List of VFL/AFL commissioners and club presidents

Last updated August 22, 2023

This is a listing of all the commissioners and club presidents of the VFL/AFL.

In 1993, the AFL Commission was given the power to make most administrative decisions relating to the league unilaterally, with the AFL Board of Directors voting itself out of existence. In 1995, the AFL Commission would also assume control of the administration of Australian rules football when it absorbed the ANFC.

A separate role of AFL Chairman was created in 1993 (see below).

VFL President (1897–1985), VFL/AFL Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (since 1985)

Name	Term in office	Club
Alex McCracken	1897–1915	Essendon ^[1]
Oliver Maurice Williams	1915–1917 ^[2]	Melbourne ^[3]
Chas Brownlow	1917–1919 ^[4]	Geelong
Walter Baldwin Spencer	1919–1926	Carlton
William C. McClelland	1926–1955	Melbourne ^[5]
Sir Kenneth Luke	1956–1971 ^[6]	Carlton
Sir Maurice Nathan	1971–1977	Carlton
Allen Aylett	1977–1983	North Melbourne
Jack Hamilton	1983–1986	Collingwood ^[7]
Ross Oakley	1986–1996	St. Kilda ^[8]
Wayne Jackson	1996–2003 ^[9]	Independent
Andrew Demetriou	2003–2014
Gillon McLachlan	2014–2023 ^[10]
Andrew Dillon	2024–

AFL Chairman (since 1993)

Name	Term in office
John Kennedy, Sr.	1993–1997
Ron Evans AM	1997–2007
Mike Fitzpatrick	2007–2017
Richard Goyder	2017–present

Club Presidents

Adelaide

Bob Hammond (1991–2000) ^[11]
Bob Campbell (2001–2003)
Bill Sanders (2004–2008)
Rob Chapman (2009–2020)
John Olsen (2021–present)

Brisbane Bears/Lions

Paul Cronin (1987–1990)^[12]
Noel Gordon (1990–1999)
Alan Piper (1999–2000)
Graeme Downie (2000–2006)
Tony Kelly (2006–2010)
Angus Johnson (2010–2013)
Bob Sharpless (2013–2017)
Andrew Wellington (2017–present)

Carlton

Robert McFarland (1864–1865) ^[13]
James Linacre (1865)
George Coppin (1866–1872)
John Walls (1873)
Robert Robertson (1874–1885)
Arthur Gillespie (1886–1894)
Frederick Bromley (1895)
A. H. Shaw (1896–1901)
Robert Heatley (1901–1904)
H. B. Higgins (1904–1905)
W. F. Evans (1905–1907)
J. Urquhart (1907–1910)
J. McInerney (1910–1912)
D. Bell (1912–1914)
Jack Gardiner (1914–1925)
D. Young (1925–1928)
Dave Crone (1929–1938)
Sir Kenneth Luke (1938–1956)
Horrie Clover (1956–1958)
L. J. M. Holmes (1958–1965)
George Harris (1965–1975, 1978–1980)
Ivan Rohrt (1975–1978)
Ian Rice (1980–1983)
John Elliott (1983–2002)
Ian Collins (2002–2006)
Graham Smorgon (2006–2007)
Stephen Kernahan (2007)
Richard Pratt (2007–2008)
Stephen Kernahan (2008–2014)
Mark LoGiudice (2014–2021)
Luke Sayers (2021–present)

Collingwood

William Beazley (1892–1911)
Alfred Cross (1912)
Jim Sharp (1913–1923)
Harry Curtis (1924–1950)
Syd Coventry (1950–1962)
Tom Sherrin (1963–1974)
Ern Clarke (1975–1976)
John Hickey (1977–1981)
Ranald Macdonald (1982–1986)
Allan McAllister (1986–1995)
Kevin Rose (1996–1998)
Eddie McGuire (1998–2021)
Mark Korda (2021)^[14]
Jeff Browne (2021–present)

Essendon

Robert McCracken (1877–1885)^[15]
James Robertson (1886)
Alexander McCracken (1887–1903)
W. Kent-Hughes (1904–1907)
A. L. Crichton (1908–1919)
W. Raper (1920–1925)
A. F. McGowan (1926–1929)
F. F. Campbell (1930–1934)
A. F. Showers (1935–1940)
N. H. Mirams (1940)
W. R. Crichton (1941–1959)
W. G. Brew (1959–1968)
Allan Hird Snr (1969–1975)
Colin Stubbs (1976–1980)
Greg Sewell (1981–1987)
Ron Evans (1988–1992)
David Shaw (1992–1996)
Graeme McMahon (1996–2003)
Neil McKissock (2003–2006)
Ray Horsburgh (2006–2009)
David Evans (2009–2013)
Paul Little (2013–2015)
Lindsay Tanner (2015–2020)
Paul Brasher (2020–2022)
David Barham (2022–present)

