Goodbye Gill

[dejavoodoo44]

Is this the death knell for AFLX?

Its spirit lives on, with AFL fans across the nation being bombarded with ear-splitting music. And on that, I do wonder if that music is pumped into the corporate and private boxes, so that Gil and other executives can enjoy the match day experience? Or does a certain level of affluence protect you from that assault?

[Aprilbr]

Wow, a lot of vitriole on here for Gil. Contrasts somewhat with all of the positives being spouted about his legacy on the Melbourne footy media today.

Personally, I feel his efforts to get the AFL through the horrendous Covid lockdown 2-year period and the formation of the women's AFL are notable achievements under his watch. Also a lucrative TV rights deal was negotiated and a collective bargaining agreement for the players - no strikes unlike some other sports. On the negative, I think the AFL certainly were weak in dealing with Goodes and game development in the northern states.

I will now put on my hard hat and protective gear for suggesting there were some positives!

[dejavoodoo44]

Wow, a lot of vitriole on here for Gil. Contrasts somewhat with all of the positives being spouted about his legacy on the Melbourne footy media today.

Personally, I feel his efforts to get the AFL through the horrendous Covid lockdown 2-year period and the formation of the women's AFL are notable achievements under his watch. Also a lucrative TV rights deal was negotiated and a collective bargaining agreement for the players - no strikes unlike some other sports. On the negative, I think the AFL certainly were weak in dealing with Goodes and game development in the northern states.

I will now put on my hard hat and protective gear for suggesting there were some positives!

Oh no, I'm sure there were achievements under his management. And I'm sure there were negatives. But I'm not sure how much of either could be put down to him, as he strikes me as an exceptionally bland corporate type. I mean, I think almost any of his pronouncements, could have been assembled by applying an algorithm to a collection of management buzz words. Of course, he may have been a great manager behind the scenes, but to me, his exterior suggests otherwise. I also tend to think, that an organisation as vast and powerful as the AFL, will have accrue achievements, regardless of who's in charge.

[barry]

Wow, a lot of vitriole on here for Gil. Contrasts somewhat with all of the positives being spouted about his legacy on the Melbourne footy media today.

Personally, I feel his efforts to get the AFL through the horrendous Covid lockdown 2-year period and the formation of the women's AFL are notable achievements under his watch. Also a lucrative TV rights deal was negotiated and a collective bargaining agreement for the players - no strikes unlike some other sports. On the negative, I think the AFL certainly were weak in dealing with Goodes and game development in the northern states.

I will now put on my hard hat and protective gear for suggesting there were some positives!

His handling of Covid got off to a bad start, and he was all ready to cancel the season until Peter V'landy ran rings around him and got the NRL started. And the NRL never had to have an expensive centralised hub. So its a fail.
AFLW - I cant believe he was involved, because it was basically successful.
Lucrative TV rights - Every decent sport in the developed world has had a similar growth story. best you could say, is he didnt stuff it up.

He's kind of a 'do-nothing' leader, which are reasonably common these days.

[Bloods05]

Wow, a lot of vitriole on here for Gil. Contrasts somewhat with all of the positives being spouted about his legacy on the Melbourne footy media today.

Personally, I feel his efforts to get the AFL through the horrendous Covid lockdown 2-year period and the formation of the women's AFL are notable achievements under his watch. Also a lucrative TV rights deal was negotiated and a collective bargaining agreement for the players - no strikes unlike some other sports. On the negative, I think the AFL certainly were weak in dealing with Goodes and game development in the northern states.

I will now put on my hard hat and protective gear for suggesting there were some positives!

For me, his achievements pale into insignificance alongside the failures, chief among them being Adam Goodes and the trade ban/CoLA fiasco.

[Jupiter]

Good riddance. I thought he had potential at first, but he left all the key Demetriou hires in place to be safe, without putting his own stamp on the organisation and without the charisma and ideas of Demetriou. In particular he has mismanaged expansion states by having muppets managing in those regions with a Melbourne lense (how about sorting Sydneys lack of grounds issues....crack the Rugby old boys in private schools - couple of things he ought to have sorted in Sydney during his tenure). Did not invest/save money during the heyday years and then Covid hit dropped everything financially bar AFL and AFLW. Incredible lack of leadership on Goodes, Maguire, Kennett and co.

[stevoswan]

Wow, a lot of vitriole on here for Gil. Contrasts somewhat with all of the positives being spouted about his legacy on the Melbourne footy media today.

I came across Studio Ten earlier and one of the ladies was saying that "Gil is much loved"......I nearly sprayed my mouthful of tea across the room. I thought 'Yeah, in the heartland but nowhere else'.

