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Sport Nation
Whateley: The fault lines have been addressed
Gerard Whateley • May 29th, 2025 9:47 pm
Andrew Dillon has moved to sure up a flailing administration before it became a failing regime.
Recent weeks have been marked by questions of leadership and judgment. It was an unflattering picture for the biggest sport in the land.
The fault lines have been addressed. Football Operations had become a sprawling portfolio - completely unwieldy for even an experienced administrator, and the running of the game lacked the expertise demanded.
Consultation was broad but decision making was absent, and the lack of authority within the building played out in the umpiring fiasco.
Only those involved know why people conducted themselves as they did with impunity.
The rise of the legal counsel has been troubling. This remains a football competition and sporting code but it was overrun by the lawyers.
Dillon has to accept he let that happen.
The evidence was there in the dreadfully heavy handling of the Ken Hinkley scenario in September.
Dillon’s instincts to handle it with a stern phone were eclipsed by the legals and their desire to impose a $20,000 fine under a conduct unbecoming charge.
It was awful to treat a longstanding coach that way. Dillon should still make good and at least apologise to Hinkley.
Now Dillon has the chance to build a caucus with what you could argue is the two best jobs in footy to be filled.
Not only to run the game but to shape the game.
Fix the broken windows and then set course for the horizon.
It’s time for Dillon to show us his vision for the game. Today’s decisive action has given him the chance.
