From SEN:Richmond CEO Brendon Gale was among the original frontrunners. But with his name seemingly not mentioned in recent speculation, Maher can’t understand why the former AFL Players’ Assocation CEO isn’t a clear front-runner.
“This is what I can’t understand. I maintain that Brendon Gale is absolutely cherry ripe, taylor-made ready,” Maher stated.
“The background is perfect. The experience is perfect. The timing is perfect. He is a strong presence, you need someone who can stand up and present, particularly off the back of Gillon McLachlan, that is one of his great strengths.
“It feels like there’s a reason for why some people, I suspect people on the commission don’t think Brendon Gale is right or has rubbed a few people the wrong way.”
Gale is reported to have drawn the ire of the AFL hierarchy for numerous Richmond indiscretions during the 2020 season up in Queensland where the Tigers ultimately won the premiership.
But Maher says that Gale defending his club is instead an admirable quality that should be utliised by the AFL.
“You hear some stories about the Tigers up in the bubble (in Queensland). If he’s advocating for his footy club and that upset a few people along the way because he was fighting hard for what Richmond wanted, that’s his job, he’s supposed to be doing that,” he continued.
“I would have thought (that’s an admirable quality).
“I presume he’s up for the job. If he wanted it, if they thought he was the right man, he'd have it now. It feels like they’re swirling all over the place trying to find somebody else when the right bloke, seemingly, is right there.
“It’s very, very odd.”
Gale has been Richmond CEO since 2009.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/10/28/its-very-very-odd-question-marks-over-afls-process-for-next-league-ceo/
