According to Caro:Externally the highly credentialled Richmond CEO Brendon Gale - who has rebuilt the once-hopeless and cash-strapped Tigers into an extraordinary powerhouse on and off the field - remains the hot favourite to replace McLachlan but Gale does not have the backing from the commission that he has from the majority of the clubs and most of the game’s strongest influencers.
So if McLachlan’s replacement is not as obvious as many believe it should be there is no doubt the game sits at the leadership crossroads should he, as so many observers and friends believe he will, announce his departure over the coming year.
https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/afl/nearing-the-end-the-hits-and-misses-of-gillon-mclachlan-s-reign-20210325-p57e1m.html-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mick Warner says he’s shocked to hear the AFL commission isn’t keen on Brendon Gale being Gillon McLachlan’s successor.
“It beggars belief to me,” he said.
3AW Football’s Caroline Wilson wrote this week the highly credentialled Richmond CEO was the preferred candidate from the majority of clubs to replace McLachlan once he finishes in the AFL CEO role.
But he’s yet to gain the backing of the commission.
https://www.3aw.com.au/mick-warner-responds-to-reports-the-afl-commission-is-cool-on-favoured-gillon-mclachlan-successor/