AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan says he was "unbelievably agitated" as a result of this week's Ticketek meltdown, revealing that the League is in discussions to ensure more accountability is put on the main selling agent ahead of future finals campaigns.
Significant issues with the Ticketek system forced its website to shut down within minutes of finals tickets going on sale this week, leaving thousands of supporters unsure whether they had secured seats for next weekend's matches.
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It was not the first time fans have experienced difficulties with Ticketek, with McLachlan revealing he was "sick of it" and detailing how it will be made accountable in the future.
"Clearly the contract is still going to be with the MCG," McLachlan told 3AW on Friday.
"They'll have their own contract and their own undertakings … but there's got to be some accountability to us, that when we go on sale for the finals – which are the most important games for the year – people can buy their tickets.
"It's just not on. There has to be an accountability. I get 'sorry' and it's just not good enough, so there will be an accountability.
"We'll work through them, but they'll have to have a minimum amount of things like people dedicated to the AFL account, dedicated to (research and development) aspects, a whole series of things that our guys are working on that we want out of Ticketek."
McLachlan stopped short of saying Ticketek could lose its contract with the MCG should such a situation unfold again next year, but said there has "got to be consequences" following repeated issues.
"We've had lots of discussions," McLachlan said.
"It's not the first time. I wanted change, I can tell you that. I'll reserve all of those comments, other than to say I was unbelievably agitated.
"We've had a lot of conversations over the last few days and I do feel like it's a step forward that Ticketek have agreed to have a service-level undertaking with us."
