GEORGIE PARKER: AFL fans want consistency from Andrew Dillon, Laura Kane after several poorly handled dramas
Andrew Dillon and Laura Kane desperately need a win.
There is no denying they are both smart operators with and a strong work ethic, but the question marks that have been over their head since day one are starting to get bigger due to what can only appear to be a lack of leadership after a string of rushed decisions and poorly phrased comments, and AFL fans are coming for them.
Unfortunately, this is what you get when you are in a high-profile and high paying job, but it's getting to the point where no matter the decision, even if it's air-tight, the fans won't buy in, which is a dangerous place to be.
They need a win, but until they get one, they need to have more consistency, which is what AFL fans are crying out for and believe is not that hard to achieve.
They are embroiled in three ongoing controversies — the fallout from the Willie Rioli suspension and the broader issue of racism in the game; the performance of umpires on the field; and the rules around dangerous contact, which have seen several players banned because a player was concussed when they were performing what many regard as a 'football act' with no intended malice.
AFL CEO Dillon has called on all the clubs to unite in an industry-wide fight against racism.
His call to arms comes after an ugly spat between Port Adelaide and the Bulldogs over Rioli last week.
Port chairman David Koch said Rioli had been provoked into striking Bulldog Bailey Daile and sending a threatening message about him to a Bulldogs teammate by 'culturally disrespectful' comments.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge hit back that the Power had enabled Rioli to behave poorly after it emerged, he had also threatened two other players during games this season and last.
All of this came as the AFL was promoting the Sir Doug Nicholls Round to celebrate Indigenous footballers and culture.
The AFL needs consistency in the how players are dealt with off the field and on it.
It needs consistency in umpiring, from the clear black and white interpretation of rules like hand balling to the subjective nature of rules like insufficient intent.
It needs consistency in marrying its emphasis on player safety with decisions at the tribunal to what umpires do on the field when a player is seriously injured.
The miscommunication about the Lachie Schultz concussion issue and what the umpires saw and what they say they saw ended up being highly embarrassing for executive general manager of football Laura Kane, who had to issue multiple statements on the fiasco as more information was leaked.
We need consistency from the AFL operated AFL Review Centre and, most importantly, consistency in the messaging from those making the decisions.
It seems the only consistency we have as a league is that nothing is consistent.
What's right one week is wrong the next, and vice versa with the lack of transparency from the spokespeople deepening with every press conference.
I feel for Kane. She's not only young for such a complex role, but she also has the added pressure of being a female in sport.
Being female is another target on your back with people waiting for a mistake to be made and your every decision questioned.
Politics isn't only played in Canberra. The AFL has its own bearpit of political manoeuvring at AFL HQ that seems to be getting more intense as the weeks go on.
It will be interesting to see how it plays out for the rest of the year.
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