The AFL will appoint Andrew Dillon as its new chief executive after a prolonged worldwide search landed on the man in an office near incumbent Gillon McLachlan.
Dillon is currently the AFL’s executive general manager football operations, legal and integrity, as well as the organisation’s general counsel.
He will replace McLachlan at the end of this season in a move to be announced at a media conference in Melbourne on Monday morning.
McLachlan will continue as chief executive to work through issues including the entry of a Tasmanian club into the AFL and the ongoing independent investigation into claims of historical racism at Hawthorn.
McLachlan announced he was quitting the job in April last year and wanted to stand down at the end of last season.
But he was urged to stay on by the AFL commission amid a global search for a replacement.
The hunt ultimately landed on Dillon, who joined the league in 2000 as legal counsel.
Dillon has since held several positions including general manager of areas including legal and business affairs, as well as national and international development.