AFL football boss Laura Kane to split role amid changes to league's executive after series of poorly handled incidents

News.com.au29-05-2025

The AFL has reacted amid growing pressure on football boss Laura Kane, splitting her job in two as part of a major shake-up of its executive ranks.
Following months of operational issues, questions about umpiring, the mishandling of a ban for Port Adelaide star Willie Rioli and other communication issues, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has acted.
A second general manager of football performance will be appointed to work with Kane, while long-term social and inclusion boss Tanya Hosch will depart the league.
Despite the shift, Dillon is adamant Kane, who will still be in charge of football operations but no longer be responsible for MRO, umpiring, game analysis, player movement, laws of the game, innovation and club engagement, maintains a 'major leadership role'.
'Laura will continue to play a major leadership role within the AFL.' Dillon said.
'But the overall responsibility has grown so much that the traditional leadership role for an individual executive in footy is no longer the best model.'
Kane will still be responsible for delivering the AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW competitions as well as a newly formed AFL healthcare and medical team, including the league's mental health response and ongoing concussion management.
There remains increasing pressure for Dillon to swiftly find a new chief operating officer, as the AFL executive team struggled in the wake of former chief executive Gillon McLachlan's resignation.
The position of commission chairman Richard Goyder is also under scrutiny, as the AFL, despite boasting huge membership and viewership numbers, lurches from crisis to crisis off the field.
Kane particularly was criticised for the AFL's handling of the situation with Rioli, who escaped penalty for a threat made to Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale before a history of similar incidents was revealed and he was banned for a week.
There were also issues with the blame game after umpires failed to stop the game when Collingwood's Lachie Schultz was concussed against Fremantle.
But Dillon said he had been reviewing his leadership structure since taking over 18 months ago and the changes were part of that.
'Footy is at the heart of everything we do, it has to be front and centre,' he said.
'It's the reason people care, the reason they're passionate, the reason they show up every week.
'My focus is making sure we keep working closely with our clubs, coaches and players to keep our game strong and to ensure footy remains the No.1 sport in the country – by every measure.'