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Andrew Dillon meets with coaches as frustrations towards league HQ grow​

AFL boss Andrew Dillon has moved to hash out growing angst towards league head office with a number of coaches called into a Fitzroy pub on Monday night.

May 20, 2025 - 7:56AM
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...ory/233464c061974b806d71b0471a4af4e7#comments


AFL boss Andrew Dillon has held court with his football team and four of the game’s most experienced coaches over a meal at a Fitzroy pub.
Dillon dined with coaches Brad Scott, Alastair Clarkson, Simon Goodwin and Chris Scott for over three hours on the second level room at the Builders Arms on Gertrude St, Fitzroy.
They were joined by the AFL’s football head Laura Kane and off-sider Josh Mahoney.
While the Monday night special at the inner north favourite was a $25 steak, the dinner party was tight lipped on exit about what was on the agenda.


AFL-CEO-S-PUB-CATCH-UP_yLQfEo8eT.jpg



AFL CEO'S PUB CATCH UP​

AFL-CEO-S-PUB-CATCH-UP_JXPix5bv5.jpg







Dillion annually calls the coaches together for a dinner catch up which usually involves all 18 senior coaches to discuss footy and Monday’s meeting was a smaller affair.
The Monday meeting took place as football clubs increasingly grow in frustration towards league HQ.
Coaches have continuously spoken of their annoyance at the limited soft cap and how it reduces the earning power of assistant coaches, while some clubs have pushed for senior coach wages to sit outside the soft cap.
Frustration has been pointed at the AFL for its handling of Lachie Schultz’s concussion last weekend, and the saga around Port Adelaide player Willie Rioli.

The four coaches at the dinner have combined to coach 1239 matches at Victorian clubs and shared seven premierships between them, with a vast experience at traditionally financially poor clubs (North Melbourne, Melbourne) and on-field powerhouses (Hawthorn, Geelong).
Dillon told Channel 7 on his way into the pub that he was keen to pick the minds of his experienced dinner guests.
“It’s good to be here with the coaches tonight to talk through all things footy, a bit of soft cap. Talk about the MRO and see what’s on the coaches’ mind,” Dillon told Channel 7.
“It’s great to sit down face to face and get a really good insight into what’s going on in the coaches’ minds and I’m sure there will be plenty of robust discussion.”
 

Email urging AFL to act on risk of Indigenous decline revealed as unwanted history beckons​

The AFL was warned almost four years ago. Now — as Jade Gresham races the fitness clock — the Bombers may not field an Indigenous player in its Dreamtime clash for the first time ever.

May 20, 2025 - 8:33AM


AFL​


Former Essendon list boss Adrian Dodoro lobbied the AFL four years ago to introduce a rule making it mandatory to recruit one Indigenous player per club as part of a new fully-funded rookie initiative.
In an email to former CEO Gillon McLachlan and current CEO Andrew Dillon in September 2021, Dodoro said the game was at risk of losing “Indigenous flair that we have seen over many years” and that his concerns around Indigenous recruiting were falling on “deaf ears”.
It comes as Essendon may not field an Indigenous player in its ‘Dreamtime at the G’ game against Richmond on Friday night for the first time in its 21-season history amid a declaration from former Essendon star Dean Rioli the game was “going backwards” for First Nations people.
The Bombers have only two Indigenous players on their list and will assess Jade Gresham (adductor) and Alwyn Davey Jr (VFL) at training this week for the clash against the Tigers at the MCG after a 91-point hammering from Western Bulldogs.
[PLAYERCARD]Jade Gresham[/PLAYERCARD]‘s injury could hand Essendon a piece of unwanted history. Picture: Michael Klein

