Little known about wanted man, but CV suggests code switch wouldn't be out of his league
Date
August 30, 2012
Richard Hinds
Chief Sports Columnist
You only need a glance at Gillon McLachlan's CV, and the obvious second question that will be posed by NRL fans about the man being sought to run their game leaps out. After ''who is he?'' will come ''what does he know about rugby league?''
McLachlan did not return calls yesterday. That left unanswered the question of whether - unlike Kevin Sheedy, upon his arrival in Sydney - the AFL No.2 knows Hindmarsh is not a suburb near Cabramatta.
However, on Fox Footy's Eddie McGuire Tonight, McLachlan did little to quell speculation his future will be with the NRL. ''I'm happy to say I've had a chat with the people in Sydney,'' he said, adding that ''you only have one career, and one family''.
On the surface, McLachlan seems a more likely to candidate to succeed John O'Neill than David Gallop. The erudite member of a wealthy pastoral family, he was educated at prestigious St Peter's College in Adelaide and, to add an almost ridiculously stereotypical touch, is president of the Victorian Polo Club.
''There is a story to me that is probably good headlines and potentially sells a paper,'' McLachlan said. ''But it's who I am, I don't shy away from that. I think Sydney's a great town and rugby league is a great product. There is a whole series of things that play into that about me and others … but my background, I don't think about that when I think about this job or the AFL or any other job.''
Those who have worked with McLachlan portray a different image. ''His values are a lot stronger than people give him credit for,'' one former colleague said. ''He's a lot more grounded. He's certainly very capable of dealing with people on different levels.''
In his negotiations with government, television executives and businessmen, McLachlan is said to be both personable and, where necessary, firm. ''He knows how to use a good mixture of carrot and stick,'' is how one protagonist put it.
Significantly, McLachlan has a proven record of bringing big projects to a successful conclusion. He was instrumental in helping deliver Metricon and Skoda stadiums on the Gold Coast, and at Sydney's Olympic Park. The first project, particularly, was a masterstroke given the AFL managed to extract funds from an initially hostile Queensland government.
The NRL lamented NSW government funds being handed to a foreign and hostile code to build Skoda Stadium in the shadows of ANZ Stadium. Yet the dominant Sydney game failed to match the aggressive lobbying of its rival.
McLachlan's other achievements include a key role in the AFL's $1.25 billion TV rights deal, the establishment of AFL Media which is moving the game towards producing and controlling its content, and the compilation of a complex, commercially driven playing schedule. He also drafted the AFL's impact study during Football Federation Australia's 2018/2022 World Cup bid, which led to considerable concessions in the event Australia won hosting rights.
Being cast as one of the supposed ''AFL traitors'' who helped torpedo the World Cup bid might not make him popular with some. However, in a competitive marketplace, his ability to aggressively champion/defend his game against a rival is an asset.
McLachlan agrees the new media rights deal creates enormous opportunities. ''It's a fantastic product, I don't think anyone needs to hide away from that,'' he said. ''It's an unbelievable deal they've done … there are great opportunities there. I think the broadcast rights delivers the capital to go and deliver on some of those.''
The $1.5 million salary McLachlan might command should not be an issue for a now cashed-up game. More significant could be the willingness to give a new chief executive the power he would demand. Andrew Demetriou is given a free hand by a strong, but non-interventionist commission. McLachlan would expect the same from chairman John Grant.
There had been speculation McLachlan was virtually guaranteed the top job at the AFL, perhaps as soon as next year. But Demetriou seems comfortable in a role for which he earns more than $2 million a year, while ably supported by highly competent assistants.
''I hope he stays,'' Demetriou said of McLachlan on Fox Footy's AFL 360 last night. ''I think he's got some unfinished business.''
