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Sport Nation
Why Kane can have a similar impact to a legendary administrator
SEN • May 31st, 2025 3:36 pm
Gerard Whateley and Gerard Healy both think that Laura Kane can have a similar impact in administration as the legendary Jill Lindsay had despite her demotion.
This comes about after AFL CEO Andrew Dillion announced a reshuffling of his leadership team on Thursday which has seen Kane’s initial position of Executive General Manager of Football being split into two roles.
As a result of the shuffling, this means Kane now becomes the EGM of Football Operations while the AFL is now on the lookout for a new EGM of Football Performance.
Despite this news, there is a belief among SEN’s Crunch Time team that Kane could leave a significantly positive mark on the game like Lindsay did across her 41 years which included being the AFL’s Ground Operations Manager for 20 before her passing in 2011.
“I hope Laura Kane becomes Jill Lindsay, Gerard (Healy),” Whateley said.
“I hope the industry doesn’t toss Laura out because I think she can be that.
“The portfolio she was put in charge of…it was far beyond the portfolio that Steve Hocking had, it was ludicrous really.”
Gerard Healy would also be in agreeance with Whateley believing that if Kane is to have a similar impact, she will leave a lasting legacy for years to come.
“So, do I,” Healy said.
“If she does, she will make a massive difference on the mark of the game.
“Jill Lindsay was one of the most magnificent workers for this game at all levels and probably the great sponsor of women’s introduction into the sport both playing and administrative wise.”
While those two were in agreeance, Sam Edmund would follow up on Whateley’s point about the role being far too large for just one person and also pointed out that it was not the first time that the discussion of the EGM of Football had too much to do.
“I had Déjà Vu listening to Andrew Dillion talking about ‘it’s not personal, it’s what’s best for the AFL, the role has become too big for one’. Steve Hocking said the exact same thing when he left all those years ago for Geelong.
“The role is too big for one person…like the phrase has got around during the last few days, ‘was she set up to fail?’.
“The role she is doing now with experienced heads around her is the role that it all probably should have started with.”
