Unfiltered on Channel 7 with AFL CEO Andrew Dillon – Unfiltered with Hamish McLachlan makes it return tomorrow night at 10.10pm (local) on Seven and 7plus Sport, with special guest, AFL Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Dillon.
In the episode, Andrew discusses:
- The success of AFL Origin and it’s return
- Ensuring the game continues to evolve and that Australians remain engaged in Australian Football
- The prospect of growing AFL internationally
- The length of the season and whether there are plans to change that
- His own football journey and what inspired his deep love of the game
McLachlan: “So, if you forecast thirty years out, what would worry you most in terms of where the game has gone with Australians?
Dillon: “Look, I think if I had one worry, what I would worry is if in 20 or 30 years’ time, that Australians didn’t love the game the way they do now, and I think it’s decisions that we’re making now that might have an impact there, knowing that I won’t be around at the AFL when that happens, but I want to make sure that the decisions that I make and that the team are responsible for actually ensuring that in 20- 30, years’ time, that we remain the game that Australians love.”
McLachlan: “You visited India recently. Hutchy sort of talks about having a match during the Ashes. Is it too far-fetched to think one day there’ll be a serious league somewhere else, or a club based internationally 50 years out?”
Dillon: “I mean, I think you wouldn’t want to constrain your thinking. I think what I saw in India, albeit, I was only there for a week, but what I did see was a really passionate group of men, boys, girls and women playing Australia’s native game in India. There 10,000 players over there, which blew my mind. Even a lot of the people that we met previously in India, had no idea about it. So, if a bunch of sort of eight or 10 volunteers can get that going with a bit of targeted investment, I think we can actually really start to see the game grow at a grassroots level in India, and then who knows, from there? The world’s getting globalised. We’re seeing it here with NFL games coming out, English Premier League going well, so I think we have to look outside our outside of borders, we’ve got so much work to do within here so that’s our focus, you know, western suburbs of Melbourne there’s heaps of upside. We know that there’s amazing growth that we’re seeing in New South Wales and Queensland but still untapped, but I don’t think you can take your eyes off opportunities wherever they usually show themselves.”
McLachlan: “People say the most scrutinised role in the country are Prime Minister, Australian Cricket Captain and CEO of the AFL. Do you feel that? Do you feel like everytime you talk, move, make a decision that it’s being analysed and scrutinised?”
Dillon: “I don’t feel it, but I think I know it. Because I think if you kept feeling it, then you might start making decisions because of that. I think what you have to do is back your instincts based on data and your knowledge and people that you work with, but it’s an interesting spot.”
Unfiltered returns with special guest, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon at 10.10pm Wednesday following The Front Bar on Seven and 7plus Sport
Media Release – Seven
TV Central AFL content HERE
Unfiltered on Channel 7 with AFL CEO Andrew Dillon
