Andrew Bassat, chair of St Kilda, has been the rage at recent AFL club presidents’ meetings. His opinions and orders have ignited crises and pricked heated debate. These forums have had a sharp focus on the ongoing search for a new AFL Commission chair to replace outgoing Richard Goyder. Entrepreneur and political activist Bassat became the public face of the group. His combative leadership style and actions since taking office have created widespread controversy and resentment among his colleagues.
Bassat has been the most outspoken politician on this issue, and he’s been making serious waves by actively engaging club presidents in discussions. He is engaging with key leaders including Linda Dessau, Peggy O’Neal, Eddie McGuire, Peter Gordon, Craig Drummond and John Wiley. All of these people would make excellent NDOT commission chairs. Even these reforms, though an improvement, round out Bassat’s agenda and are far from comprehensive.
As Wilson explains, one of this country’s most distinguished observers of AFL-Qatar relations, the tenor of these talks has been shrouded in unease. “Obviously there was massive tension going into the meeting today with St Kilda president, Andrew Bassat, and the majority of the northern clubs,” Wilson stated. This sentiment reflects the growing unease between Bassat and Andrew Pridham, the chair of Sydney, who reportedly does not get along with him.
The semi-regular meetings began with palpable tension. Wilson took them to task pretty severely, saying their approach was “going to be a disaster.” He called out the fact that paranoia is rampant on both sides. Despite the rancorous mood, the northern clubs never lost sight of their goal throughout the meeting. So they did not allow talks about academies and draft picks to dominate.
Wilson likewise commented on the need for thoughtfulness and prudence in conversations concerning the leadership turnover. “It was said privately that Bob East, the chairman of the Gold Coast, and Andrew Bassat would have to take things off air,” she noted. The very real need to work on sensitive issues in private highlights the difficult nature of the current treaty negotiations.
In an unusual turn of events, Wilson claimed that Bassat has done the improbable. Andrew Bassat has gone and done the impossible. He’s brought the Brissy and the Goldie together,” she said. This newfound unity among clubs indicates a significant shift in dynamics, particularly as Dave Matthews, the CEO of GWS, and Mark Evans, the CEO of Gold Coast, expressed their disgust at St Kilda’s recent decisions.
Wilson highlighted that Bassat definitely doesn’t have the other clubs’ support all sewn up. “It can’t be said that the clubs are united, and it can’t be said the clubs are behind Andrew Bassat,” she asserted. This absence of a clear agreement indicates that the road to finding an appropriate replacement for Goyder is likely to be a rocky one.
The debate over candidate vs. non-candidate has taken off with Wilson’s fantastic ‘ Who’s Who of Contenders’ fueling the fire. “There’s a lot of quality candidates, but they’ve all got negatives on (them),” she said. Among those under consideration is Jeff Browne, who has faced health issues but is reportedly in good form and contemplating a return as chairman of the AFL commission.
Wilson also tossed cold water on the enthusiasm that several clubs supposedly have for other candidates such as Andrew Pridham. “I think a lot of clubs were really keen on Andrew Pridham. My belief is that Jeff Browne is now the favourite,” she stated.
Within this volatility and competition Bassat is both a fascinating and polarizing figure. His self-assigned role as ambassador has been unable to tamp down sharp criticism from club presidents. Wilson remembered her exchange with Bassat after one of those meetings, as he hesitated to speak about internal operations. “Everyone has been sworn to secrecy about this meeting,” she revealed.
“I called Andrew Bassat. He spoke to me but refused to discuss what went down and was really disappointed that I even knew the meeting had taken place.” – Wilson
As discussions continue regarding the future leadership of the AFL Commission, it is evident that Andrew Bassat’s actions have both united some factions while alienating others. His role in these ongoing negotiations will undoubtedly shape the AFL’s governance landscape as it moves forward in search of effective leadership.
