MRP chairman Fraser resigns as search for new panel members begin
AFL on the hunt for new panel members as Mark Fraser departs
CLUBS will have a say on who is appointed to the Match Review Panel and Tribunal next year, after MRP chairman Mark Fraser stood down from his position.
The AFL announced on Monday that Fraser, who had led the MRP since the start of the 2010 season, had "relinquished the role" and the League will now focus on finding new panel members.
The League also announced that Bill Kelty and Chris Langford have retired from the AFL Commission, after joining it in 1998 and 1999 respectively.
Stepping into their shoes on the Commission are Major General Simone Wilkie AM and dual West Coast/Sydney Swans premiership player Jason Ball.
AFL football operations boss Mark Evans has contacted all clubs to seek their feedback on potential panel members for the Tribunal and MRP following Fraser's departure as chairman.
"Mark has always sought to be accountable for every decision made by the MRP and filled his role with great professionalism over the last five seasons," Evans said in a statement.
"The role has taken an increasing amount of his time, when coupled with his private practice and the demands of a young family, and he advised me this week it was an appropriate time to step down as chairman.
"The AFL will now consult with our clubs to consider new potential members of both the MRP and the Tribunal and Mark, with his considerable experience, will assist in the training of those new panel members."
Fraser, who played 110 games with Collingwood and Essendon in a nine-year career, took on the role as a replacement for former chairman Andrew McKay.
Brownlow Medal eligibility was also relaxed under the new rules, with low-level offences now resulting in fines.
Meanwhile Dr Ross Smith, David Parkin and Neale Daniher have retired from their roles on the AFL research board.
WHO ARE THE NEW AFL COMMISSIONERS?
Jason Ball
Ball played 193 matches for West Coast (103) and the Sydney Swans (90) and is a premiership player for both clubs, playing in the Eagles' 1994 triumph and the Swans' 2005 flag. Ball was the Eagles' leading goalkicker in 1995, kicking 48 goals. Ball retired after the 2005 premiership and has filled roles at the Sydney Swans as a part-time assistant coach in 2006, and board member and football director from 2007. Ball is a qualified stockbroker and is currently a senior relationship manager at Macquarie Bank.
Simone Wilkie AM
Major General Wilkie is the most senior female Army Officer in Australia. Wilkie has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and is a member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Board of Management, Chair of the ADF Sports Council, and patron of the ADF Women's Australian Rules Association and the ADF Hockey Association. Wilkie was educated at Ballarat Grammar School and is the daughter of Ian Burt, who played four games for Essendon in the VFL in 1959 and coached for several years in the Bendigo and Ballarat area. Wilkie is an Essendon supporter and attends AFL games regularly in Canberra.
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