More club presidents back call for independent review of the AFL
By Caroline Wilson
October 16, 2020 — 5.32pm
Andrew Pridham's call for a comprehensive and independent review of Australian rules football from the structure of the AFL Commission to the game's grass roots has grown legs with club presidents across Australia throwing their support behind the Sydney chairman.
In what is shaping as a test of the strength of the 18 clubs, Richmond, West Coast, Brisbane Lions, and Greater Western Sydney have joined Hawthorn's Jeff Kennett in backing Pridham. The Sydney chairman warned on Friday that the game was in danger of heading in the wrong direction beyond recovery unless it was prepared to undergo objective scrutiny for the first time in 27 years.
While denying accusations from the AFL that his primary focus was a push to rationalise or relocate clubs, Pridham said the 18-club structure needed to be reviewed and recalled the Swans' historic and ultimately successful decision to leave South Melbourne back in 1982. "The only reason you'd be against a review," said Pridham, "is because you feared retribution from the AFL - which would be disgraceful - or because you were worried for the outcome of your own club ...
Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham warns the game is in danger of heading in the wrong direction. Credit:Michael Clayton-Jones
"The number of clubs and the location of clubs is one of a thousand issues which we need to look at. Why would you fear that? Does Eddie (McGuire) fear it? No. Do I fear it? No. The only reason is if you feel in danger of being rationalised. And I'd say dial back to 1982 when South Melbourne was broke and in grave danger and took the decision to move to Sydney.
"Our supporters were devastated, Bob Skilton was angry and now all is forgiven. You can stick your head in the sand and pretend it's not an issue or you can face up to scrutiny and accountability."
With Pridham's call growing legs the AFL Commission view is that clubs believe the game can no longer afford the lack of accountability of cash-strapped teams that have historically made repeated poor decisions, draining the game's resources, something COVID cabinet presidents Kennett and Peter Gordon put on the agenda earlier in the year.
But West Coast chairman Russell Gibbs said clubs should not fear an independent review. "People go into their fear space but it's good governance," he said. "I'd definitely support it and particularly after what we've been through this year. It needs to be something all stakeholders buy into."
Added Richmond's Peggy O'Neal: "It should happen as a matter of course. It's common practice for boards to undergo a review every three years or so. I think it's only to improve things and it might be good to have a look at everything. One thing we know about the future is that it is not going to look like the past."
GWS chairman Tony Shepherd said: "I think a review of where we're up to wouldn't hurt. How is the competition going? How is expansion going? Are we happy with the structure of the competition?
''I'm not critical of the commission or the executive - I think they've done a very good job this year. But we are facing so many questions: Are we concerned about attendance numbers post-COVID and what if the broadcast revenue falls?"
Brisbane Lions president Andrew Wellington said he supported an independent review depending on the scope and timing of any in depth look at the competition. "My view is that any organisation should regularly review itself," he said.
Of the other presidents contacted Collingwood's McGuire said he remained non-committal while Geelong chairman Colin Carter cautioned against an "omnibus approach" to a full-scale review of the game and questioned whether an independent reviewer would boast sufficient skills to scrutinise the AFL.
"The areas you want to look into would surely have to be broken up," Carter said. "I'm not sure an independent person looking to solve the governance problem is the same person who will solve the on-field congestion problem."
Pridham said a group of club presidents and AFL executives should create the framework and select the individual or team to run an objective appraisal of the competition also to include the women's game, state leagues and the AFLPA.
"I'm not saying the AFL is doing a bad job but the way in which the commission operates should be looked at," he said. "It's a governance issue and it hasn't been reviewed since it was put in place in 1993. If we are not here to work for the best competition possible then what are we here for?
"If we're all just sitting here having cups of tea and slapping each other on the back then why are we bothering? Otherwise we'll end up like the frog in the pot of boiling water unaware he's heading in the wrong direction. And what will suffer is grassroots football and the people who love the game."
Andrew Pridham
Tony Shepherd
Caroline Wilson
Caroline Wilson is a Walkley award-winning columnist and former chief football writer for The Age.