Andrew Demetriou to step down as AFL Chief Executive

After more than a decade in AFL's top job, Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou will leave the position at the end of the season.

He will leave the game after 11 years as the game's most powerful figure, with his decision to resign coming after his most challenging 12 months.

Demetriou, who took over from Wayne Jackson as AFL Chief Executive in 2003, served as Chief Executive of the AFL Players Association between 1998 and 2000 and was then AFL Football Operations Manager.

He announced his impending departure at a media conference with League Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick.

Demetriou commented "every organisation needs renewal, needs a new set of eyes", adding "I leave the game with no regrets.

"It's been a wonderful journey full of challenges, but I wouldn't have had it any other way."

Fitzpatrick said one of Demetriou's greatest achievements had been "his determination to give our game an ethical underpinning - a conscience."

The AFL will engage an executive search company to identify a successor, with an expected time frame of two to three months.

Under Demetriou's leadership the competition has grown to 18 teams, with the introduction of Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney, and crowd and membership numbers have increased.

However, the 52-year-old endured a difficult 2013, which was dominated by Essendon's supplements saga.

Demetriou also oversaw investigations into alleged tanking at Melbourne and, late in 2012, breaches of the salary cap and draft tampering by Adelaide.

His financial legacy is unrivalled, having negotiated consecutive record-breaking TV rights deals fetching $780 million in 2005 and $1.25 billion in 2011.

Demetriou also orchestrated the historic 2000 collective bargaining agreement when leading the AFLPA.

He played 103 games for North Melbourne between 1981 and 1987, retiring after one season with Hawthorn in 1988.

The 2014 AFL season kicks off on 14th March when Collingwood take on the Fremantle Dockers. 

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