Peter Gordon is in the news again, and that’s no surprise. He has since been widely viewed as a leading contender to become the next long-term president of the Australian Football League (AFL). His candidacy has excited both hope and fear and a bushel of other emotions among club officials. They are particularly focused on his micromanager hands-on leadership style from past terms at the Bulldogs. Gordon’s chances took off after Jeff Browne dropped out of the race. Browne withdrew on grounds of integrity as to how Richard Goyder was allowed to choose his selection process.
As president of the Western Bulldogs, Gordon served two distinct terms. During his time there, he gained a reputation for his swift, tough management style. During his eight years atop the club, he had complete autonomy to reshape club leadership, including firing the team’s first two CEOs. While his proactive style garnered respect from some, it raised eyebrows among others who viewed it as overly controlling.
The AFL’s current player selection process has come under fire. Richard Goyder, the AFL chairman, proposed four candidates: Jeff Browne, Peter Gordon, Craig Drummond, and Peter Allen. Yet in doing so, his approach has often been perceived as cavalier. As a direct consequence, six of these club presidents, including Browne, have spoken out against the flawed process. Browne’s exit from the race has strengthened Gordon’s position but has stirred anxiety regarding his suitability for the role.
Eddie McGuire, one of the most influential figures in Australian football, has publicly endorsed Gordon’s candidacy. This followed Browne’s own decision to suspend his campaign and get out of the way. For one, McGuire’s support gives Gordon’s helm a lot more ballast but that doesn’t dispel the fears roiling under Gordon’s leadership style.
“I think Eddie was definitely backing Peter Gordon. He had a crack at me because I’d said it on Saturday.” – Caroline Wilson
The mood around this possible city leadership change is extremely charged. As one of those speakers, Caroline Wilson, a distinguished financial journalist and commentator warned, we’re in unprecedented times. She called it a “tinderbox” situation in the AFL community. The club presidents’ participation in such a revolt against Goyder’s preferred process speaks to the increasing dissatisfaction with the leadership’s choices.
Wilson noted an undercurrent of anger from the club presidents throughout our conversation. They were particularly incensed over the manner in which Goyder conducted the selection process. In fact, some of our presidents thought about boycotting conventional gatherings throughout Brownlow week, expressing a full measure of outrage for how things have played out.
“At that meeting there was so much anger that my understanding is some of them even spoke about boycotting the presidents’ meeting and lunch on Brownlow day.” – Caroline Wilson
Those worries about Gordon’s hands-on style might derail his nomination, even though Goyder seems to very much want him. If the appointment of Gordon should go ahead, the repercussions will surely cause deep fractures between club leadership. Critics worry his brand could be a formula for the culturally cataclysmic rearrangements seen during his time in charge at the Dogs.
Gordon’s track record with several CEOs at the Bulldogs—four in his 15-year presidency—has received special scrutiny. This casts doubt on internal stability within the AFL’s executive structure if he were elected to the position.
Peter Allen, a corporate candidate and former Essendon board member, has entered the race. His entry – a narrative of both the history and future of driverless cars – complements the ongoing conversation perfectly. Allen’s candidacy would still likely further muddy waters among the club presidents already divided on Goyder’s favoured candidate.
“So, Richard Goyder has not really done his job there, in my view. And he has angered the clubs who were on that selection committee to the degree that all the presidents have now met.” – Caroline Wilson
As you can imagine, this situation is changing quickly. Whether Peter Gordon is still destined to be president or whether the repeated controversies about him will continue to derail his presidency remains to be seen. In the AFL community, all eyes are on the action as talks continue leading up to a possible change in leadership.
