TonyK
Tash Jayasinghe
CibbuanoDocker chief in AFL's sights
May 12th 2008 23:21
OUTGOING Fremantle chief executive Cameron Schwab has been unoffically targeted by the AFL for a new executive position demanding extensive club experience.
Schwab, a veteran of three AFL clubs, spoke to AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou several days ago and later held talks with Demetriou's No. 2 Gillon McLachlan.
Demetriou yesterday confirmed his meeting with Schwab and stressed an executive at head office with several years of club experience could prove crucial in the establishment of new clubs on the Gold Coast and in Western Sydney over the next three years.
"I think as a general principle, a person with a lot of experience with clubs would have a lot to offer our team," Demetriou said.
"It's probably one area we don't have covered and if you can see over a football club, you are talking about football, sponsorship, business plans, the whole operation.
"With the setting up of two new clubs from scratch, Cameron believes he has a lot to offer and he is right about that. I would expect his name to be at the forefront of our thinking."
Schwab will return to Melbourne at the end of this, his seventh season at the helm of the
Dockers, having overseen the eradication of the club's debt and the building of a multimillion-dollar bank account but without an elusive premiership cup.
The 44-year-old has indicated a desire to remain in football, but has ruled out working for one of the 16 clubs in the short to medium term and wants to live in Melbourne, the home of his 10-year-old son.
Schwab told The Age yesterday that he had a professional preference to work at AFL level and that his conversation with Demetriou was centred upon helping the clubs as the competition continues to grow and develop.
"My talk to Andrew was about how the AFL can help clubs at many levels and not only the two new clubs but how the creation of two new clubs will affect the other 16 clubs," Schwab said.
"This is an exciting time for the game and the success of these clubs is crucial to the future of the competition.
"The AFL recently put forward eight priorities and four of those involved clubs, priorities like creating new business, creating opportunities in the community and working extensively in the community, which we have done a lot of work on at Fremantle. It's also about experience, handling the tough times as well as success. All clubs have tough times."
Schwab said he would see out his contract with Fremantle until the end of this season, returning to Melbourne in October.
Schwab, a veteran of three AFL clubs, spoke to AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou several days ago and later held talks with Demetriou's No. 2 Gillon McLachlan.
Demetriou yesterday confirmed his meeting with Schwab and stressed an executive at head office with several years of club experience could prove crucial in the establishment of new clubs on the Gold Coast and in Western Sydney over the next three years.
"I think as a general principle, a person with a lot of experience with clubs would have a lot to offer our team," Demetriou said.
"It's probably one area we don't have covered and if you can see over a football club, you are talking about football, sponsorship, business plans, the whole operation.
"With the setting up of two new clubs from scratch, Cameron believes he has a lot to offer and he is right about that. I would expect his name to be at the forefront of our thinking."
Schwab will return to Melbourne at the end of this, his seventh season at the helm of the
Dockers, having overseen the eradication of the club's debt and the building of a multimillion-dollar bank account but without an elusive premiership cup.
The 44-year-old has indicated a desire to remain in football, but has ruled out working for one of the 16 clubs in the short to medium term and wants to live in Melbourne, the home of his 10-year-old son.
Schwab told The Age yesterday that he had a professional preference to work at AFL level and that his conversation with Demetriou was centred upon helping the clubs as the competition continues to grow and develop.
"My talk to Andrew was about how the AFL can help clubs at many levels and not only the two new clubs but how the creation of two new clubs will affect the other 16 clubs," Schwab said.
"This is an exciting time for the game and the success of these clubs is crucial to the future of the competition.
"The AFL recently put forward eight priorities and four of those involved clubs, priorities like creating new business, creating opportunities in the community and working extensively in the community, which we have done a lot of work on at Fremantle. It's also about experience, handling the tough times as well as success. All clubs have tough times."
Schwab said he would see out his contract with Fremantle until the end of this season, returning to Melbourne in October.
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