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Sport Nation
Why “tension” is growing between AFL HQ and clubland heading into the 2025 season
Nic Negrepontis • February 14th, 2025 10:27 am
David King believes there is significant tension between the AFL and its clubs heading into the 2025 season.
AFL HQ, led by CEO Andrew Dillon and Executive General Manager Laura Kane, are entering their second full season at the helm.
King believes the sentiment at clubland is that they are not being heard about key issues.
“I’ll tell you what’s going to be a subtle story – I think the year of Andrew Dillon and Laura Kane is under the spotlight. I really do. It’s bubbling and simmering away in the background,” King told SEN Breakfast.
“Because the clubs don’t think the AFL are listening to them and they desperately need, in my opinion, somebody like a John Longmire in their ranks and quickly.
“They need someone who can bridge the gap (between the AFL and clubs), and there is a gap and it’s getting wider I feel.
“I think there is a disconnect that is growing.
“I think there is a lot of tension between clubs and the AFL at the moment. Everyone you talk to says the same thing.
“I think they’re really dirty on the fact that the sub rule is still a thing. They feel like they haven’t been listened to about that.”
Speaking to the Herald Sun last week, Brisbane coach Chris Fagan publicly stated this sentiment, saying the AFL views coaches with “suspicion”.
“I suppose my view is that we are all in it together. It has felt like for a little while they have not listened to clubs as well as they could. They haven’t listened to coaches. It has felt like they have viewed us with suspicion, like we don’t have the game’s best interests at heart. And I think the coaches do more than anyone,” Fagan said.
