Benny Gale's name is mentioned in the article as a future AFL CEO down the track ...
Put Eddie McGuire in charge of AFL Michael Warner
From: Herald Sun
March 27, 2012EDDIE McGuire is the right man to replace Andrew Demetriou as the head of the AFL.
Demetriou is yet to set an end date for his tenure, but when he chooses to go it's McGuire who should assume the mantle.
A senior football figure wondered openly last week whether McGuire was positioning himself for the role through recent comments made in his Sunday Herald Sun column, his Triple M radio show and Eddie McGuire Tonight on the Fox Footy station.
The Collingwood president has weighed in heavily on the Indigenous debate and is not afraid to speak out any issue.
"Let there be no mistake that the game is heading to a juncture that needs careful consideration and action to make sure years of positive results don't begin to regress,'' he wrote last week amid the Matt Rendell recruiting furore.
And on reflection, there is nobody better credentialled to take over from Demetriou in the chief executive chair than McGuire.
Other candidates from within the football world include Geelong chief executive Brian Cook (who just missed out last time), West Coast's Trevor Nisbett, Sydney's Andrew Ireland, Adelaide's Steven Trigg and AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan.
Essendon CEO Ian Robson is said to be keen,
while Richmond chief Brendon Gale has followed in the steps of Demetriou by serving as head of the AFL Players' Association before stepping into club administration, but his time is yet to come.The AFL Commission will no doubt look beyond the game if and when Demetriou steps down, and you can be assured the current chief will play a leading part in the hunt for his replacement.
Demetriou, 50, has served since 2003, taking over from Wayne Jackson, and has overseen spectacular growth, including the establishment of two new teams.
He hasn't said it, but once Greater Western Sydney is bedded down, it might just be time to vacate the post.
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Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett, who walked away after six years at the Hawks, says administrators should never stay around too long.
McGuire, 47, has achieved a premiership as Magpies president and can't go on forever. This will be his 14th season in charge of the club.
And don't forget, he's already tried his hand as a CEO at Channel 9.
Former Collingwood player and 1990 premiership star Craig Kelly has already declared an interest in the Pies' presidency.
Kelly, a leading AFL player manager, emerged as a potential successor to McGuire when he revealed in July 2010 that he was prepared to sell his successful business to take the reins when the time was right.
"I owe Collingwood Football Club so much,'' Kelly said.
"It has given me every opportunity in this town and in this industry.
"One day I will go back and do whatever I have got to do. I would love to be on the Collingwood footy club board, (and) if you are then appointed president of a football club, fantastic.''
McGuire was not impressed back then, but two years on and with a flag in the bag, he might just be thinking about what comes next.
As for Demetriou, he could make a run for politics on the federal Labor side or take a seat on some major boards like BHP or NAB.
Chief McGuire has a certain ring.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/put-eddie-mcguire-in-charge-of-afl/story-fncqi9j8-1226310335451
