AFL boss Andrew Demetriou announced his decision to step down from the position at the end of the 2014 season.
AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick made the announcement at a press conference held on Monday morning, listing Demetriou’s many achievements in 10 plus years as the AFL chief executive officer.
“And growth in membership, attendances, sponsorship, participation, broadcast rights and digital media platforms,” Fitzpatrick said.
“For me, the real strength of Andrew’s leadership hasn’t been in terms of stadiums and assets but it’s been his determination to give our game an ethical underpinning. A conscience,” he continued.
“By promoting the role of women at all levels of our game, by implementing plans to embrace multicultural communities.
“Expanding opportunities for Indigenous Australians to be involved in our game as players and administrators at various levels of the game.
A replacement has yet to be selected but will be announced in the near future.
Andrew Demetriou’s term as top boss saw the league expand into new territory, but negotiations surrounding scandals involving tanking and doping tarnished the 52-year-old’s leadership in recent years.
“I leave the game with no regrets… I will be staying until the end of the season,” he said.
“I’ve always said it’s a privilege and honour to serve the game but I also believe that the time is right,” an emotional Demetriou added.
“I have always believed that in my 11th year, any organisation needs renewal. Needs a fresh set of eyes.
“The growth of the game has been extraordinary,” he added.
“It’s been a wonderful journey full of challenges, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
Demetriou was behind a record TV rights deal worth $1.25 billion from 2012-16, up from the previous deal of $780 million.
The announcement comes amidst a report allegeding a group of Essendon Bombers told the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority they may have been injected with banned peptides in 2012-13, however Demetriou denied the scandal had influenced his decision.
“That will be for other to judge (when the events of the past year will affect his legacy). Hopefully people won’t take a snapshot of one particular point in time.”
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Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images.