Jade Gresham‘s injury could hand Essendon a piece of unwanted history. Picture: Michael Klein
Only one Indigenous player, Hawthorn’s Cody Anderson (pick 64), was taken in the national draft last year, leaving the league with 62 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island players, down sharply from 87 only five years ago in 2020.
AFL CEO Dillon on Friday sent a memo to clubs calling for feedback on “what more we can do” to improve “elite environments” for Indigenous and culturally diverse players amid the recruitment drop-off.
But the Herald Sun can reveal Dodoro, who moved on from the Bombers last year after 30 years in the game, proposed a shake-up of the club’s rookie rules to ensure each club drafted at least one Indigenous player per year.
Dodoro said the game was becoming too “system-based” for some Indigenous players from remote communities and that clubs were not being incentivised enough to take the chance on raw Indigenous talents.
“It should be mandatory for each club to recruit one additional Indigenous player onto their list on a 12-month contract,” Dodoro said in the email.

“This would be in the form of a scholarship and would have an educational component attached to it.
“We could make a real difference in helping Indigenous youth and bridge the gap.
“We are not actually providing the necessary incentives for Indigenous youth to play the game under the current system.”
McLachlan said in his response the proposal “feels like a good idea on face value” but it went nowhere.
Led by legendary former coach Kevin Sheedy, Essendon has been a trailblazer in Indigenous recruitment and played at least one Indigenous player in each of its 20 Dreamtime games including greats Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Paddy Ryder, Nathan Lovett-Murray and Alwyn Davey.
It would be sad to see no Indigenous player represent Essendon in the match. Picture: Michael Klein

It would be sad to see no Indigenous player represent Essendon in the match. Picture: Michael Klein
But the league’s showcase Indigenous event on Friday night at the MCG could yet be missing an Indigenous Essendon player for the first time.
Former Essendon board member and star forward Dean Rioli said Indigenous participation would continue to regress unless more effort and funding was directed at supporting Indigenous pathway programs and state league initiatives.
Rioli, who played 100 games for the Bombers, said the cultural gap between remote communities and the professional demands of an AFL club had never been greater.

“Right now it (Indigenous participation rates at AFL level) is going backwards,” Rioli told the Herald Sun.
“Whatever the AFL is doing is not working. It doesn’t mean it can’t improve.
“It’s where the AFL needs to support the foundations (such as the Eddie Betts Foundation and Pauly Vandenbergh’s Tjindu Foundation) and having a look at whether clubs are resourced and set up right once the player gets there, and is the AFL grassroots funding really reaching the areas that it should be?
Former Bomber Dean Rioli.

Former Bomber Dean Rioli.
“We hope there is going to be a spike because at the moment it is tracking in the wrong direction.
“There is just a monster, monster gap between say the Tiwi Bombers to where Maurice and Daniel (Rioli) are at right now.
“It is a really big challenge getting these kids to leave their homes (from regional areas) and get them to live a Victorian lifestyle, or Adelaide or Perth.”
Richmond speedster Rhyan Mansell, who is a proud Palawa man, designed the Tigers’ Dreamtime Guernsey and will play on Friday night.
The AFL is currently managing the exit of its most senior Indigenous representative Tanya Hosch after missing the launch of the league’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round in Darwin last week.
 
gokangas said:

Email urging AFL to act on risk of Indigenous decline revealed as unwanted history beckons​

The AFL was warned almost four years ago. Now — as Jade Gresham races the fitness clock — the Bombers may not field an Indigenous player in its Dreamtime clash for the first time ever.

May 20, 2025 - 8:33AM


AFL​


Former Essendon list boss Adrian Dodoro lobbied the AFL four years ago to introduce a rule making it mandatory to recruit one Indigenous player per club as part of a new fully-funded rookie initiative.
In an email to former CEO Gillon McLachlan and current CEO Andrew Dillon in September 2021, Dodoro said the game was at risk of losing “Indigenous flair that we have seen over many years” and that his concerns around Indigenous recruiting were falling on “deaf ears”.
It comes as Essendon may not field an Indigenous player in its ‘Dreamtime at the G’ game against Richmond on Friday night for the first time in its 21-season history amid a declaration from former Essendon star Dean Rioli the game was “going backwards” for First Nations people.
The Bombers have only two Indigenous players on their list and will assess Jade Gresham (adductor) and Alwyn Davey Jr (VFL) at training this week for the clash against the Tigers at the MCG after a 91-point hammering from Western Bulldogs.
Jade Gresham‘s injury could hand Essendon a piece of unwanted history. Picture: Michael Klein

