
Mr Goyder will welcome new chief executive Andrew Dillon and two ex-players to the sport’s powerful board – former Fremantle midfielder Matt deBoer and former Collingwood player, deputy chairman of the Australian Sports Commission and Sydney Swans director, Andrew Ireland.
Incoming AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, outgoing chief Gillon McLachlan and AFL chairman Richard Goyder arrive ahead of the 2023 AFL grand final. Paul Rovere
The commission, dominated by top deal makers including private equity’s Robin Bishop and venture capitalist Paul Bassat, has been without any elite playing experience since 2021 and there had been calls by the Collingwood President Jeff Browne and the outgoing GWS President Tony Shepherd for renewal.
Mr Goyder’s decision to stand down as Qantas chairman next year kick-started another round of speculation about whether he should remain in place as head of the AFL Commission. Officials at AFL House began fielding calls from the media, amid a flurry of speculation.
An AFL source who works closely with the commission said Mr Goyder’s Qantas decision “released a pressure valve” within the administration circles of the game. They added the veteran chairman, who also remains chairman of Woodside Energy, is “not going anywhere”.
Mr Goyder was re-appointed as AFL Commission president for three years at the AGM earlier this year.
He joined the AFL Commission in 2011, after serving on the Fremantle club board for five years, and replaced Mike Fitzpatrick as chairman in 2017. There’s
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