Incoming senior AFL figure Greg Swann has foreshadowed more transparency around the league’s post-match system for identifying punishable on-field offences, pinpointing a more visible role for match review officer Michael Christian.
Veteran administrator Swann is joining the AFL as football performance executive and said contentious issues including game length, the match review system, bouncing the ball in the middle of the ground to restart action and club academies will be on his immediate agenda.
Swann departs the Brisbane Lions were he was chief executive for 11 years and last year witnessed the club’s first premiership in 21 years. While he said the game was in “fantastic health” Swann wants to make a “few tweaks”.
He put the AFL’s match review process firmly in the spotlight on Friday night after Brisbane’s win over Western Bulldogs at the Gabba. The AFL’s MRO Michael Christian assesses all incidents from a round of football and players are offered a penalty including a suspension or fines for indiscretions. Some incidents are sent directly to the AFL tribunal for adjudication.
“One of the things I think we also should do is actually explain why we get to a decision that we get to — I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t do that,” Swann told Channel Seven.
Greg Swann was CEO of three AFL clubs: Collingwood, Carlton and Brisbane Lions.Credit: Getty Images
“Michael Christian might have a bit more of a role in the media to explain how he’s got to certain decisions. That’s something that I think we should do and just be more transparent and put it out there.”
After Brisbane’s thrilling victory over the Bulldogs at The Gabba on Friday night, – a fourth-straight victory for the reigning premiers – Swann spoke at length about his switch to league headquarters.
Headhunted by AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon for the new role in the revamped AFL structure, Swann wanted to see play around stoppages sped up, but confirmed the actual 20-minute length of quarters will not be reduced.
“We wait too long for people to set up,” he said.
