- AFL effectively demoted football boss Laura Kane
- Nick Riewoldt says move is a year too late
Footy legend Nick Riewoldt has taken aim at the AFL for not demoting executive general manager of football Laura Kane sooner, labelling them ‘social justice warriors’.
The AFL announced last week that Kane’s AFL football operations role will be split into two roles, with the 34-year-old no longer overseeing key football areas.
Kane has become a lightning rod for criticism this season over issues such as the Willie Rioli saga, the standard of umpiring and AFL miscommunication around what happened when Collingwood player Lachie Schultz was concussed in a game against Fremantle.
A separate head of football performance role is now being created .
Kane will continue to oversee the AFL and AFLW, plus the VFL and VFLW and a newly formed medical and healthcare team that will oversee areas including mental health and concussion.
It was confirmed on Monday that Lions chief executive officer Greg Swann will take on the role as the head of football performance.
Laura Kane’s tenure as football operations boss was beset by a number of controversies before she was effectively demoted
Nick Riewoldt says Kane’s new responsibilities should have been made official 12 months ago – but the AFL was too busy being a ‘social justice warrior’ to make the change
Riewoldt said Swann’s arrival is long overdue.
‘If the AFL weren’t so consumed with being social justice warriors, Laura Kane would have been moved aside 12 months ago,’ he said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters on Monday night.
‘It is (a win) now. Either the role was too big, or she was the wrong person (for the job).’
AFL chief Andrew Dillon insists there’s nothing personal in the demotion of Kane.
‘It was a big, big role,’ Dillon told SEN radio on Friday.
‘Decisions affect people but they’re not personal.
‘It’s actually about what’s the right thing for the AFL, not just for now, because the AFL’s in an incredible position at the moment.
‘ … We have now got a structure that actually allows us to continue to be successful for the next three to five years and that was the thinking.’
AFL chief Andrew Dillon (pictured with Laura Kane) insists there’s nothing personal in the bombshell demotion
In a separate interview on ABC Radio, Dillon rejected the notion that unconscious gender bias was a factor in Kane’s dealings with clubs and subsequent demotion.
‘It’s not a gender thing,’ he said.
‘Laura has broken down a lot of barriers. She is an incredibly talented administrator.’
Swann, who has been involved in club administration for more than 25 years, will oversee hot issues including the match review system, umpiring and laws of the game.
‘I’m leaving to go the AFL to head up footy, I suppose, in the simplest terms,’ Swann said when he confirmed his appointment to Lions colleagues.
Lions coach Chris Fagan said Swann would be a major boost for the AFL.
‘I’m really pleased for Swanny, it will be great for the game,’ he said.
‘He’s one of those composed, calm and experienced people. We’re obviously sad to lose him … but things don’t last forever.
‘ln this instance, it will be a great win for the AFL.
‘He’ll help bring another angle to decision making that perhaps hasn’t been there in recent times.’