I swear this chasm between opinions within and outside of Victoria backs up everything we suspect about this league and the way it is run.

[Ludwig]

I think almost any of his pronouncements, could have been assembled by applying an algorithm to a collection of management buzz words.

Are you suggesting that a human AFL CEO could be replaced by a woke robot?

Worth a try!

[Bangalore Swans]

Hi BS, it would be good to hear YOUR opinion on the matter

I think with Gill there is always going to be an element of jealousy. He’s 200cm tall, good looking, athletic, highly intelligent, completed law school, comes from a wealthy esteemed family, has high level government and business connections and been very successful in life. Many people in life who don’t have what Gill does would be insanely jealous of him and that would cloud their view.

I read Michael Warner’s book The Boys Club” which presents a mixed view of Gill.

You cannot fault Gill’s commercial ability to extract brilliant TV rights deals and get good deals from sponsors. Before Covid the investment in AFL in NSW was very strong. Grounds in Sydney were converting to AFL grounds with AFL infrastructure investment and their were a mountain of Auskick officers in schools introducing the AFL brand to kids. Things are tighter now.

I think he’s done a good job (possibly inspired by Peter Vlandis) in getting the game going again after Covid lockdown one.


What I’m more sceptical about:

- his hiring of talent to AFL house, many of which had connections to his old amateur football club. Not enough diversity of talent.

- His handling of the Buddy contract and Goodes situation.

- The AFL’s happily accepting gambling revenue but coming down hard on players who gamble.


Bill Kelty, a hero of many union leaning Red and White posters, has a high opinion of Gill and Demetriue and believes both those guys could have easily been premiers of a State.

I would love the next AFL CEO to be a well regarded NFL executive. The NFL has dealt heavily with race and concussion matters over the years and these will be two big issues for the AFL. I think someone with a clean slate would be very interesting.

[Ludwig]

I would love the next AFL CEO to be a well regarded NFL executive. The NFL has dealt heavily with race and concussion matters over the years and these will be two big issues for the AFL. I think someone with a clean slate would be very interesting.

An NFL executive would laugh at the salary on offer. Yes, the NFL has had to deal with race and concussion issues, but has failed miserably on both accounts.

[dejavoodoo44]

Are you suggesting that a human AFL CEO could be replaced by a woke robot?

Worth a try!

I'd settle for an amusing one. Or one that malfunctions occasionally, to give a stream of Tourette's style invective.

[stevoswan]

Are you suggesting that a human AFL CEO could be replaced by a woke robot?

Worth a try!

Considering 'woke' simply means 'be kind to everybody'.....then YES!

[stevoswan]

I think with Gill there is always going to be an element of jealousy. He’s 200cm tall, good looking, athletic, highly intelligent, completed law school, comes from a wealthy esteemed family, has high level government and business connections and been very successful in life. Many people in life who don’t have what Gill does would be insanely jealous of him and that would cloud their view.

Let's just get real here and replace the emboldened with 'privileged'.....and leave it at that. Not all of us are fooled by the bright lights of 'success' and 'wealth'.....and don't call it 'jealousy'. That's the excuse most rich and privileged use when people have a go at their advantage, their ethics and their upper class social attitude. It is simply convenient, tiresome and self unaware deflection from their egotistical gaslighting regarding their path to 'greatness'.

[707]

Please tell me it couldn't possibly be an ex-Collingwood president!

No, it needs to be someone with at least some business skills and acumen, fatso has neither.

[Bangalore Swans]

Let's just get real here and replace the emboldened with 'privileged'.....and leave it at that. Not all of us are fooled by the bright lights of 'success' and 'wealth'.....and don't call it 'jealousy'. That's the excuse most rich and privileged use when people have a go at their advantage, their ethics and their upper class social attitude. It is simply convenient, tiresome and self unaware deflection from their egotistical gaslighting regarding their path to 'greatness'.

Gill did not have a choice of what family he was born into. Its not his fault that his uncle held a secret John Howard and Peter Costello agreement in his wallet like an old lottery ticket. It’s not his fault if he grew up tall, athletic and good looking. It’s not his fault that he was bright enough to succeed at law school and why chastise him for a desire to succeed.

Gill had many connections and advantages and used them. If your criticise Gill for using his advantages then you may as well criticise Lance Franklin for being born with greater athletic potential than any AFL footballer in history and choosing to use that athletic advantage to derive fame and fortune.

Stevo, maybe you believe everyone with advantage should follow Bill Shorten lead by graduating from Xavier College and becoming a hero of the working man.