Gillon McLachlan will resign as chief executive of the AFL.
McLachlan will leave the top job at the end of the season.
The 49-year old succeeded Andrew Demetriou as the game's chief executive in 2014.
Under his stewardship, the code established AFLW, navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and purchased Docklands Stadium.
In his previous role as Demetriou's deputy, he was instrumental in the league's expansion to 18 teams
Re-watch the press conference above and follow the live blog below.
Live updates
By Andrew Mcgarry
That's where we'll leave it
It is an important day for the AFL, and there will be big decisions ahead on the identity of Gillon McLachlan's successor and the direction they take the league in years to come.
For now, we have confirmation that McLachlan's stint in the AFL top job will end after eight years, and that while there may be some sadness that his time in the game is ending, there is clear relief that he will be able to have more time with his family.
There will no doubt be reaction to today's announcement from clubs and AFL figures, and we will keep across it on ABC Sport.
For now, however, thanks for joining us on our live coverage of Gillon McLachlan's announcement. I'm Andrew McGarry and I wish you a good afternoon.
By Andrew Mcgarry
There is relief, there is regret: Emotional Gillon McLachlan announces he is stepping down
If you want to read more about Gillon McLachlan and his decision to step down as AFL CEO at the end of the year, check out our news story here.
By Andrew Mcgarry
The view from the outgoing CEO
During the worst of COVID, there were a number of press conferences where Gillon McLachlan looked under strain, at the difficulties of steering the league through an unprecedented crisis.
But we have never seen him look as emotional as he did at this press conference, tearing up while talking about his family and how much the game has mean to him.
Clearly this is a decision he has not come to lightly, and one that has been in the works for a while — even if the final trigger for going public was the success of the AFLW grand final and the end of a cycle.
If his speech is anything to go by, he will not be a lame duck CEO, however.
The new broadcast deal, a CBA for players, and a new club funding model are three huge items to tick off in 2022.
If he and the AFL are determined to complete them before he goes, it will be a very busy time for Gillon McLachlan.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Goyder is asked about when a successor might be named, and he says there is "no timeframe".
And that's it for the press conference.
By Andrew Mcgarry
McLachlan says the AFL "will do a new broadcast deal this year".
That's huge. We will have arrangements with our men and women players. We will have CBAs that will flow from that. We will contemplate that. Those discussions will be picked up in the coming days.
By Andrew Mcgarry
'No regrets', says McLachlan
I think I was asked about how I'm feeling today. There is all range of emotions. I don't have any regrets so let's just be clear about that.
There is no regrets about any part of the role. There is a range of emotions today ... at some point you look back and go, "Well, that was an amazing journey, it is all done." That's what I was talking about, not any aspect of the decision-making.
As I said, I'm sure everyone would have things they do differently but I don't have any part of this where I look back on it with regret.
By Andrew Mcgarry
AFL owes McLachlan a debt of gratitude, says Goyder
Goyder is asked about McLachlan's greatest strengths in the role.
"I said earlier, Gill's personal values, so that integrity, openness - you know, there is not one significant thing in the AFL that he and I, when I have been in this role, haven't spoken about and discussed.
Also his intuition. I would say over the last couple of years the ability to see around corners and that's a great thing for a CEO to have. To sort of see what might be coming when it is not clear and be prepared to make hard decisions when others are throwing their hands in the air and saying, "Gee, this is hard" and he did that with great aplomb.
"I think we all owe him a debt of gratitude for that.
By Andrew Mcgarry
'Whoever replaces me will be completely different'
McLachlan is asked about kind of person his successor will be.
That is not a decision for me. I'm not trying to be churlish about it. Richard and the commission, it is their decision to make.
What I do feel absolutely certain about, that whoever replaces me will be completely different.
You know, they will have to bring their own style and be their own person, man or woman. That was the only bit of advice that whoever gets the role, just be your own self and be your own person and you will go OK.
That was advice given to me by Andrew Demetriou and I have hopefully brought that to bear every day I have been here.
By Andrew Mcgarry
What's next for McLachlan?
"I have had obviously some thoughts but I haven't had a conversation of substance with anyone, really.
"I had a couple of conversations. But it is a bit of a blank canvass and that is terrifying but exhilarating.
"I think everyone hopefully knows what I have said to Richard we will do. With the club funding model that will be the last thing I do so they (clubs) can't have too hard a time because they need the money.
By Andrew Mcgarry
McLachlan says he has 'no greater ally' than his wife Laura
My wife would support me whatever I did every day of the week. So she clearly has views but there is just no greater ally in the world than Laura.
And so they are part of the decision-making, there is no doubt about that, but this is my call and it is clearly emotional because I'm leaving a big part of my life.
But it is the right one (decision) that when I stop reflecting on what I am missing I will look forward ... and I know there will be another journey for us which will be amazing.
By Andrew Mcgarry
McLachlan on COVID
The outgoing CEO is asked about the challenges of the job, and whether he might still be staying if it wasn't for the effect of COVID.
"What was clear, once that started I would never have felt comfortable leaving until everything I thought was in order.
"It was a tough couple of years.
"it is a hypothetical one. I'm not avoiding it I just don't know."
"As I said, it has been a real privilege and honour (to lead).
"I'm aware of it every day. And then for me, family and other things, it will be time to...it feels like it is time to look forward.
By Andrew Mcgarry
AFLW grand final a time to call it
Gillon McLachlan says he has been thinking about things, but that the weekend's AFLW grand final honed his thinking.
Richard and I are in constant contact. I think if you have got a relationship like I do with Richard you are talking about the future all of the time.
