AFL Power Struggle Looms as Richard Goyder Prepares Exit
The AFL is in the middle of a fascinating and messy leadership shake-up, and at the heart of it all is outgoing chairman Richard Goyder. After nearly a decade in the top role, Goyder has made it clear he won’t be seeking re-election when the AFL Commission gathers for its next annual general meeting. On paper, it might sound like a standard succession moment, but in reality, the search for his replacement has turned into a power struggle that reflects just how unique and influential the AFL has become.
To understand why this is such a big deal, it’s worth looking at the sheer size of the business Goyder has been steering. The AFL pulled in over a billion dollars in revenue for the year ending October 2024, with a surplus of $618 million and a net profit of more than $41 million—tax-free. It now boasts net assets approaching half a billion dollars. Compare that to the Australian Sports Commission, which divides up about $245 million across all national sporting bodies, and the AFL’s dominance becomes obvious. It is, in many ways, its own self-contained empire, far less reliant on government handouts and free from many of the strings that other sports have to deal with.
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That independence is both a blessing and a curse. The AFL’s governance doesn’t mirror the rigid structures of other funded sports. There are no caps on years of service, no strict gender or skills quotas, and no direct government leverage. Instead, power is largely concentrated with the clubs, who effectively control the appointment of directors through their voting representatives. This makes the process of replacing a chairman less about orderly planning and more about political maneuvering—and in 2025, it has spilled out in full view.
Goyder’s leadership has not been without controversy. While his tenure has coincided with extraordinary financial growth, he has been criticized for clinging to power and failing to prepare a clear succession plan. His recent attempts to influence the outcome—such as backing certain candidates like former Bulldogs president Peter Gordon while blocking others like Jeff Browne—have left many clubs frustrated. So much so that a group of presidents have demanded a secret ballot, fearing reprisals if they go against Goyder’s wishes.
The names in the mix are high-profile: Browne, a former Collingwood president and AFL lawyer, has strong backing from a majority of club presidents. Gordon remains Goyder’s preferred choice, though his candidacy is shaky. Other figures, including Craig Drummond, Eddie McGuire, and even investment banker John Wylie, have been floated. But the process remains murky, and the lack of transparency has only deepened mistrust between the commission and the clubs.
What’s playing out is more than just a personnel change—it’s a reminder of how politics, money, and power collide in the AFL. The competition was once reshaped to take authority away from the clubs, but in this moment, those same clubs are flexing their muscles again. As Goyder’s tenure winds down, his legacy risks being overshadowed by the perception that he stayed too long, misread the room, and left the AFL without a clear, respectful handover.
In the end, the AFL may emerge with a new chairman, but the messy way it’s happening has already revealed cracks in the governance of Australia’s biggest sporting powerhouse.
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