Sydney Swans chairperson Andrew Pridham has called on Andrew Dillon for a “significant rethink” of the AFL’s strategy in New South Wales.
Dillon, the league’s incoming CEO, has previously indicated he’ll undergo a review of sorts with the NSW-based clubs in the near future.
But Pridham hopes a new strategy will arise as a result, suggesting the current plan isn’t working.
When asked on SEN’s Crunch Time if the AFL should have done more and done a better job when first moving into the Sydney market, Pridham replied: “yes… that’s the short answer.
“I think there clearly needs to be a significant rethink in terms of what the approach is in New South Wales.
“You can’t be sitting in Docklands determining what’s the right way into this market. It’s a very different market to the rest for Australia and we’ve been saying that for a long time.
“It’s incumbent on the AFL – and I’m confident Andrew Dillon will do this – to work closely with us, and we’re certainly keen and I’m sure the Giants are too, to come up with a fresh approach where we can tackle this market.”
Pridham pointed to a lack of elite-level talent coming through Sydney and the surrounding regions as evidence that the right programs aren’t yet in place.
“The Riverina, for example, is going backward. The ACT is going backwards… a pretty significant miss was last weekend when neither the Giants nor the Swans played in Sydney when there was no NRL on (because of Magic Round),” he continued.
“There’s a whole lot of things we’ve got to get better at.”
The Sydney boss also spoke on the ongoing tensions between clubs and the AFL, particularly revolving around two vacant commissioner positions.
Appointing Dillon after a process that all-up will have taken 18 months has eased some concerns, however Pridham suggested it’s still dicey at the top.
“I think there’s always an element of friction between clubs and the AFL, that’s unavoidable,” he explained.
“They’ve got a very, very difficult job, I don’t underestimate that. I think that clubs have been very strong in their views that the commission needs to have some different skills on it… and particularly an understanding of clubs and football, football culture.
“It’s important that we do get some fresh blood on the commission, and I think football… that is the skill base we’re definitely lacking (on the commission).
“But it needs to be someone also who doesn’t just have football knowledge but real-life commercial experience and has the courage to speak up when that needs to happen.
“That’s something that ultimately I don’t blame the commission, I don’t blame the AFL, I blame the clubs because it’s the 18 clubs who vote for the commissioners.
“So it’s really in our hands.”