Auld dog, new tricks: AFL CEO candidate in the frame for plum grand prix job

03/22/2023

AULD DOG, NEW TRICKS?

As the AFL takes its time appointing its next CEO, sharks are circling around one of the favourite candidates.

The Australian Grand Prix board is ready to pounce on AFL heavyweight Travis Auld to replace outgoing CEO Andrew Westacott, should Auld be unsuccessful in his bid to be league boss.

AFL executive Travis Auld.Credit:Getty Images

Auld is the AFL’s chief financial officer and is also in charge of broadcasting and clubs. Outgoing AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan passed on greater responsibility to him when the game was thrown into chaos by COVID-19. The expanded role meant Auld was constantly liaising and negotiating with state and federal governments.

Westacott has announced he’s leaving his position after next month’s race, having held the position since 2011. Victoria has hosted the Australian edition of the Formula 1 race since 1996 and Westacott recently oversaw a deal to extend the hosting rights to 2037 amid interest from NSW.

Grand prix chairman Paul Little, the former president of Essendon where Auld began his football administration career, wouldn’t comment specifically on individuals, but provided The Scoop with the following criteria when asked what he was looking for in the next CEO:

Auld and fellow league employee Andrew Dillon are seen as the favourites for McLachlan’s job, with Richmond CEO Brendon Gale and league commercial boss Kylie Rogers also in the mix.

Sources familiar with the situation have told The Age there are two other external candidates who have made the final grouping.

Outgoing Australian Grand Prix Corporation boss Andrew Westacott.Credit:Getty Images

Coincidentally, it’s understood Westacott was approached by US based recruiting firm Spencer Stuart to interview for the role, along with Australian Open tennis boss Craig Tiley and Foxtel supremo Patrick Delany.

The six applicants have presented to all seven members of the AFL Commission, including chairman Richard Goyder, at the Collins Street offices of Spencer Stuart. Each presented a long-term plan for their vision of the competition, with the presentations lasting several hours each.

The six candidates will be whittled down to two in the next two weeks, before a decision is made before round five, when McLachlan will officially hand over as chief executive. He’s still expected to work in the background at the AFL until Tasmania’s bid to become the 19th team in the league is resolved.

McLachlan was originally planning to leave his post at the end of the 2022 season. However, major issues, such as Tasmania’s bid for an AFL licence, player CBA negotiations and the investigation into allegations of historical racism at Hawthorn resulted in McLachlan extending his tenure into 2023.

BOGEY BOGEY BRAYSHAW

Melbourne fans are used to seeing Angus Brayshaw dominate at the MCG, but earlier this year, some of his teammates got to see him just how good he can be in a cathedral.

That’s a golf course, by the way. In fact, Cathedral Lodge and Golf Club, built by former Essendon chairman David Evans and designed by golfing great Greg Norman, has become the most exclusive golf precinct in the country. With around only 100 members, a membership will set you back well over six figures – and that’s just the entry fee.

The big hitting Brayshaw headed to the exclusive course in before round one this year, playing with teammates Max Gawn and Adam Tomlinson. Brayshaw, a single-figure golfer, was one under the card after 16 holes. That’s mighty impressive.

But that’s when things went wrong. He finished with two bogeys to shoot one over. In fairness to “Gus”, the 17th is a long, brutal, downhill par three with a tricky green.

Angus Brayshaw had a disappointing finish to his round at Cathedral Golf Club.Credit:Getty Images

But given the last hole is a par 5, with a green reachable in two shots, he wasn’t happy with the way his round ended.

Start your engines

While Collingwood president Jeff Browne works behind the scenes to lead the Magpie renaissance alongside new CEO Craig Kelly and new captain Darcy Moore, his prized car collection is growing in size and value.

Browne, the lawyer, businessman and former Channel Nine boss, is also well known to be a motor enthusiast.

He has a vintage Ferrari, two high-end Porsches and his latest masterpiece is nearly complete.

Browne’s 1970 Mercedes 280SL, which he purchased from friend and Collingwood supporter Nick Theodossi, has nearly doubled in value since he bought it 18 months ago. The car, now worth an estimated $300,000, is being reconditioned and will be ready to drive (or perhaps store) in the coming weeks.

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Auld dog, new tricks: AFL CEO candidate in the frame for plum grand prix job