AFL proposes – The AFL has circulated proposed constitutional changes to clubs that would impose a nine-year non-eligibility period on former AFL CEOs seeking roles on the AFL Commission, including Tabcorp chief Gillon McLachlan. The same suite of reforms also points to term
Proposed AFL constitutional changes sent to clubs for feedback would stop former AFL chief executives, including Tabcorp’s Gillon McLachlan, from taking board positions on the AFL Commission for nine years after leaving the top job.
Under the proposal, McLachlan would not be eligible to sit on the commission until 2032—nine years after his departure as AFL CEO. McLachlan finished up as AFL CEO in 2023 and joined publicly listed Tabcorp Holdings in August 2024, where he continues as CEO.
The AFL says the approach aligns with common corporate governance practice. allowing a cooling-off period after a CEO resigns so new leadership can operate without the presence of a recently departed executive on the board.. The nine-year non-eligibility period is also described as matching proposed nine-year term limits for members of the AFL Commission. with Craig Drummond flagged as incoming commission chair.
Drummond, who was Geelong president from 2021-2024, officially joined the AFL Commission as chair in March after an elongated process to find a replacement for former chair Richard Goyder. Clubs had criticised a lack of succession planning during the search.
The AFL’s draft changes envisage that two current commission members would need to relinquish their positions at the end of 2026. with five changes expected to occur gradually by the end of 2028.. The proposed term limit for future commission members is nine years. or three three-year terms served consecutively or non-consecutively. with the possibility of terms being lengthened if a serving commissioner was appointed chair.
Five current members of the AFL Commission were appointed in 2017 or before. with Paul Bassat the longest-serving member. having served on the commission since 2012.. The constitution reform needs endorsement from three quarters of the 18 existing clubs for it to be passed. with hopes it would be agreed by the end of June.
The commission’s structure began in 1993, when clubs handed authority over to the league to make decisions in the best interests of the game, and there has not been a former AFL CEO serve on the AFL Commission.
A timeline of proposed changes is already being mapped through the commission’s current membership: two members would step down at the end of 2026. and additional changes would be phased until the end of 2028—while the nine-year non-eligibility and nine-year term limits would apply to future appointments in a way that fits the same long-term timeframe.
The AFL’s move comes as part of a broader season of AFL Commission leadership transition, with Drummond taking the chair role after the extended process that followed Richard Goyder’s departure.
In other AFL news, Essendon suffered a major injury blow ahead of a crucial fortnight, losing ruckman Peter Wright to a knee injury. Essendon coach Brad Scott confirmed Wright would miss at least one game after scans showed knee ligament damage in Sunday’s 43-point loss to Fremantle.
Scott said on Fox Footy: “Yeah, it’s not good.. In the first quarter he actually got a knock in the knee in the ruck…. he managed to play out the game under some duress. but the scans have shown a bit of PCL and MCL damage.. He definitely won’t play this week.. We’re hopeful it’s only a couple of weeks.”
The injury arrives with Essendon to face Richmond on Friday night in the Dreamtime clash between the bottom two sides on the ladder, before taking on West Coast in Perth. The Bombers are 1-9 for the 2026 season.
Club legend Matthew Lloyd warned the Bombers are in “crisis”, outlining concerns over Scott’s future heading into the period.. Lloyd told the AFL website: “It’s a big fortnight for them.. I’d hate to think what happens. in terms of for Brad Scott. if they are to lose to Richmond because I just think that’s a win that they’ve just got to pencil in and win.. That will just show them where they’re at both internally and externally as a club.”
Richmond’s pre-match build-up has been complicated by list issues and injury management as well. The Dreamtime match at the ’G was forecast to draw 72,000, with the Tigers having reversed an earlier decision to make it a fully ticketed match.
After originally naming the lone Richmond home game scheduled as fully ticketed this season. Richmond later decided the match would be opened to general admission walk-ups.. The Tigers said on their website: “Initially. due to high demand of Dreamtime at the ’G matches. this game was deemed fully ticketed to ensure all fans could enjoy the blockbuster experience.. The club, in conjunction with the AFL, has since decided to open this game to general admission walk-ups.”
Football fans had complained earlier in the season about paying extra for a reserved seat if they were not seasonal reserve seat holders, amid inflationary pressures on household budgets and escalating fuel costs.
Last year’s Dreamtime match attracted 76,051 people, down from 79,359 in 2024, with the lowest post-COVID crowd reported as 70,226 in 2022.
Heading into Friday night, Richmond is certain to make one change after defender Campbell Gray hurt his hamstring against the Saints. If needed, the Tigers could make as many as four changes and still name a team of 23 and three emergencies.
Mykelti Lefau, Samson Ryan, Jasper Alger and Kaleb Smith are all likely to be available for selection, while Tom Sims is nearing a return via the VFL, though the Tigers are still determining his return-to-play schedule.
Nick Vlastuin was not cited by the match review officer for a dangerous tackle on Saint Ryan Byrnes. Byrnes received a free kick but his head did not hit the ground and he played on.
Luke Trainor (dislocated finger) and Sam Grjl (corkie) are both expected to be fit. Steely Green had a scan on his thumb on Monday, with the Tigers expecting him to be available.
The weekend also featured AFLW scheduling news, with the league locking in the first of five double-headers set for 2026. Carlton and St Kilda will launch the 2026 AFLW season with a double-header at Marvel Stadium on August 9 as part of the annual “Spud’s Game”.
The bold play to open the 11th AFLW season was confirmed by the league’s executive general manager of football Laura Kane on Monday.. St Kilda and Carlton’s AFLW and AFL players will play in the double-header on August 9. with the women’s match between St Kilda and Carlton starting at 4.35pm. followed by their round 22 men’s match at 7.20pm.
Kane described the planning as being driven by what players asked for. saying: “Success looks like lots of people coming. lots of people watching. the players integrating. and fans of these two clubs seeing both of their teams at Marvel Stadium back to back.. I was asked a few things by the players, our captains in particular …. and they wanted to play rep footy. they wanted to play double-headers with the boys. and they wanted to play in stadiums like this one [Marvel]. so they have to come up with a few more things for us to get our skates on with the next year.”
The fixture launch follows arguments on both sides of the double-header model. including claims that it gives the women’s game greater spotlight in front of a larger audience and the chance to play in bigger venues. alongside concerns that some fans might not be willing to sit in a stadium for six hours.
The fixture announcement comes in a big week for AFLW. with coaching changes locked in at Hawthorn and Richmond. and the league confirming there will be an AFLW v Ireland representative footy clash on August 1.. With 46 Irish players across the AFLW competition. the game will mark the first AFLW representative fixture since the Victoria played the Allies in 2017.
AFL AFL Commission Gillon McLachlan Tabcorp Craig Drummond club endorsement term limits Essendon Peter Wright Dreamtime Richmond Brad Scott Matthew Lloyd AFLW double-headers Carlton St Kilda Laura Kane