Jade Gresham‘s injury could hand Essendon a piece of unwanted history. Picture: Michael Klein
Only one Indigenous player, Hawthorn’s Cody Anderson (pick 64), was taken in the national draft last year, leaving the league with 62 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island players, down sharply from 87 only five years ago in 2020.
AFL CEO Dillon on Friday sent a memo to clubs calling for feedback on “what more we can do” to improve “elite environments” for Indigenous and culturally diverse players amid the recruitment drop-off.
But the Herald Sun can reveal Dodoro, who moved on from the Bombers last year after 30 years in the game, proposed a shake-up of the club’s rookie rules to ensure each club drafted at least one Indigenous player per year.
Dodoro said the game was becoming too “system-based” for some Indigenous players from remote communities and that clubs were not being incentivised enough to take the chance on raw Indigenous talents.
“It should be mandatory for each club to recruit one additional Indigenous player onto their list on a 12-month contract,” Dodoro said in the email.

“This would be in the form of a scholarship and would have an educational component attached to it.
“We could make a real difference in helping Indigenous youth and bridge the gap.
“We are not actually providing the necessary incentives for Indigenous youth to play the game under the current system.”
McLachlan said in his response the proposal “feels like a good idea on face value” but it went nowhere.
Led by legendary former coach Kevin Sheedy, Essendon has been a trailblazer in Indigenous recruitment and played at least one Indigenous player in each of its 20 Dreamtime games including greats Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Paddy Ryder, Nathan Lovett-Murray and Alwyn Davey.
It would be sad to see no Indigenous player represent Essendon in the match. Picture: Michael Klein

It would be sad to see no Indigenous player represent Essendon in the match. Picture: Michael Klein
But the league’s showcase Indigenous event on Friday night at the MCG could yet be missing an Indigenous Essendon player for the first time.
Former Essendon board member and star forward Dean Rioli said Indigenous participation would continue to regress unless more effort and funding was directed at supporting Indigenous pathway programs and state league initiatives.
Rioli, who played 100 games for the Bombers, said the cultural gap between remote communities and the professional demands of an AFL club had never been greater.

“Right now it (Indigenous participation rates at AFL level) is going backwards,” Rioli told the Herald Sun.
“Whatever the AFL is doing is not working. It doesn’t mean it can’t improve.
“It’s where the AFL needs to support the foundations (such as the Eddie Betts Foundation and Pauly Vandenbergh’s Tjindu Foundation) and having a look at whether clubs are resourced and set up right once the player gets there, and is the AFL grassroots funding really reaching the areas that it should be?
Former Bomber Dean Rioli.

Former Bomber Dean Rioli.
“We hope there is going to be a spike because at the moment it is tracking in the wrong direction.
“There is just a monster, monster gap between say the Tiwi Bombers to where Maurice and Daniel (Rioli) are at right now.
“It is a really big challenge getting these kids to leave their homes (from regional areas) and get them to live a Victorian lifestyle, or Adelaide or Perth.”
Richmond speedster Rhyan Mansell, who is a proud Palawa man, designed the Tigers’ Dreamtime Guernsey and will play on Friday night.
The AFL is currently managing the exit of its most senior Indigenous representative Tanya Hosch after missing the launch of the league’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round in Darwin last week.
Click to expand...
I am agreeing with Adrian Dodoro, that’s how bad things have got.
 

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TennisPlayerAndy said:
Aboriginal population is around 3.2% of the population of Australia.

They make up over 7.45% of AFL lists. (18 x 46 spots).

Not exactly being disadvantaged I’d say.
Click to expand...
Chinese massively underrepresented demographically. You'd expect about 40-50 on AFL lists if it was as simple as looking at raw population statistics, giving no thought to those actively engaging in the sport vs other interests.