Fitzroy

John McMahon (1884–1887)^[16]
Robert Best (1887–1910)
Don Chandler (1910–1930)
Bill Hannah (1930–1932)
Alec Sloan (1932–1933)
Ossie Porter (1933–1936)
Bill Raymond (1936–1938)
Harold McLennan (1938–1947)
George Hook (1947–1951)
Les Phelan (1951–1964)
Ern Joseph (1964–1975)
Frank Bibby (1975–1980)
Keith Wiegard (1980–1984)
Bruce White (1984–1985)
Leon Wiegard (1985–1991)
Dyson Hore-Lacy (1991–1996)

Fremantle

Ross Kelly (1995–1998, Chairman)
Ross McLean (1999–2001, Chairman)
Rick Hart (2002–2009, titled Chairman until 2004, President since 2005)
Steve Harris (2009–2016)
Dale Alcock (2016–present)

Geelong

P. Dwyer (1878) ^[17]
James Wilson Sr (1878–1883)
J. Hopkins (1884–1885)
F. Orchard (1886)
J. Wilson (1887–1888)
J. Sommers (1889)
G. W. Steedman (1890)
J. H. Grey (1891–1899)
J. McMullen (1900–1902)
H. B. Hodges (1903–1909)
A. H. Bowman (1910–1920)
Brig. Gen. R. Smith (1921–1922)
Cr W. L. Carr (1922)
Dr J. E. Piper (1923–1926)
Cr J. A. Thear (1927–1929)
M. Jacobs (1930–1938)
T. B. Hawkes (1939)
B. N. M. Collins (1940–1945)
Jack Jennings (1946–1970)
Vern Johnstone (1971–1973)
Neil Trezise (1974–1975)
M. O. Graham (1976–1979)
J. N. McHolt (1980–1982)
Dr K. L. C. Threlfall (1983–1987)
W. Bannon (1987–1988)
Ron Hovey OAM (1988–1998)
Frank Costa (1998–2010)
Colin Carter (2011–2020)
Craig Drummond (2021–present)

Gold Coast

John Witheriff (2011–2016)
Tony Cochrane (2016–2023)
Bob East (2023–present)

Greater Western Sydney

Tony Shepherd (2012–present)

Hawthorn

J. C. Watts (1902)
George Swinburne (1903)
C. O. Shave (1906)
Col. Pleasants (1907)
W. M. Burton (1908–1909, 1912)
H. Henningsen (1910)
Charles Bethune (1911, 1914–1915)
Cr. Wood (1913)
W. H. "Bill" Hulse (1916)
Edward Ward (1919)
F. O. Small (1920)
J. "Bill" Kennon (1921–1931)
Dr Jacob Jona J.P. (1932–1949)
David Prentice (1949–1953)
A. "Sandy" Ferguson (1953–1968)
Phil Ryan (1968–1980)
Ron Cook (1980–1988)
Trevor Coote (1988–1994)
Geoff Lord (1994–1995)
Brian Coleman (1995–1996)
Ian Dicker (1996–2005)
Jeff Kennett (2005–2011, 2017–2022)
Andrew Newbold (2011–2016)
Richard Garvey (2016–2017)^[18]^[19]
Andy Gowers (2022–present)

Melbourne

Frank Grey-Smith (1883–1890) ^[20]
R. H. McLeod (1890–1897)
H. C. A. Harrison (1897–1906)
T. F. Morkham (1907–1910)
A. A. Aitken (1911)
William C. McClelland (1912–1926)
Vernon Ransford (1927–1928)
Joe Blair (1929–1946)
William Flintoft (1947–1949)
Albert Chadwick (1950–1962)
Donald Duffy (1963–1974)
John Mitchell (1975–1978)
Wayne Reid (1979–1980)
Sir Billy Snedden (1981–1986)
Stuart Spencer (1986–1991)
Ian Ridley (1991–1996)
Joseph Gutnick (1996–2002)
Gabriel Szondy (2002–2003)
Paul Gardner (2003–2008)
Jim Stynes (2008–2012)
Don McLardy (2012–2013)
Peter Spargo (2013) (Acting)
Glen Bartlett (2013–2021)
Kate Roffey (2021–present)

