"), Andrew Demetriou, 49, sits in his modest, shiny office, meditating upon world domination. The western Sydney move is a brave one; we're all looking at that with great interest.". "To be frank, if the clubs had had their way, there'd be no national expansion," says Gale. More importantly, they're great institutions for the community and economy in this state.". The AFL is debt-free and soon will have "squirrelled away" a $50-million contingency.Overall, the league is unrecognisable as the once-bereft and bankrupt Victorian competition of 1985, the year the 12 original clubs handed control to an independent commission. Then there's Purebaby, to add a bit of fun. Chairing several companies after his retirement from playing, he was appointed CEO of the AFL Players Association in 1998, and was responsible for negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players. "Two bunk beds and four boys in one room," recalls his eldest brother, lawyer James Demetriou. "Towards the end of the day at this function, he pointed out a woman and said, 'She's nice, isn't she?' "I can't see another 10 years here," he says, looking around his office. "He was amazing during her illness," says Unglik. ("Bizarre, I know," he told one reporter. And some suggested a life in politics back in 2005, when he openly questioned whether Australia had become mean-spirited compared to the optimistic country that welcomed his parents in the 1950s, challenging directly the Howard Government's tough asylum-seeker laws in the wake of the Tampa incident. There has been much talk of the $200-million war chest that will fund the expansion, and those on the inside say it will take all this and more. I'm very optimistic about what's going to happen in greater western Sydney, very optimistic. ", He probably should have got into the Victorian cricket side, too - he was playing in the Victorian and Australian under-21 sides at 16 - but in those days, as his long-time friend and AFL medical commissioner Dr Harry Unglik puts it, "who had ever heard of a Demetriou in the Australian cricket team?". We spoil them from time to time, but we also want them to want. He keeps his cards so close to his chest, I guess I should have known that the briefest glimpse of him showing an interest in a woman meant that he would marry her and have children with her.". Keep up with all the latest signings here. But that's part of the game. But Toorak, Melbourne's most prestigious suburb, can seem a long way from Coburg. Chairing several companies after his retirement from playing, he was appointed CEO of the AFL Players Association in 1998, and was responsible for negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players. But, yeah, he's always on call. And it was as AFLPA CEO in 1998 that he secured a historic collective-bargaining agreement that delivered a significant pay rise to the competition's 600-odd players. Credit: The high-profile Melbourne identity, who has been a director of the casino giant since 2015 and is chairman of Crown . Andrew Demetriou: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. [1], Before becoming a VFL player, he worked in the dental import industry. There will be a bit of talk about the next season. "But what I do know is that in greater western Sydney, there are 220 different ethnic groups, 220 languages spoken and 180,000 indigenous people. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? But to be truthful, I never thought I'd last long in football. Demetriou now has four children - twin girls born two days after he took on the CEO role, the Monday after the 2003 grand final, another daughter born in 2007, and a little boy born in 2009. Andrew Demetriou and family pose with La Trobe deputy chancellor Dr Philip Moors AO (left) and vice-chancellor Professor John Dewar (right). This is in itself quite charming. He was a good, though never a great, player. His self-assessment went like this: "I am impatient when I see injustice, I am not happy with mediocrity, I have no place for lack of integrity, lack of honesty, lack of respect for others. 1988 He had a brief move to Hawthorn in 1988, but played only three games and kicked one goal. It was all give, it was incredible giving. [citation needed] During the 2013 Finals Series he also co-hosted Talking Footy for the Seven Network. Andrew Demetriou at Monday's announcement. "The Demetrious pay a personal trainer to help keep them in shape - "boxing and all that sort of stuff two or three times a week" - but an Achilles injury has hindered Demetriou's recent progress. Aug 2020 - Present2 years 7 months. He lacks fanaticism. Demetriou was made CEO of the AFL in 2003, replacing Wayne Jackson. People credit Bassett and her circle with helping form Demetriou culturally: there's a famous story, told by several people, of a memorable day when he astounded everyone by leaving an AFL game early to attend an Andrea Bocelli concert. Yes," says his head of communications, Brian Walsh, grinning. Andrew Demetriou, the million-dollar boss of Australia's dominant sports code, joins his fellow board members around the table once a month. "We grew up in an area where you just laughed at those things," he says. "And finally, I want the right amount of time to consider my responsibilities to my workplace and my family and to make sure the balance works for both. He admits to a simple philosophy: "You should never walk away from a negotiation if one party feels dudded. In recent months, he's been condemned for his lack of action over the St Kilda/Ricky Nixon scandal (involving a teenage girl) and pilloried for earning twice as much as the top players in his code. Demetriou gives little away. It was like winning a Grand Final because we were gone." The family was close, and Demetriou grew up conscious of his parents' love, sacrifice and work ethic. 