A grandfather of Andrew Dillon is knighted.
His father is a famend chief in Australian Rules soccer and racing.
Now, Dillon has taken what AFL chairman Richard Goyder describes with hubris as “the biggest job in Australian sport”.
The 52-year-old would be the AFL’s subsequent chief govt officer.
Dillon fell in love with soccer as a five-year-old – and the game has cherished him again ever since.
“Football has been a defining part of my life,” he instructed reporters on Monday.
“I have been so fortunate to be involved in footy at so many levels throughout my life, from my first game as a five-year-old at an under-10s match … right through to junior club and school football.
“I umpired, albeit not very properly, throughout high-school years.
“And then I played community football for 16 years at a senior level.
“I’ve run an Auskick centre. I’ve been an assistant coach at senior stage for the Old Xavs (Old Xaverians Football Club within the VAFA).
“And I have coached junior girls footy at Kew Comets for five years.
“And I can let you know, in my 23 years on the AFL there was no harder job than making an attempt to run a coaching session on a Friday afternoon for an under-13 ladies staff.”
Dillon’s grandfather, Victoria’s first ombudsman John Dillon, was knighted in 1980 for distinguished public service.
His lawyer father, also named John, is a former VAFA president and chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club who played for De La Salle.
“My love of soccer was shaped taking part in matches on Saturday morning after which spending the afternoon watching De La Salle play – after which spending Saturday nights taking part in scratch matches on the identical oval for hours on finish,” the AFL’s new CEO stated.
“While Dad launched me to neighborhood soccer, it was Mum who took me to my first VFL recreation – it was between Richmond and Melbourne on the MCG on a chilly day in May of 1976.
“I loved that game. And even though Richmond were leading at halftime, I made Mum leave so we could catch the train to the De La Salle ground because I didn’t want to be late for the scratch match after the game.”
After his childhood, Dillon solid a profitable taking part in profession: his 290 video games with Old Xavs from 1989 to 2005 featured six A grade premierships and he additionally twice represented the VAFA.
He’s a life member of the membership, having served on the committee and likewise as an assistant coach.
“I have seen and experienced first-hand the power that community footy has to connect people,” Dillon stated.
“And also how important community clubs are, for the football industry but (also) for the wider community as a place where people can come together and be a part of something that is bigger than themselves.”
Off-field, Dillon accomplished a Bachelor of Commerce, and a Bachelor of Laws, on the University of Melbourne and labored as a solicitor at Corrs Chambers Westgarth from 1994.
In 1997, he joined Village Roadshow Limited as authorized counsel – a three-year stint led to late-2000 when he took up the identical position on the AFL.
From there, Dillon rose by means of the ranks, holding positions together with basic supervisor, authorized and business affairs; basic supervisor of nationwide and worldwide growth; basic counsel; basic supervisor, authorized, integrity and compliance.
In July 2021, Dillon was appointed govt basic supervisor of soccer operations along with his different roles, which he’ll quickly relinquish to turn into Gillon McLachlan’s successor as chief govt.
“It’s really important, and I can’t stress it enough, that we are a game for everyone,” he stated.
“I believe strongly in the power of footy to connect people regardless of their background, gender or beliefs.
“And I need to have footy in each house throughout the nation.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
