Outgoing AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson heeded the advice of his father Ken: "Keep your eye on the ball and get on with it." Picture: Mike Keating Source: Herald Sun
WHEN Andrew Demetriou poached a young lawyer from Corrs Chambers Westgarth nine years ago to head the AFL's football operations department, he warned him it could be "a very unpopular role".
Demetriou knew how thankless the job could be, having just had three years in the position. Three months into Adrian Anderson's tenure, Demetriou called the new man into his office and told him he had "vastly exceeded expectations " as far as unpopularity went.
Anderson had been headhunted for his expertise and integrity, but initially was attacked by many football traditionalists for not having a strong football pedigree, in the way former players Demetriou and Ian Collins had before him.
After six months in the job, Anderson was slammed by then Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse who, in defending his right to criticise umpires and the tribunal, suggested Anderson did not understand the pressures on coaches and players, and should spend time on the Magpies' bench.
Instead Anderson heeded the advice of another mentor, his father Ken: "Keep your eye on the ball and get on with it."
Over nine seasons Anderson did just that, helping overhaul the tribunal and introduce the league's drugs policy and collective bargaining and free agency agreements.
The critics, including many among the football public, remained.
Nine years of controversy
But Anderson's diligence and character began to win him wider respect.
At yesterday's media conference to announce his departure from the AFL, 20 to 30 of the league's senior staff were in the room.
Afterwards, Richmond great Kevin Bartlett, who worked with Anderson on the laws of the game committee, described him as an "outstanding administrator who always had player welfare at the top of his list".
Anderson had spent the best part of a decade fronting up when the AFL had unpopular news, deflecting and spinning with the best of them. So it came as no surprise he had little trouble obliquely manoeuvring through the circumstances of his own departure. At 40 it was "time for a new challenge" and "something different".
Twice during the 30-minute media conference Anderson seemed to falter.
First, in answer to rumours he might be North Melbourne's new chief executive. "I haven't had any discussions with, ah, North and, um, yeah. so I ... um, haven't made decisions about, at this point, what I'm going to do next," he said.
It is understood, however, that the ill-feeling from the Roos over Anderson's handling of the Lachy Hansen concussion investigation makes that scenario highly unlikely.
Secondly, Anderson seemed to choose his words carefully when asked whether he was disappointed the AFL Commission had rejected some rule change recommendations, notably for two substitutes on the interchange bench.
There was a suggestion Anderson had felt jilted when Demetriou anointed Gil McLachlan as his successor this year, although in reality that happened in 2006, when then No.2 Ben Buckley moved to Football Federation Australia.
Asked about reports of a fractured relationship with Anderson, Demetriou yesterday dismissed them as "complete garbage". But it is known the AFL is restructuring its football department and intended to diminish Anderson's influence.
Anderson told Demetriou on Tuesday of his decision to leave, but he conceded yesterday he had known for some weeks it was time to go.
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