Latest news with #LauraKane
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
‘Not personal': AFL CEO Andrew Dillon explains executive reshuffle
AFL chief Andrew Dillon insists there's nothing personal in the demotion of Laura Kane while brushing off fierce criticism of the umpiring standard. Dillon has gone on the Friday hustings after his reshuffle of the AFL executive cost Indigenous identity Tanya Hosch her role and pushed Kane down the pecking order. Kane's job has been split, with the 34-year-old no longer overseeing key football areas. 'It was a big, big role,' Dillon told SEN radio on Friday. 'Decisions affect people but they're not personal. It's actually about what's the right thing for the AFL, not just for now, because the AFL's in an incredible position at the moment. ' ... We have now got a structure that actually allows us to continue to be successful for the next three to five years and that was the thinking.' In a separate interview on ABC Radio, Dillon rejected the notion that unconscious gender bias was a factor in Kane's dealings with clubs and subsequent demotion. 'It's not a gender thing,' he said. 'Laura has broken down a lot of barriers. She is an incredibly talented administrator.' Hosch's position of inclusion and social policy manager will no longer exist as a separate role once the first Indigenous member of the AFL executive leaves on 6 June. Instead, the existing corporate affairs portfolio will include First Nations engagement and inclusion. Asked about Hosch's departure, Dillon said on SEN: 'What we will have now is more voices and more leaders all across the industry in all of the work that Tanya was doing.' The AFL boss also launched in defence of the standard of umpiring this season which has attracted great scrutiny. Dillon described the umpiring fraternity as 'incredibly talented ... great decision-makers'. Sign up to From the Pocket: AFL Weekly Jonathan Horn brings expert analysis on the week's biggest AFL stories after newsletter promotion 'You strive for perfection but you know you're now going to get that in umpiring,' he said. 'We don't get it with the players either. But you have to do to is get as close as you can and that is a continued work in progress. 'You can pick out isolated incidents of any game and say that it's battling. What you have to do is actually look at all nine games over the weekend ... picking isolated incidents isn't the way that you judge the umpires.' Dillon said the system of four field umpires, which some pundits believe has created inconsistency, would prove its worth. 'We're a couple of seasons into the four umpires, it's a work in progress,' he said. 'What it does have, it allows ... umpires to be in better positions to make the calls. It's less physically taxing on them. 'When we brought the four umpires in, we expanded the list so we have a number of umpires who are in the early parts of their career. So I think over the medium and longer term it's going to be successful.'
Daily Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
AFL: CEO Andrew Dillon changes Laura Kane's role
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. 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. Laura Kane's role has been split. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images '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. She is still in charge of football operations under chief executive Andrew Dillon's watch. Picture: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.' Originally published as AFL football boss Laura Kane to split role amid changes to league's executive after series of poorly handled incidents
ABC News
3 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
AFL announces major changes at headquarters following months of drama
Laura Kane's job as head of AFL football operations will be split into two roles amid widespread executive changes at league headquarters. Kane, who has become a lightning rod for criticism this season, will stay as football operations boss. A separate role will be created to head football performance. ABC Sport is live blogging every round of the AFL and NRL seasons in 2025. ABC Sport is live blogging every round of the AFL and NRL seasons in 2025. Kane will continue to oversee the AFL and AFLW, plus the VFL and VFLW and a newly-formed medical and healthcare team that will oversee areas including mental health and concussion. The football performance manager's portfolio will include areas including match review, umpiring, game analysis, laws of the game and club engagement. "The game is the reason we exist; it is as big and as good as it has ever been, and the AFL football department must continue to evolve," Dillon said. "It must be structured, resourced and led in a way that can ensure everyone — the clubs, players, coaches, umpires and officials — can continue to perform at the highest possible level. "Laura will continue to play a major leadership role within the AFL, 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." Also on Thursday, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon confirmed reports this month that inclusion and social policy manager Tanya Hosch will leave after nine years at the league. Hosch has been at the forefront in areas such as Indigenous issues and gender diversity. "I am extremely proud of what I have been able to achieve during my tenure with the AFL. Being in the organisation just ahead of the first bounce of AFLW was a huge and special honour that my entry coincided with," Hosch said. "At the AFL, we say we are 'a game for everyone,' and I always saw my role as part of that story. I have learnt an enormous amount from so many skilled, passionate and talented people across the game. "I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work closely with incredible people. "The game belongs to all of us that love it and serve it, and I have been humbled to have had the opportunity to be a steward for a time." Once she leaves on June 6, the existing corporate affairs portfolio will include First Nations engagement and inclusion, as well as media, communications and sustainability. In a statement on Thursday, Dillon said inclusion remained a priority at the AFL, and the league would continue to invest to grow participation and engagement for Indigenous and people from diverse backgrounds. "We are unified in the power that sport has to shine a light on issues and make tangible change, where diversity of our participants is welcomed and celebrated, not vilified. Specifically, there is no place for racism at any level of our game," Mr Dillon said. AAP/ABC
