How a premiership Pie, a Scotch old boy and Eddie McGuire could reshape the AFL Commission

The contest to replace former AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder was bruising and highly political, but Goyder’s successor, former Geelong president Craig Drummond, has foreshadowed even more upheaval.

Drummond’s move to introduce nine-year term limits for commissioners will trigger a major refresh if it’s successful, with four commissioners – Paul Bassat, Simone Wilkie, Andrew Newbold, and Gabrielle Trainor – at least 10 years into their tenures. Former Macquarie Bank boss Robin Bishop joined in 2017.

Drummond has suggested staggered exits would be best, but the looming overhaul comes at a pivotal moment for the game, with Tasmania’s entry, club frustration over governance and questions about whether the commission still possesses the authority, independence and football expertise that once made it the most powerful board in Australian sport.

The commission was designed to rise above club politics and make decisions in the long-term interests of the game. But critics argue that over time it has become increasingly corporate, with too few members possessing deep football credentials and too many major decisions viewed through the prism of stakeholder management rather than leadership.

The stakes are significant. AFL commissioner remains one of the most prestigious appointments in Australian sport. Former commissioner Sam Mostyn has since risen to governor-general, after all, while generations of business leaders, administrators and football figures have used the role to help shape the direction of the national game.

So, who will Drummond and the AFL turn to? This masthead has spoken to current and former administrators, club presidents, commissioners and senior industry figures about the skills Drummond should prioritise as he reshapes the game’s governing body. None would speak publicly as they didn’t want to be seen to be pushing a particular candidate or agenda, although former AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou spoke in general terms.

“Craig Drummond is a good operator. He’s got a great reputation, so I’m backing him,” Demetriou said.

“He’s the right person to identify commissioners of quality and the right skills, from the right background.”

Given two of the commissioners whose terms would be nearing an end are women, the expectation is that they would be replaced by women. The AFL would also consider drawing commissioners from different parts of the country, and look for a mix of skills.

While there is no formal shortlist, a clear theme emerged: the next generation of commissioners should combine football intelligence, commercial acu