I'd say participation rate at junior and state level trends would be the best predictor of future AFL player demographics, and if there is a broken link, or a barrier, it's only a good thing for the AFL to actively assess that. What I don't like is Dodo's idea of a quota, as all that does is force clubs to pick someone that isn't going to make it and band aid over the real issues, whatever they may be.
 
Loose_Cannon said:
Chinese massively underrepresented demographically. You'd expect about 40-50 on AFL lists if it was as simple as looking at raw population statistics, giving no thought to those actively engaging in the sport vs other interests.

I'd say participation rate at junior and state level trends would be the best predictor of future AFL player demographics, and if there is a broken link, or a barrier, it's only a good thing for the AFL to actively assess that. What I don't like is Dodo's idea of a quota, as all that does is force clubs to pick someone that isn't going to make it and band aid over the real issues, whatever they may be.
Click to expand...

While not nearly proportionate to the population, there’s been some more than handy players of Chinese and East Asian decent over the years at AFL level and a rich history going back many many decades.

The one that’s always been odd to me is how few Indians have ever made it.
 
Loose_Cannon said:
Chinese massively underrepresented demographically. You'd expect about 40-50 on AFL lists if it was as simple as looking at raw population statistics, giving no thought to those actively engaging in the sport vs other interests.

I'd say participation rate at junior and state level trends would be the best predictor of future AFL player demographics, and if there is a broken link, or a barrier, it's only a good thing for the AFL to actively assess that. What I don't like is Dodo's idea of a quota, as all that does is force clubs to pick someone that isn't going to make it and band aid over the real issues, whatever they may be.
Click to expand...
Also, people won't say it out loud, but Chinese people just aren't that ****ing big, those two ex-NBA behemoths aside
 
Augustine said:
The one that’s always been odd to me is how few Indians have ever made it.
Click to expand...
I imagine it's probably to do with how cricket is basically revered in India to the point of worshiping players.
So playing anything else (with cricket being even more accessible than AFL in Australia) is just not seen as an option.
 
The Duck will return with Stevo and Arch for our 100th year celebrations.

 
Last edited:
Augustine said:
While not nearly proportionate to the population, there’s been some more than handy players of Chinese and East Asian decent over the years at AFL level and a rich history going back many many decades.

The one that’s always been odd to me is how few Indians have ever made it.
Click to expand...

Always wondered why there's never been a 50+ goal season from a fwd.pocket Tran Nguyen. Vietnamese been coming here for 50 years, now on 3rd generation.
 

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gokangas said:

Email urging AFL to act on risk of Indigenous decline revealed as unwanted history beckons​

The AFL was warned almost four years ago. Now — as Jade Gresham races the fitness clock — the Bombers may not field an Indigenous player in its Dreamtime clash for the first time ever.

May 20, 2025 - 8:33AM


AFL​


Former Essendon list boss Adrian Dodoro lobbied the AFL four years ago to introduce a rule making it mandatory to recruit one Indigenous player per club as part of a new fully-funded rookie initiative.
In an email to former CEO Gillon McLachlan and current CEO Andrew Dillon in September 2021, Dodoro said the game was at risk of losing “Indigenous flair that we have seen over many years” and that his concerns around Indigenous recruiting were falling on “deaf ears”.
It comes as Essendon may not field an Indigenous player in its ‘Dreamtime at the G’ game against Richmond on Friday night for the first time in its 21-season history amid a declaration from former Essendon star Dean Rioli the game was “going backwards” for First Nations people.
The Bombers have only two Indigenous players on their list and will assess Jade Gresham (adductor) and Alwyn Davey Jr (VFL) at training this week for the clash against the Tigers at the MCG after a 91-point hammering from Western Bulldogs.
Jade Gresham‘s injury could hand Essendon a piece of unwanted history. Picture: Michael Klein

