Category: Author – Greg Blood
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History of Leadership – Chairs, CEOs, Head Coaches and Captains in Eighteen/Nineteen AFL Clubs : Examining Stability and Diversity -Updated 6 October 2026
By Greg Blood This article documents the leadership timeline of the 18 clubs in the Australian Football League (AFL) that was established in 1990. Leadership is documented in terms of – presidents/chairs, CEOs, head coaches and captains to examine issues such as stability and diversity in relation to success . I have previously documented national…
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Federal and State Governments funding of AFL and NRL High Performance Training Centres – Updated 17 April 2026
By Greg Blood This is an update of research originally published in April 2019. It highlights how the majority of professional AFL and NRL clubs have now received substantial federal and state government funding to develop their high-performance training centres. The 2019 federal election was a high-water mark in funding commitments – a period where…
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Stocktake of Australian sport Presidents/Chairs 2000-2026 – Updated 28 September 2026
By Greg Blood National Sports Organisation (NSO) Presidents/Chairs these days frequently have to manage crises in their sport. Following on from my recent stocktake of NSO CEO’s, I have drawn up a list of NSO Presidents/Chairs since 2000 to recognise their service to the Australian sport system. The complexity of the role of the modern day…
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Australian Prime Ministers and Sport Series – Stanley Bruce
By Greg Blood STANLEY MELBOURNE BRUCE CH MC PC NATIONALIST PARTY & UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY 8th Prime Minister – 1923-1929 Stanley Bruce is regarded as the first prime minister to actively engage in sport during his political career. He had a lifetime commitment to sport, particularly rowing and golf. As prime minster, he regarded regularly…
australiansportreflections
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Re-elected Albanese Government: Reflecting on Upcoming Sport Issues from a Historical Perspective
By Greg Blood The return of the Albanese government has led to the reappointment of Anika Wells as the Minister for Sport and new Minister for Communications and the move of sport functions to Dept. of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. This article reflects on these changes from an historical and…
australiansportreflections
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Stocktake of Australian sport CEO’s 2000-2026 – Updated 28 September 2026
By Greg Blood The departures of CEO’s in 2020 from significant Australian sports organisations – ASC, cricket, rugby union, rugby league, golf and equestrian – made me reflect in 2021 on the level of turnover and experience of CEO’s since 2000. The information listed was obtained from annual reports, websites, news releases and LinkedIn profiles.…
australiansportreflections
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Sport and the 2025 Australian Federal Election – Final
By Greg Blood This article follows 2019 and 2022 reviews on sport issues and commitments related to Australian federal elections. Previous Australian federal elections reviewed highlighted the significant number of sport facility commitments made by the ALP and Coalition. Many of these related to improving sports facilities for girls and women. Going into the 2025…
australiansportreflections
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Australian Prime Ministers and Sport Series – John Gorton
By Greg Blood SIR JOHN GREY GORTON GCMG AC CH LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA 19th Prime Minister: 1968-1971 John Grey Gorton became prime minister with the unexpected tragic death of Harold Holt. In his three years as prime minister, Gorton highlighted that community sport was important for health, social cohesion and assimilation. This view most…
australiansportreflections
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Notable Australian Sporting Deaths in 2024
By Greg Blood List of notable Australian sportspeople that died in 2024. These people have contributed significantly to their sport and Australian sport in playing, coaching, administration or media roles. Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) lost four members – Kevan Gosper, Neale Fraser, Andrew Plympton and Sir Donald Trescowthick Administration Athletics Australian Football Boxing…
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Reflecting on David Crawford’s Contribution to the Australian Sport System
By Greg Blood The recent passing of David Crawford AO made me reflect on four sport reviews that he authored or chaired that have impacted on sport in Australia. For many of those that worked in sports administration from 1990 to 2011, the name David Crawford became synonymous with sport governance and the organisation of…