Andrew Dillon, AFL CEO, says the league must get its house in order as he enters his third season in Australia. Dillon pointed to on-field imbalance, high-profile player controversies and fraught board processes as reasons the game’s custodians must improve how they operate. He also confirmed talks have begun about staging an Australian Football exhibition at the Brisbane Olympics and insisted the organisation will strive to be “at [its] best every single day. “
: Dillon frames the problem and the ambition
Dillon described the AFL’s ultimate goal as “to have footy in every home, ” but acknowledged the last 12 months were not a banner period for the league. He said the competition has become two-paced, with a significant gap forming between the top nine teams and the rest, and flagged that off-field mis-steps have amplified public scrutiny. “We in the executive are in the privileged position to be stewards of a game that means a lot to a lot of people, ” Andrew Dillon, AFL CEO, said, adding that that reality “impresses on you is you have to be at your best every single day. “
The AFL has faced specific governance and personnel challenges: the process to replace chairman Richard Goyder became mired in internal politics, handling of controversies involving players Willie Rioli and Lachie Schultz drew criticism, and the league’s plan to build a stadium in Hobart for the new Tasmanian team riled local sentiment. On the field, Dillon said the absorbing finals series — capped by Brisbane winning back-to-back premierships — provided welcome relief amid those strains.
Immediate reactions: voices in the fallout
Rugby league boss Peter V’Landys publicly mocked the AFL’s leadership last month, saying his code leads the AFL “like you lead a horse. ” Dillon responded to the tone of that jab by pointing to the AFL’s status, noting the code is “the most attended, played and watched sport” in Australia. Brisbane Olympics boss Andrew Liveris has also engaged with the AFL leadership, saying there is interest in involving the major winter codes at the Games. “The very visible ones like NRL, AFL, and all the ones that have their own mojo… there’s lots of opportunities to put them on display, ” Andrew Liveris, Brisbane Olympics boss, said.
Dillon has framed those external engagements as part of a forward agenda: discussions at a high level have begun about an exhibition match at the Brisbane Olympics, and the league is balancing legacy stadium plans with the immediate needs of clubs and fans. The Gabba will continue to host AFL home games until it is demolished and replaced by a new inner-city stadium at Victoria Park — a project positioned as an Olympic centerpiece and a future home for the Lions.
What’s next for the league and the narrative
Dillon said the executive will continue to strive for better governance and clearer decision-making, with attention on restoring public confidence and managing major projects. Expect scrutiny to remain high as the AFL pursues an Olympic exhibition concept, finalises stadium timelines tied to the Brisbane Games, and navigates leadership transitions. The league’s next moves — around recruitment, discipline processes and the Tasmanian stadium campaign — will be watched closely by stakeholders and observers as the AFL seeks to translate Dillon’s stated ambitions into action and rebuild momentum.
