Kane Cornes has urged Gillon McLachlan and the AFL to make a call on the important position of General Manager of Football.
The role has been vacant since Brad Scott departed the league to take up the head coaching gig at Essendon.
Former North Melbourne coach David Noble admitted he was approached by McLachlan and Andrew Dillon about the job but opted instead to take up the role as CEO of V8 Supercars team Shell V-Power Racing.
Cornes would have backed Noble in the role and believes the AFL must act quickly to fill the position in a bid to settle some of the rule changes already implemented for 2023.
“You can scrub Noble’s name off the list and despite the AFL’s ambition to have the vacated role filled by Christmas, this now seems incredibly unlikely,” Cornes said on SEN’s Soortsday.
“It’s just not ideal.
“Just recently the AFL has made significant changes to the game that usually would fall to the portfolio of operations boss.
“Firstly, the increase from three field umpires to four which is a mammoth shift in the way the game will be adjudicated, and no doubt will certainly increase the number of free kicks paid.
“Secondly, the decision to scrap the medical sub in favour of a tactical sub.
“So Gil, what’s the hold up?
“Brad Scott was appointed as Essendon on the 29th of September. It’s now the middle of December, and Gil’s Christmas deadline is quickly expiring.
“Surely it does not take 10 weeks to find a suitable replacement.
“The trade period and the draft are gone and the draw has just been released. Further assessment of the key areas of the game that need addressing must be looked at by the new person in this key role.
“Just ask David Noble.”
Noble had earlier spoken on Sportsday about the changes he would make if he did happen to take the role.
He made specific mention of the umpiring fraternity and making them full-time.
Read his thoughts below:
THE CHANGES DAVID NOBLE WOULD HAVE MADE AS AFL FOOTY BOSS
With that in mind, Cornes continued: “Surely the game would be more accurately officiated with fewer errors if the umpires were full-time.
“They’d be fitter, more knowledgable, they’d be able to spend more time officiating at club training during pre-season which would in turn build stronger relationships with the players.
“A full-time, lucrative career path would be much more likely to attract some of the best athletes in the country.
“So Noble makes sense.
“Unfortunately, he opted not to pursue the job and the AFL seems to be at a loose end for who is going to take Scott’s old role.
“Furthermore, the successful applicant must be media savvy and more open to speaking to the fans via the media than Scott was previously and others in current leadership positions at the AFL are now.
“It is vital that we all have clarity on the technical issues that arise most weekends and dominate the media cycle.
“Unfortunately, it’s a closed shop at AFL House right now.”
The wait for Scott’s replacement continues.