North Melbourne/Kangaroos

John McIndoe (1869–1871) ^[21]
R. J. Alcock (1872–1873)
Dr. Burke (1874)
R. Sutcliffe (1875, 1877–1881)
E. Harcourt (1882–1885)
R. K. Montgomerie (1886)
M. Evans (1887–1891)
J. Barwise (1892–1895, 1897)
N. M. O'Donnell (1896)
D. Wadick (1898)
W. H. Fuller (1899–1900)
James Gardiner (1901)
G. M. Prendergast (1902–1911)
Clem Davidson (1912–1919)
T. F. Jenyns (1920)
B. Deveney (1921)
George E Ravenhall (1922–1923)
A. J. Russell (1924)
Patrick Sullivan (1924–1928)
Dr D Berman (1928)
Arthur Calwell (1928–1934)
Dr D Berman (1934–1937)
Frank Trainor (1937–1952)
Johnny Meere (1952–1953)
Phonse Tobin (1953–1956)
Alex Marr (1956–1962)
Jack Adams (1962–1965)
Tony Trainor (1965–1971)
Allen Aylett (1971–1977)
Lloyd Holyoak (1977–1980)
Al Mantello (1980)
Bob Ansett (1980–1992)
Ron Casey (1992–2000)
Andrew Carter (2000–2001)
Allen Aylett (2001–2005)
Graham Duff (2005–2007)
John Magowan (2007)
James Brayshaw (2007–2016)
Ben Buckley (2016–2022)
Dr Sonja Hood (2022–present)

Port Adelaide

SANFL

J. Hart Snr (1870–1879)
J. Formby (1880–1892)
J. Cleave (1893–1894)
W. Fisher (1895–900)
R. Cruickshank (1901)
W. E. Mattinson (1902–1911)
R. Cruickshank (1912)
Dr A. V. Benson (1913–1921)
S. H. Skipper (1922–1925)
Dr P. T. S. Cherry (1927–1931, 1937–1949)
C. T. Gunn (1932–1936)
Dr W. H. Baudinet (1950–1951)
F. B. Harvey (1952–1972)
K. L. Duthie (1973–1985)
B. H. Weber (1986–1992)

AFL

Greg Boulton (1993–2008)
Brett Duncanson (2008–2012)
David Koch (2013–present)

Richmond

George Bennett (1887–1908)
Frank Tudor (1909–1918)
Alf Wood (1919–1923)
Jack Archer (1924–1931)
Barney Herbert (1932–1935, 1939)
Lou Roberts (1936–1938)
Harry Dyke (1940–1958)
Maurie Fleming (1958–1963)
Ray Dunn (1964–1971)
Alistair Boord (1971–1973)
Ian Wilson (1974–1985)
Barry Richardson (1985)
Bill Durham (1986)
Alan Bond (1987)
Neville Crowe (1987–1993)
Leon Daphne (1993–1999)
Clinton Casey (2000–2005)
Gary March (2005–2013)
Peggy O'Neal (2013–2022)
John O'Rourke (2022–present)

St Kilda

Dave McNamara (1939–1940) ^[22]
E. C. Mitty (1940–1945)
Reuben Sackville (1946–1955)
Jack Reilly (1958)
Graham Huggins (1959–1979)
Lindsay Fox (1979–1985)
David Perry (1985–1986)
Travis Payze (1987–1993)
Andrew Plympton (1993–2001)
Rod Butterss (2001–2007)
Greg Westaway (2007–2013)
Peter Summers (2013–2018)
Andrew Bassat (2018–present)

South Melbourne/Sydney

A. Brown (1881) ^[23]
Henry Dodds (1881–1891)
A. G. Major (1895, 1898)
Dr Thomson (1896)
John Sloss (1897)
Thomas Craine (1899–1903)
Henry Hawkins Skinner (1904–1911)
George A. Emslie (1912–1917)
Joseph Francis Hannon (1919)
Robert Melville Cuthbertson (1920–1928)
Jack Rohan (1929–1932)
Archie Crofts (1933–1937)
J. D. M. Dickson (1938–1941)
Lionel Newton (1942–1945)
J. P. Cullen (1946–1959)
W. R. Tait (1960–1963)
R. C. Warner (1963)
C. V. Ridgway (1964–1967)
Brian Bourke (1967–1972)
S. Keane (1972–1973)
K. G. Hooker (1974–1975)
Craig Kimberley (1976–1977, 1986–1988)
G. Camakaris (1977–1978)
Graeme John (1978–1981)
Jack Marks (1981–1985)
Dr Geoffrey Edelsten (1985–1986)
Peter Weinert (1988–1993)
Richard Colless (1993–2013)
Andrew Pridham (2013–present)

