The Australian Olympic Committee's new chief executive has stopped short of declaring a talent war on the AFL and NRL.
But Mark Arbib says the AOC will aggressively fight the footy codes for sports talent in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
"I am a big fan of the NRL and a big fan of the AFL, I love those sports," Arbib told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.
"They are absolute commercial giants, they are juggernauts.
"And we need to ensure that we are on a playing field and that we are fighting for every dollar and for every athlete.
"Because they are working very hard and they have been very successful in what they are doing.
"And as a movement, as a sporting organisation, we need to fight hard.
"For me, that is one of the greatest challenges, particularly when we are fighting for athlete talent.
"We need to fight for talent ... Brisbane (2032) is the best way for us to leverage that."
At last year's Paris Olympics, Australia won 53 medals - a record 18 gold plus 19 silver and 16 bronze.
Some 57 Australian women won medals in Paris either individually or in a team sport.
And Arbib wants to prevent gains made by the AFL and NRL in their women's competitions from impacting Australia's Olympic medal hauls.
"This is not a declaration of war," he said.
"(Australian Rugby League commission chair) Peter V'landys and (AFL chief executive) Andrew Dillon are two people I admire, they are hugely successful at what they do.
"They are expanding now, their women's competitions are extremely successful, so we are competing for talent now in the women's sports space.
"And what I don't want to see is that impacting upon our results.
"We need to ensure we are inspiring kids to join us to become Olympic swimmers, to become Olympic athletes - that is the dream."
Arbib, a former federal sports minister and ex-chairman of Australian Athletics, takes over as AOC chief from Matt Carroll, who held the role from 2017.
Arbib was sports minister from 2010-12 in the Labor government but said his political background wouldn't affect his new role.
"I have got just as many friends on the Liberal side as I have on the Labor side," he said.
"I get on well with Peter Dutton, I get on well with Anthony Albanese. I will work with whoever the prime minister is."
The 53-year-old who has been on the AOC's executive committee since 2016 said political infighting in Queensland over Brisbane's Olympic venues and finances was nothing new.
The Queensland government last month released blueprints for venues after years of squabbles.
"I remember before Sydney (2000) there was a great deal of concern whether we would be able to get it on track," Arbib said.
"So I take some of the hurly-burly with a grain of salt.
"I always knew from sitting on the (AOC) executive that the Games were on track and the Brisbane Organising Committee was working closely together, that they were united, and they were working closely with the IOC.
"The most important thing is we now have a plan, united with where we're headed."
Arbib has also served stints on the boards of the World Anti-Doping Agency, A-League club Sydney FC and the NRL's South Sydney Rabbitohs.
