The AFL Goldfields Commission has undergone a shock overhaul after all nine existing members resigned from their respective roles.
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Chairperson Katrina Baddeley and fellow commissioners Greg Duver, Paul Armstrong, Craig Fletcher, Paul Fisher, Peter Kerr, John Ives, Roger Le Grand and Matthew Jenkins have all stepped aside and allowed a new group from the AFL to take charge.
It's understood a poor financial position and a lack of income due to the COVID-19 crisis led to discussions with AFL Victoria.
These have progressed to a point where the state governing body has essentially taken charge of the commission.
The new commissioners are Andrew Dillion (AFL General Counsel and General Manager Game Development), Jennie Loughnan (AFL Victoria Commissioner) and Sam Graham (AFL Head of State and Game Development).
There are fears that a lack of local flavour on the new commission means decisions will be made by people without any ties to the AFL Goldfields region.
AFL Goldfields regional manager Gerard Ryan said an advisory committee was being established to ensure local feedback to the commission.
"The local decisions will continue to be made by local people as each affiliated league and umpiring group will have direct representation on the advisory committee, which will include independent appointed locals who will continue to ensure that there is a focused decision making process that is well versed on the local issues which leagues and clubs are facing," Ryan said.
Baddeley said it was a collective decision for the nine members of the commission to step aside.
"As board directors we have a duty of care to be fiscally responsible and one way in which we have agreed to do this is to ensure the long-term viability of AFL Goldfields as a regional administration centre," she said.
"And as a result, AFL Victoria will now take on the financial liabilities of the organisation and have appointed commissioners accordingly."
The commission makes many important decisions about football structure across the region.
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