Footscray/Western Bulldogs

David Mitchell (1886–1893) ^[24]
James Tucker (1893–1894)
James Cuming (1894–1911)
Frank Shillabeer (1911–1912)
Arch Crow (1912–1921)
George Sayer (1922, 1926)
James Stephens (1923)
George Farnsworth (1924)
L. Caldecott (1925)
Kevin McCarthy (1926–1938)
Bert Jamieson (1938–1941)
Con Curtain (1941–1946)
Otto Grobbecker (1946–1949, 1953–1955)
Con Weickhardt (1949–1952)
Bernie Barry (1955–1960)
Harry Dolphin (1960–1962)
Jim Miller (1962–1966)
Jack Collins (1966–1973)
Dick Collinson (1973–1978)
Charlie Sutton (1979–1981)
G. Gray (1981–1981)
Tony Capes (1982–1988)
Barry Beattie (1988–1989)
Nick Columb (1989–1989)
Peter Gordon (1989–1996, 2013–2020)
David Smorgon (1996–2012)
Kylie Watson-Wheeler (2021–present)

West Coast

Richard Colless (1987)
Neil Hamilton (1987–1989)
Terry O'Connor (1989–1992)
Dwane Buckland (1992–1996)
Murray McHenry (1996–1998)
Michael Smith (1998–2002)
Dalton Gooding (2002–2007)
Mark Barnaba (2007–2010)
Alan Cransberg (2010–2016)
Russell Gibbs (2016–2022)
Paul Fitzpatrick (2022–present)

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References

↑ McCracken was also President of Essendon from 1897–1903.
↑ Resigned.
↑ Obituary
↑ Brownlow served in an acting capacity after the resignation of Williams.
↑ McClelland was also MCC President from 1944–1957.
↑ Died in office.
↑ Hamilton also represented Collingwood on the Board of Directors in 1985–1986.
↑ Oakley also represented St. Kilda on the Board of Directors until 1993, when the Board voted itself out of existence, and was allowed to represent St. Kilda for the remainder of his tenure under a grandfather clause.
↑ Jackson was the first independent and first non-Victorian AFL CEO.
↑ McLachlan will retire as AFL CEO at the end of the 2023 season.
↑ "Australian Football - Adelaide Football Club - Honour Board".
↑ "Australian Football - Brisbane Football Club - Honour Board".
↑ "Australian Football - Carlton Football Club - Honour Board".
↑ Niall, Jake (21 April 2021). "Mark Korda appointed Pies president". The Age .
↑ "Australian Football - Essendon Football Club - Honour Board".
↑ "Australian Football - Fitzroy Football Club - Honour Board".
↑ "Honour Roll - GEELONGCATS.com.au/". www.geelongcats.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012.
↑ "Honour Board - HAWTHORNFC.com.au". Archived from the original on 15 January 2013.
↑ "Australian Football - Hawthorn Football Club - Honour Board".
↑ "Australian Football - Melbourne Football Club - Honour Board".
↑ "Australian Football - North Melbourne Football Club - Honour Board".
↑ "Australian Football - St. Kilda Football Club - Honour Board".
↑ "Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club".
↑ "Australian Football - Western Bulldogs Football Club - Honour Board".

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[1] McCracken was also President of Essendon from 1897–1903.

[2] Resigned.

[3] Obituary

[4] Brownlow served in an acting capacity after the resignation of Williams.

[5] McClelland was also MCC President from 1944–1957.

[6] Died in office.

[7] Hamilton also represented Collingwood on the Board of Directors in 1985–1986.

[8] Oakley also represented St. Kilda on the Board of Directors until 1993, when the Board voted itself out of existence, and was allowed to represent St. Kilda for the remainder of his tenure under a grandfather clause.

[9] Jackson was the first independent and first non-Victorian AFL CEO.

[10] McLachlan will retire as AFL CEO at the end of the 2023 season.

[11] "Australian Football - Adelaide Football Club - Honour Board".

[12] "Australian Football - Brisbane Football Club - Honour Board".

[13] "Australian Football - Carlton Football Club - Honour Board".

[14] Niall, Jake (21 April 2021). "Mark Korda appointed Pies president". The Age .

[15] "Australian Football - Essendon Football Club - Honour Board".

[16] "Australian Football - Fitzroy Football Club - Honour Board".

[17] "Honour Roll - GEELONGCATS.com.au/". www.geelongcats.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012.

[18] "Honour Board - HAWTHORNFC.com.au". Archived from the original on 15 January 2013.

[19] "Australian Football - Hawthorn Football Club - Honour Board".

[20] "Australian Football - Melbourne Football Club - Honour Board".

[21] "Australian Football - North Melbourne Football Club - Honour Board".

[22] "Australian Football - St. Kilda Football Club - Honour Board".

[23] "Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club".

[24] "Australian Football - Western Bulldogs Football Club - Honour Board".

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