Andrew Demetriou’s name was reportedly put forward earlier this week as a contender for the AFL Commission chairman role which would bring him into direct competition with NRL supremo and fellow Hellene Peter V’landys.
According to media reports, Collingwood president Jeff Browne has been in conversations with other club presidents about the succession plan for Richard Goyler, with the cohort pushing for an AFL chairman who is not currently sitting on the commission.
It follows a meeting of club presidents in Melbourne which took place this week before the Australian Football Hall of Fame event.
Demetriou’s name was not directly raised at the meeting, but The Age reports that “Browne has canvassed the prospect with a number of clubs”.
According to the masthead, Browne argued that Demetriou possesses the leadership qualities and the know-how to stand as a worthy opponent to Australian Rugby League Commission Chair Peter V’landys.
Both men are of Hellenic background and have served in high-profile sport executive roles in their careers.
V’landys was born on the island of Kythera before migrating with his mother and two brothers to Australia in 1965, joining his father in Wollongong.
Demetriou, who is of Greek Cypriot background, served as the AFL Chief Executive Officer from 2003 to 2014.
Before embarking on his sports administration career in 1998, Demetriou was an AFL player at the North Melbourne Football Club and Hawthorn.
Following his departure from the AFL in 2014, he made headlines in 2021 for stepping down from his role as non-executive director of Crown Resorts.
His resignation came after a report by the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority found the gambling giant unfit to hold a gaming license amidst serious cultural failure claims on the company’s transactions, including money laundering.
Demetriou had rejected claims of unreliable performance in his role stating that the comments of him in the report as “unfair and unjust” and that he would defend his “reputation at every opportunity.”
His past is reportedly seen by some AFL Club presidents as an impediment to him taking the AFL leadership role.
High-profile veteran AFL player Gerard Healy however appeared to support the prospect of Demetriou taking on the role to succeed outgoing current chair Richard Goyder.
“Andrew Demetriou was one of the most influential CEOs in the AFL’s history and arguably the best,” Healy told SEN’s Sportsday.
“Change is no doubt afoot at AFL Commission level and soon the Commission will be looking for a new chair. Without question, Andrew Demetriou’s name should be on the list of names to fill that position, even though it would be breaking new ground to see a CEO return as chairman.”
When asked by SEN radio on Thursday night, Demetriou didn’t completely rule out the possibility of succeeding Goyder.
“I’ve never thought about it, to be honest. It’s a very prestigious and well respected and well regarded position in the game, everyone who has served in that role has been terrific and whoever they decide to appoint I’m sure will be a fantastic and significant appointment.”
Alongside the 63-year-old Greek Australian, a number of AFL club presidents feature as contenders for the position, including David Koch (Port Adelaide), Craig Drummond (Geelong), Andrew Pridham (Sydney) and Luke Sayers (Carlton).
