AFL Reshapes Leadership Structure: Laura Kane’s Role to Be Split Amid Executive Overhaul

In a strategic move to realign its leadership amid broad executive changes, the AFL has announced a significant restructure of its football operations, with Laura Kane’s role set to be divided into two distinct positions. This shift comes as the league aims to adapt and evolve in a rapidly changing sporting landscape.

Kane, who has been a prominent and sometimes controversial figure this season, will continue to serve as the head of football operations. However, a new role focused solely on football performance will be established, allowing for more specialized leadership in this crucial area.

Under this new structure, Kane will maintain oversight of AFL and AFLW competitions, along with the Victorian Football League (VFL) and VFL Women’s (VFLW). She will also oversee a newly formed medical and healthcare team dedicated to mental health, concussion management, and related athlete welfare issues.

The newly created football performance manager will be responsible for crucial facets such as match review, umpiring standards, game analysis, laws of the game, and club engagement. This division aims to ensure that the league’s core operations are more focused and better resourced to meet the sport’s evolving demands.

AFL Executive Dillon admitted that the game’s growth and complexity necessitate a different leadership approach. “The game is the reason we exist; it is as big and as good as it has ever been, and the AFL football department must continue to evolve,” he said. “It must be structured, resourced, and led in a way that can ensure everyone clubs, players, coaches, umpires, and officials can perform at the highest possible level.”

While Kane will continue to play a major leadership role, Dillon emphasized that the expanding scope of responsibilities required a new model. “The overall responsibility has grown so much that the traditional leadership role for an individual executive in footy is no longer the best model,” he added.

This restructuring signals a renewed focus on specialization and strategic growth within the AFL, aiming to bolster its operational effectiveness and support the ongoing development of the game at all levels.