Incoming AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon has today announced Acting Executive General Manager of Football, Laura Kane will continue in the role on a permanent basis, joining the AFL Executive and leading a portfolio to include all AFL Football Operations and Administration.
Reporting to Ms Kane will be experienced football administrator Josh Mahoney, who joins the AFL in the role of GM Football Operations. The process for the appointment of the GM Football Performance, also reporting to Ms Kane, will be finalised in the coming weeks.
Ms Kane’s AFL and club experience across 10 years has included the positions of General Manager Strategy and Football Operations and Head of Football Operations at the North Melbourne Football Club, before joining the AFL as GM Competition Management.
She was also part of the AFL’s GenW Women’s leadership program, along with both the AFL and AFLW Competition Committees, and has led the AFL Football Operations department since May 2023, following Andrew Dillon’s appointment as AFL CEO-Elect.
After completing a Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Ms Kane worked for a law firm representing victims in the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child abuse, before taking up her role at North Melbourne. Kane also has experience in community football leadership, having served as President of the Melbourne University Women’s Football Club.
“This AFL season has continued throw up a diverse mix of challenges at our competition and Laura has led the football department team brilliantly in what has been a record year for our game,” Mr Dillon said.
“Laura’s experience, expertise, temperament and resilience, paired with building a team of additional key football talent, is the right mix to lead the Football Department. As someone who was involved in both the day-to -day operations and strategic planning of an AFL men’s program and also a key part of North Melbourne’s successful bid for an AFLW team, Laura has brought to the AFL a keen sense of club experience and knowledge of the impact of AFL decisions.
“Football is core business for the AFL and we have a responsibility to the clubs, players, coaches, umpires and the fans to deliver the best environments, the best resources, and the best competitions so our game can continue to be the best game in the world.”
Ms Kane’s portfolio will include all traditional football operations, competition management across the AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW, umpiring, game analysis, player movement, talent pathways and mental health and wellbeing.
The new AFL football team will include Port Adelaide Premiership player and long-time club football boss, Josh Mahoney as General Manager Football Operations and will also soon be joined by a new General Manager Football Performance.
Mr Mahoney’s 26-year football CV includes roles as EGM Football at the Essendon Football Club and GM Football and Casey Operations at the Melbourne Football Club, as well as being an Assistant Coach at the Demons.
Mahoney played 97 AFL games across three clubs, including in the 2004 Premiership at Port Adelaide. He holds a Bachelor Science, and Master’s in business administration and marketing.
“Josh is a very talented and experienced football person. As player, coach and then administrator, he has lived the highs and lows of the AFL ecosystem,” Mr Dillon said.
“His experience at all levels of clubland will be a great addition to our AFL team.”
Mr Mahoney’s Football Operations portfolio includes:
• Football Operations and Competition Management for all competitions, including the AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW;
• Strategic Football Projects;
• AFL and AFLW Competition Committee.
Sitting beside Mahoney will be the role of General Manager Football Performance. This role is currently being recruited and will include:
• Game Analysis;
• Player movement;
• Coaching;
• Talent Pathways (Coates League, Academies, Diversity Programs);
• MRO, Tribunal and ARC;
• AFL and AFLW All Australian and Award Committees.