2 at the AFL, and now CEO of Football Federation Australia (formerly Soccer Australia), remembers Demetriou's player profile at North Melbourne. Ryan Edwards and his wife, Mackenzie, have officially called it quits amid their ongoing legal issues. He has treated us fairly and with respect and I admire that. He had a brief move to Hawthorn in 1988, but played only three games and kicked one goal. "Huh? It's based in northern Italy. Discover Andrew Demetriou's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. What followed next was his second marriage in 2002 with Symone, who is currently his wife. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. But it's not all beer and skittles. It was that meeting that convinced Karmichael that he should move to AFL.". He convinced the Players' Association to accept random testing for illicit drugs, not just performance-enhancing ones, something that is rare in sporting codes the world over, and unheard of in most professions. Footy was a great way to pick up $20,000 or $30,000: that's how I bought my first home. [citation needed] North Melbourne Football Club had played three home games there in 2007 and, at the conclusion of that season, Demetriou offered the club $100 million to relocate there permanently. They now have four children, Alexandra, Francesca, Mattea and Sacha and they were at the media conference with Symone as well as other family members. Right now, he's enjoying himself, in the job and in general. I've said to my staff and to myself that everyone's got to modify their lifestyle. The game is certainly more dominant and far wealthier than when he took over and, according to his chairman, he has given the game a conscience. "History will tell.". Were working to restore it. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. In his role as head of the AFL Commission, he was responsible for a number of changes, including the expansion of the league from 16 to 18 teams, the restructuring of the tribunal system, and the brokering of two new television rights deals. Symone will have brought home Who or New Weekly and the next thing I'm reading about who Lindsay Lohan's slept with and whatever. "If you've done all the prep, you can't do more than that, so I never think about it. He always puts the family first. This is what we do. [citation needed] He has an older brother Jim Demetriou who played senior football for Essendon in the mid-1970s. Historically, in fact, it's tried to go even further. But I always had my eye on other things. Collect, curate and comment on your files. I want to be challenged by that team. Its leafy luxury contrasts sharply with the suburban landscape of postcode 3058. "It doesn't make this better," he said at the time, "but it has helped me through a very difficult period. In terms of game attendance, AFL is the most popular sport in Australia. Recruited from Pascoe Vale, Demetriou played for the North Melbourne Football Club as a winger between 1981 and 1987, playing 103 games and kicking 47 goals. He took his first job back in football in 1997, partly so he could be at home with Bassett during her illness. His best memory was the elation of a come-from-behind triumph over Carlton in the elimination final of 1985. ", "But it's completely unacceptable today. He is a member of famous Player with the age 61 years old group. So they never saw their mothers again. "With a chuckle, he continues: "I have to say, that board meeting takes longer than the meetings of other boards that I've been on they're talking about different designs, the manufacturers in India, what colours we should do. Says Demetriou now: "It was an incredibly powerful statement. "Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Pennant Hills: it's an upper-middle-class socio-economic group they want. But are they role models? "Clearly, we've had great opportunities because of what our parents did for us," says Demetriou. It was while Demetriou was a student at La Trobe University in 1983 that he met his first wife, historian Jan Bassett. Andrew Demetriou.Credit:Sebastian Costanzo, "Kim Kardashian," he says suddenly. He was practising the delicate art, so valued by Australians, of high achievement without visible effort. "I'm not a reader of books, which is a disgrace when it's all said and done, but I'm a prolific reader of newspapers, back to front," he says. Demetriou is best known for his position as CEO of the Australian Football League. Either way, Purebaby seems the perfect antidote to Demetriou's pressure-cooker life running the national league, perhaps the most heavily scrutinised public role in this town and state alongside that of Premier. "I got a kick, which helps," he laughs. I used to go to the races. "Footy wasn't a career path for me," Demetriou acknowledges. I want equality of opportunity. [11] This proved to be the turning point in the Swans' season, as they lost only two further home-and-away games for the season, both by single-figure margins,[12] and eventually won the premiership. In 2002 he married his current wife Symone, and they have three daughters and a son. At a time when, north of the border, the aftermath of the 1995-97 Super League war was still fracturing relationships in rugby league, "Andrew understood that the key to any successful deal is to create value for all parties," says Brendon Gale. Even if it's 10 o'clock at night he'll still be responding to emails or taking calls. I'm the little chairman. Nor does she recall easily his number. I always had my eye on other things took his first wife, historian Jan Bassett Demetriou... Table once a month to save images and video clips best known for his position as CEO of the football... Party feels dudded at those things, '' he says suddenly ] during the 2013 Finals Series he co-hosted!, can seem a long way from Coburg over Carlton in the.... About it if you 've done all the prep, you ca n't see another 10 years,... '' he says suddenly older brother Jim Demetriou who played senior football for Essendon in the elimination of. 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