West Australian
3 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Laura Kane's footy role split in major changes at AFL HQ
Laura Kane's job as head of AFL football operations will be split into two roles amid widespread executive changes at league headquarters. Kane, who has become a lightning rod for criticism this season, will stay as football operations boss. A separate role will be created to head football performance. Also on Thursday, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon confirmed reports this month that inclusion and social policy manager Tanya Hosch will leave after nine years at the league. Hosch has been at the forefront in areas such as Indigenous issues and gender diversity. Once she leaves on June 6, the existing corporate affairs portfolio will include First Nations engagement and inclusion, as well as media, communications and sustainability. The AFL is on the hunt for a new corporate affairs manager and a chief operating officer. Kane will continue to oversee the AFL and AFLW, plus the VFL and VFLW and a newly-formed medical and healthcare team that will oversee areas including mental health and concussion. The football performance manager's portfolio will include areas including match review, umpiring, game analysis, laws of the game and club engagement. 'The game is the reason we exist; it is as big and as good as it has ever been, and the AFL football department must continue to evolve,' Dillon said. 'It must be structured, resourced and led in a way that can ensure everyone - the clubs, players, coaches, umpires and officials - can continue to perform at the highest possible level. 'Laura will continue to play a major leadership role within the AFL, 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.'
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Top AFL executive's job cut in half in major shake-up
The AFL has announced a major shake-up of its executive following months of turmoil and fan unrest. The most significant change will see Laura Kane's role as executive general manager of football operations split in half. A second general manager of football performance is set to be appointed within weeks to help Kane with the key portfolio. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The new 'football performance' boss will be responsible for the Match Review Officer (MRO) umpiring, game analysis, player movement, laws of the game, innovation. Footy operations, under Kane, will be responsible for operations for the AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW, as well as a newly formed AFL healthcare and medical team, including the league's mental health response and ongoing concussion management. Despite the shift, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon is adamant Kane maintains a 'major leadership role'. 'Laura will continue to play a major leadership role within the AFL.' Dillon said. The league has come under fire for its handling multiple sagas involving Port Adelaide's Willie Rioli and an umpiring cover-up over Collingwood Lachie Schultz's concussion. Earlier this month Dillon and Kane met with a handful of AFL coaches at a pub in Melbourne to address tension from clubs, including pleas to increase the soft cap for coaching staff. The AFL is also looking for a new chief operating officer to support CEO Andrew Dillon. Dillon has reportedly been on the lookout for a second-in-charge with Fremantle's Simon Garlick, Sydney's Tom Harley and Western Bulldogs' Ameet Bains been linked to the position. Umpiring, rule interpretations and suspensions remain a bone of contention for many fans. The AFL said in a statement: 'Following the decision to appoint a Chief Operating Officer and the recent resignation of Executive General Manager Corporate Affairs, Government and Communications Brian Walsh, Mr Dillon has taken the opportunity to restructure his Executive team. The search process for both the COO and EGM Corporate Affairs is underway. The AFL also confirmed the departure of Inclusion and Social Policy manager Tanya Hosch after almost nine years as a member of the AFL's executive team. Joining the AFL in 2016, Hosch was the first Indigenous person and second woman to join the League's executive ranks. 'Tanya has been tireless in her work to ensure that inclusion has been a part of everything we have done, from encouraging more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples into the AFL industry, to supporting clubs at all levels of our game to navigate complex social issues and create policies to reduce vilification,' Dillon said. 'We have seen the benefit of Tanya's work this year as she was a consistent advocate for and a driving force behind the Indigenous All-Stars game in Perth and her leadership resulted in the AFL attaining Gold Status in the Pride in Sport awards for the first time – both achieved after years of hard work and advocacy. 'As an industry we are indebted to Tanya for making us better.' Hosch oversaw the appointment of the first Indigenous Tribunal Member Peter Matera in 2019, and also championed the first Indigenous player statue of Nicky Winmar. She also instigated and completed a review of anti-vilification policy within the code, which was then updated and renamed the Peek Rule and advocated for the adoption of the social inclusion clause in the current broadcast deal. It comes as longtime AFL commissioner Richard Goyder reportedly seeks a three-year extension, with Collingwood president Jeff Browne and Swans chairman Andrew Pridham among the contenders for the league's top job.
