New footy boss Greg Swann issues ‘interesting' demand for own office on day one at AFL House
Swann officially began his role on Monday and has already made a strong impression with a number of media interviews.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Swann issues demand on day one at AFL House.
But he also made an immediate request at his new open-plan office, according to Channel 7's Caroline Wilson.
'He got to the AFL today and was showed the open plan, and said, 'nup, I will be having my own office'. He was told that everyone works open plan, he said, 'no, no, I will be having my own office',' Wilson said on The Agenda Setters.
'I thought it was quite interesting.'
Fellow panellist Nick Riewoldt said he liked the demand.
And while the appointment has been universally applauded, AFL great Leigh Matthews had doubts.
'When you go to work at the AFL, no-one barracks AFL. Whatever decision you make, half the people disagree with. It is a completely different role,' he said on 3AW over the weekend.
Matthews also went on to talk about the overcorrection of being a club person and not understanding potentially the role in the AFL.
Riewoldt immediately said he didn't agree with Matthews' assessment.
'I hope he doesn't lose that club element ... the rejoicing from football people has been pretty loud, hasn't it. I think we've been so desperate for it. I don't know if I agree entirely with Leigh there,' he said.
Wilson noted that Swann was already 'towing the party line' when he faced the media on Monday.
'He's backtracked on a few things already today in his first press conference. One of them being the Michael Christian press conferences,' Wilson said.
'Stuck up for the umpires and that ridiculous 50m penalty with the scoreboard pointing yesterday and in the Freo game, and was just a bit more, you know ... (towing) the party line.
'He's not a club any more. It was just interesting to hear the most pragmatic voice in footy just put a wave of caution on it.'
Swann has hinted play could be sped up before the end of the season as he prioritises reducing the length of matches in his new role.
Insisting he won't be making 'radical' changes to the game, Swann is also eager to see the umpires throw the ball up rather than bouncing it in the centre of the ground.
The veteran administrator has ruled out reducing the 20-minute playing time for each quarter, but believes the league can tighten up in situations where umpires are waiting for players to get to ruck contests and boundary throw-ins.
'There's a chance to actually speed that up a bit,' Swann told reporters on Monday.
'There's good vision and video of ruckmen taking 20 seconds to come from one end of the ground to the other.
'Everyone stands around and waits, so to me that's something that hopefully we can have a look at and maybe address even before the season finishes.'
Swann said it was too early to tell whether the ball would be bounced to open the 2026 season, but has received strong support from 'a majority' of clubs for his plan to scrap the bounce.
He is also keen to introduce more transparency around key AFL decisions, including those under the match review system.
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