Brendon Gale will leave Richmond at the end of the season to become the first chief executive at the Tasmania Devils AFL expansion club.
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The announcement on Friday confirms weeks of speculation over Gale's future and means a homecoming for the Burnie native.
The 55-year-old is a highly respected club administrator who played a crucial role in the Tigers emerging from their premiership wilderness to win flags in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
"Brendon has been very clear this is an opportunity to give back to his state," Devils chairman Grant O'Brien said on Friday.
"We used home-ground advantage. We've said from the beginning we wanted to get some people with grey hairs, some real experience."
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon congratulated Gale on his new role.
"His proven experience in establishing and leading high-performing environments see him as a perfect fit as the first CEO for the Tasmania Devils and will see the club set up for success from the start," Dillon said.
Gale leaves the Tigers after 15 years as their chief executive. The centre half-forward and ruckman also played 244 games for Richmond from 1990-2001.
He had repeatedly been linked with a move back to his home state since the Devils were granted the 19th AFL licence, but previously dismissed the rumours as "speculation".
Gale signed his contract last week and will begin in the role in early 2025.
"I have spent half my life at this club as an administrator and player. It is time for me to embark on a new challenge, and for the club to write the next chapter," Gale said.
"I'll remain absolutely focused on the job at hand for the coming months. It is an exciting and challenging period for us on and off the field."
Along with others including then-president Peggy O'Neal and football boss Neil Balme, Gale was crucial in leading the Tigers back to the top of the ladder.
Gale guided Richmond out of debt and into financial stability, and boldly predicted in 2010 that the club would claim three flags within the next decade.
His prophecy rang true when, after taking out the 2017 flag, the Tigers and coach Damien Hardwick claimed back-to-back premierships in 2019 and 2020.
Gale was a staunch defender of Hardwick, backing the coach as the right man to lead the club to their first premiership since 1980 despite shortcomings in the early days of his tenure.
The Tigers' administration held firm at the end of 2016 when they dropped out of the top eight, seeing off a board challenge and bringing in Balme as a key appointment.
Richmond, led by first-year coach Adem Yze, currently sit 17th on the ladder with a 1-7 record.
Australian Associated Press
