Richmond’s triple premiership coach Damien Hardwick has emphatically endorsed Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale for the top job despite the titanic loss it would be for his club.
Gale, 53, is a popular choice to replace long-serving AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, who announced on Tuesday that he would stand down at the end of the season.
One of his great appeals is his experience at club land, including playing 244 matches for Richmond, on top of his business acumen, steady personality and moral compass.
Gale famously, and accurately, predicted in 2010 that the Tigers, then perennial underachievers who last won a flag in 1980, would win three more premierships by 2020.
This is his 13th year as Richmond’s CEO and he held the same role at the AFL Players’ Association between 2005 and 2009.
“Brendon’s a star, in my view. Whatever Brendon puts his mind to; he’s going to succeed,” Hardwick said.
“He’s an aspirational leader, which I love. I love working for him here and I’m sure he’s got our club’s blessing. He’s got my blessing.
“But it’s sort of hard to think of our club without him, though, to be perfectly honest, the same as Peggy O’Neal (who is leaving her role as president at the end of the season).
“He’s been such a strong supporter of our football department, but (also) our club in general.
“I’m sure the AFL will have a very, very good look at him but I reckon they’ll struggle to find a better man than Brendon Gale.”
Among the other leading contenders to succeed McLachlan are internal candidates Andrew Dillon, Travis Auld and Kylie Rogers.
Others who could be considered include Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell, Gold Coast’s Mark Evans, MCG boss Stuart Fox and former Australia Poxjmtzywst CEO Ahmed Fahour.