Jade Gresham‘s injury could hand Essendon a piece of unwanted history. Picture: Michael Klein
Only one Indigenous player, Hawthorn’s Cody Anderson (pick 64), was taken in the national draft last year, leaving the league with 62 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island players, down sharply from 87 only five years ago in 2020.
AFL CEO Dillon on Friday sent a memo to clubs calling for feedback on “what more we can do” to improve “elite environments” for Indigenous and culturally diverse players amid the recruitment drop-off.
But the Herald Sun can reveal Dodoro, who moved on from the Bombers last year after 30 years in the game, proposed a shake-up of the club’s rookie rules to ensure each club drafted at least one Indigenous player per year.
Dodoro said the game was becoming too “system-based” for some Indigenous players from remote communities and that clubs were not being incentivised enough to take the chance on raw Indigenous talents.
“It should be mandatory for each club to recruit one additional Indigenous player onto their list on a 12-month contract,” Dodoro said in the email.

“This would be in the form of a scholarship and would have an educational component attached to it.
“We could make a real difference in helping Indigenous youth and bridge the gap.
“We are not actually providing the necessary incentives for Indigenous youth to play the game under the current system.”
McLachlan said in his response the proposal “feels like a good idea on face value” but it went nowhere.
Led by legendary former coach Kevin Sheedy, Essendon has been a trailblazer in Indigenous recruitment and played at least one Indigenous player in each of its 20 Dreamtime games including greats Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Paddy Ryder, Nathan Lovett-Murray and Alwyn Davey.
It would be sad to see no Indigenous player represent Essendon in the match. Picture: Michael Klein

It would be sad to see no Indigenous player represent Essendon in the match. Picture: Michael Klein
But the league’s showcase Indigenous event on Friday night at the MCG could yet be missing an Indigenous Essendon player for the first time.
Former Essendon board member and star forward Dean Rioli said Indigenous participation would continue to regress unless more effort and funding was directed at supporting Indigenous pathway programs and state league initiatives.
Rioli, who played 100 games for the Bombers, said the cultural gap between remote communities and the professional demands of an AFL club had never been greater.

“Right now it (Indigenous participation rates at AFL level) is going backwards,” Rioli told the Herald Sun.
“Whatever the AFL is doing is not working. It doesn’t mean it can’t improve.
“It’s where the AFL needs to support the foundations (such as the Eddie Betts Foundation and Pauly Vandenbergh’s Tjindu Foundation) and having a look at whether clubs are resourced and set up right once the player gets there, and is the AFL grassroots funding really reaching the areas that it should be?
Former Bomber Dean Rioli.

Former Bomber Dean Rioli.
“We hope there is going to be a spike because at the moment it is tracking in the wrong direction.
“There is just a monster, monster gap between say the Tiwi Bombers to where Maurice and Daniel (Rioli) are at right now.
“It is a really big challenge getting these kids to leave their homes (from regional areas) and get them to live a Victorian lifestyle, or Adelaide or Perth.”
Richmond speedster Rhyan Mansell, who is a proud Palawa man, designed the Tigers’ Dreamtime Guernsey and will play on Friday night.
The AFL is currently managing the exit of its most senior Indigenous representative Tanya Hosch after missing the launch of the league’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round in Darwin last week.
Click to expand...
I like the concept. But the cynic in me tells me * will be the first club to manipulate the system somehow.
The AFL could assist with approaching the private schools, possibly sponsoring some indigenous scholarships.
 
gokangas said:

Andrew Dillon meets with coaches as frustrations towards league HQ grow​

AFL boss Andrew Dillon has moved to hash out growing angst towards league head office with a number of coaches called into a Fitzroy pub on Monday night.

May 20, 2025 - 7:56AM
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...ory/233464c061974b806d71b0471a4af4e7#comments


AFL boss Andrew Dillon has held court with his football team and four of the game’s most experienced coaches over a meal at a Fitzroy pub.
Dillon dined with coaches Brad Scott, Alastair Clarkson, Simon Goodwin and Chris Scott for over three hours on the second level room at the Builders Arms on Gertrude St, Fitzroy.
They were joined by the AFL’s football head Laura Kane and off-sider Josh Mahoney.
While the Monday night special at the inner north favourite was a $25 steak, the dinner party was tight lipped on exit about what was on the agenda.


