Andrew Ireland

[robevpau1]

Andrew Ireland, the former Pie who was a pioneer for Australian rules football in Queensland and New South Wales, looks set to play a new and pivotal role in shaping the game by joining the AFL Commission.

Ireland has emerged as the unbackable favourite to join Richard Goyder’s board with an announcement expected in the coming weeks as outgoing CEO Gillon McLachlan is replaced by his deputy Andrew Dillon.

Ireland, played pivotal roles in Collingwood’s string of grand final losses between 1977 and 1981, was a pioneer for Australian rules football in Queensland throughout the 1980s and became CEO of the Brisbane Bears in 1990, overseeing the Brisbane Lions’ first premiership in 2001.