And coming out of COVID, we were talking about... I think Richard said he was looking at a more longer-term view and I just felt as people come back to football, as we closed out the grand final for the AFLW, Richard and I flew to Adelaide and we had a chat and I said, "I think this feels right, I will come out now."
Hopefully it is no the a distraction to the women's grand final or to the men's season. It just felt the right time they could get done what they needed to do this year because it might take six or seven months, whatever it is going to take, to find the right replacement and I can get that stuff done.
Also I can have conversations with others and look ahead a bit with my family and with others. I said genuinely a month ago, Sam, one day, and it just felt right on the weekend. Wee had that conversation. We sat at the front of the plane and nutted it out and that was about it.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Gillon McLachlan expresses relief and regret
Yes, there is relief, there is regret, there is everything. It is clearly an emotional day because I have spent 20 years of my life here. But I feel very good about where the league is and I feel good about the fact that that's the right time and I have got a plan with Richard and the commission for this year.
They can get done what they need to do. My team will do what we need to do and clearly then I feel good that my family are looking forward to a bit of a different world going forward as well and that's clearly been part of the decision.
By Andrew Mcgarry
McLachlan thanks his family
This is a very emotional speech.
Greatest game in the world is so because there is a bloody lot of passionate and material people in and around it. I think football brings out the best in them. And this includes all of you, mostly.
You know there are exceptions. Finally, I want to thank my broader family and friends for their support and counsel. But specifically my wife, Laura. Our four incredible kids, Eddie, Cleo, sometimes Sydney and Luna. Laura is a peerless mother and partner.
She has ridden every bump ... and been part of every possession both on the outside and certainly those on the inside and after such a long time I want to thank her and the kids for being so much a part of every bit of it and for making my life and my time here so much richer. So thank you all.
By Andrew Mcgarry
McLachlan continues
It is incredible shape on whatever metric you assess it. Football is back pumping with a clear planned for continued growth and I feel good about that. I feel it is about the right time because there is other stuff I want to do this year I want to thank my Chairman and Richard and Mike Fitzpatrick and all the commissions I have worked for.
I couldn't have hoped for two better people to work for and work from. They have tremendous people who have always had my back that. Applies to their wives as well, Ellen and Janine. They are all close personal friends.
And it applies to so many of the Commissioners and their partners. I think Paul Bassett is actually here today as well and their partners, I've been very lucky. Clearly I was close to my colleagues and teammates over so many years. So many people I worked with over such a long period. So talented, dedicated. I have so many close friends.
And the reality is the AFL has been a huge part of my life. It is all about the people. I'm not going to individualise other than to say I could never have imagined when I started of the friendships I would take from the AFL would be by far the most significant thing I will take from my time here.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Gillon McLachlan speaks
Firstly, I want to say that as Richard discussed, you are all going to have to put up with me for the balance of the year.
I'm not leaving today and I think Richard has been really clear about the agenda that is in front of the team this year but I think this timeline gives Richard and the commission the right runway to work through succession process and allows us, me and the team, to time to close out what we need to do to bring this thing to what we have been planning on.
The reality is the four or five huge things are still to get done this year. I would like to reiterate what I said when I accept this had role — that it is an honour and privilege to serve this game. Best game in the world. That's why I have loved it so much.
The responsibility has never been lost on me. I feel good that the game is in better shape now than when I took over but the scoreboard will be for the others to judge. I'm leaving now because it feels right.
McLachlan got emotional when talking about the game. Clearly this has been a big decision.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Goyder gets emotional as he says thank you to McLachlan for his work, his drive, his passion, his empathy. Now he hands over to the outgoing CEO.
You are one of the best people I have ever worked with and you will leave the game in much better shape on and off the field. Congratulations.
By Andrew Mcgarry
McLachlan's "scorecard"
Richard Goyder says he wants to tally up the achievements that McLachlan has made during his time at the top.
So there is record numbers and that matters in participation, membership, attendance, revenue, the broadcast deals, viewership, the growth in NSW and Queensland, girls and women in the game with I think 600,000 participants now.
The investment in facilities not just at the elite level but throughout the community, which is a massive legacy. Of course, competitive balance has been a huge issue and continues to been a huge issue and continues to be something that we really aspire to in the AFL.
We just completed Season 6 of the AFL Women's. It was a best season we ever had and it was a wonderful grand final in Adelaide on Saturday but who will ever forget the first game and Gill having to go outside and tell people, "Sorry, the gates are closed because we can't let anyone else in."
And the AFLW grand final 2019 with 53,000 people at the Adelaide Oval was one of the best moments in AFL footy, in my view. Of course, we will have 18 women's teams later this year, which is fantastic. And then he has always had this unrelenting focus on the fans and making sure that the game is accessible and affordable to our fans.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Big agenda for 2022
Richard Goyder, chair of the AFL Commission goes through what lies ahead.
"He (Gillon McLachlan) has committed to a significant plan for 2022 and he has committed that he and his team will do a new broadcast deal.
"We will do CBA for men and women, club funding model. We will put a position to the 18 clubs on Tasmania and we will get the men's and women's seasons away as best we can through 2022.
"So it is a big agenda that he will lead. I and the commission will kick off a process in the next couple of days in terms of finding and appointing a successor to Gill.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Richard Goyder welcomes everyone
He says Gillon McLachlan advised him on the weekend of his intention to step down at the end of the year.
He says the AFL is "not happy" but "completely supportive" of the decision.
"Gill has always said to me that he wanted to go at the top of his game at a time of his choosing and when the AFL was in as good a shape as it can be and I think that's fair play.
"And the commission thinks that is pair play. And certainly fair for he and his family. He has done an outstanding job
