Mark Robinson and Michael Warner debate the top 10 most powerful people in footy
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou speaks at a press conference in Canberra. Source: The Daily Telegraph
AS ALWAYS, Andrew Demetriou scoffs at the idea he's an arrogant dictator who wheels and deals to get every outcome he wants.
He's been called the ''benevolent dictator'' by Jeff Kennett and ''Vlad'' by Kevin Sheedy, but rather than erupt over such evil monikers from two of the game's biggest names, there's a sense Demetriou has a jovial acceptance of the titles because of his standing in the game.
''Yes, that's right, the benevolent dictator,'' he smirks.
''I always say people are entitled to have a view and they will form a judgment based on whatever criteria they want to use.
''People who know me, my family and friends, they would have a different view.''
Demetriou, who is No.1 on the Herald Sun AFL Power List, has been chief executive of the AFL since 2003 and is clearly the most powerful man in football.
He makes no bones about making tough decisions, comfortable that while some of them will be unpopular, they are made with the best interests of football as the sole criteria.
''I don't think you should confuse trying to be decisive and acts of leadership with being arrogant,'' he said.
''I'd rather be decisive and sometimes that decisiveness can be unpopular decisions to be honest, but we are in the business of trying to make decisions.
''And overall people respect the fact we make decisions.
''We don't procrastinate or dilly-dally, or try to spin something.''
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What, not spin?
It's difficult to accept that because of 1) the AFL's determination to control brand imaging and 2) every major organisation spins the bottle in their own direction.
''I' sure they do,'' Demetriou agreed, ''but we have a golden rule and that's we know we have been given a deep obligation to make decision son behalf of the code.
''That's what the Commission is there for, to make assessments and balance all these factors, look at the research, and make decisions.
''Now, often we get it right, sometimes you don't, but often they are unpopular, such as, why did you expand? Why are you building a stadium with a roof? Why are you moving away from Waverley? You have to make decisions.''
Gallery: The 10 most powerful people in football
People with power have common traits.
They are assertive, respected, mostly statesman-like and, as in Demetriou's case, highly public.
And it could be comfortably said he has presence.
You're going to find this hard to believe, but I don't believe in that sort of power ... Ultimately, we are all judged by the supporter.
He doesn't swagger when he walks into a room, but at the same time you know he's arrived.
Asked what his definition of power was, Demetriou stressed it wasn't him who had the power, nor was it the Commission.
''You're going to find this hard to believe, but I don't believe in that sort of power, and I don't actually believe in power,'' he said.
''If you ask me who is the most influential and powerful person in football, my answer would be the supporter.
''Ultimately, we are all judged by the supporter.''
When fans are happy they vote with their feet and buy memberships. When fans are angry, there is not a shortage of outlets for them to vent.
Demetriou cites talkback radio and letters to the editor, and admits to listening to Saturday pre-match radio discussion and watching the occasional football program on the box.
"From an organisation perspective we do brand tracking, we follow what supporters are thinking about various issues, we track those over the course of 12 months, and I also make a point of spending most Saturdays listening to the pre-game radio shows,'' he said.
''The pre-match radio is an outstanding gauge of the issues going on in the week and you overlay that with TV programs such as (AFL) 360 or On The Couch, or The Footy Show, and add all that to the media coverage which is pretty thorough and explosive.
''So it's actually as democratic as you can get.
''I actually like letters to the editor, which I think is a very good gauge.''
Contrary to popular view, rarely does Demetriou make decisions alone, save for picking Meatloaf over Bryan Adams as the 2011 Grand Final headline act.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou meets his long-time hero Meat Loaf who will be performing at the Grand Final. Picture: Craig Borrow Source: Herald Sun
''The only decisions I would take sole responsibility for would be the hiring of the management team, that's my decision to make and mine alone,'' he said.
''I don't make any other decisions singularly on my own without consultation with the executive and the board.''
Demetriou described his relation with Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick as ''outstanding''.
''We would talk regularly on a weekly basis, at least three times a week, we would meet once a fortnight,'' he said.
''He's an outstanding chairman insofar as being at the forefront of the big decisions that the organisation has made, such as expansion, broadcast rights, government relations, stadium infrastructure.
'''He demands a lot of the executive team ... he's just been brilliant.''
Tomorrow: The most powerful players in the game revealed