AFL-CEO-S-PUB-CATCH-UP_yLQfEo8eT.jpg



AFL CEO'S PUB CATCH UP​

AFL-CEO-S-PUB-CATCH-UP_JXPix5bv5.jpg







Dillion annually calls the coaches together for a dinner catch up which usually involves all 18 senior coaches to discuss footy and Monday’s meeting was a smaller affair.
The Monday meeting took place as football clubs increasingly grow in frustration towards league HQ.
Coaches have continuously spoken of their annoyance at the limited soft cap and how it reduces the earning power of assistant coaches, while some clubs have pushed for senior coach wages to sit outside the soft cap.
Frustration has been pointed at the AFL for its handling of Lachie Schultz’s concussion last weekend, and the saga around Port Adelaide player Willie Rioli.

The four coaches at the dinner have combined to coach 1239 matches at Victorian clubs and shared seven premierships between them, with a vast experience at traditionally financially poor clubs (North Melbourne, Melbourne) and on-field powerhouses (Hawthorn, Geelong).
Dillon told Channel 7 on his way into the pub that he was keen to pick the minds of his experienced dinner guests.
“It’s good to be here with the coaches tonight to talk through all things footy, a bit of soft cap. Talk about the MRO and see what’s on the coaches’ mind,” Dillon told Channel 7.
“It’s great to sit down face to face and get a really good insight into what’s going on in the coaches’ minds and I’m sure there will be plenty of robust discussion.”
Click to expand...

So forgive me for potentially not understanding the 'soft cap', but if there is angst about it from the richer clubs doesn't that mean it's doing it's job? Nothing stopping them from paying assistant coaches as much as they want, but all it means is they get 'taxed' and some goes to the smaller clubs who probably then get more to spend?
 
SpiderBurton22 said:
I can't read the article but I was at the game as a 14 year old and remember parts of it.

Not her finest moment but I recall my mother absolutely racially abusing Geoff Clark, the former ATSIC leader, currently jailled for defrauding his Framlingham community, after he stomped on a Colac players leg, snapping it 2, right in front of us. He absolutely deserved the abuse, minus the racial stuff, was one of the worst things I've seen on a footy field.

Spotfires everywhere, Brian Brown was in the thick of it and I think former St.Kilda player Stephen Thoedore was also amongst it.

I'm sure I'll remember more of the names if someone could post the article.
Click to expand...
It was an amazing read. Stephen Theodore admits to throwing his foot up and shirtfronting an opponent with his boot!

I actually met him in 2000 when I nearly ran out of petrol between Colac and Peterborough after a country golf pennant final at Colac. Paul Couch's brother Bill was in our team in the car in front and told me to stop at a farm just up the road. It was Theodore's farm and he filled up my car from his bowser. Nice enough bloke he seemed.

Also met Brian Brown at a Koroit game down there one year. A lovely guy - right up for a chat.

Hard to find anyone in the South West with anything much positive to say about Geoff Clark.

Staggering the crowd numbers at country footy grand finals in those days.
 
SpiderBurton22 said:
I can't read the article but I was at the game as a 14 year old and remember parts of it.

Not her finest moment but I recall my mother absolutely racially abusing Geoff Clark, the former ATSIC leader, currently jailled for defrauding his Framlingham community, after he stomped on a Colac players leg, snapping it 2, right in front of us. He absolutely deserved the abuse, minus the racial stuff, was one of the worst things I've seen on a footy field.

Spotfires everywhere, Brian Brown was in the thick of it and I think former St.Kilda player Stephen Thoedore was also amongst it.

I'm sure I'll remember more of the names if someone could post the article.
Click to expand...
Some "interesting personalities involved there back then Spider.
 
Great to see The King return for the 100 year celebration IMG_0945.jpeg
 
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