NEW AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says he is determined to take the pain out of going to the footy for fans.

McLachlan took over from Andrew Demetriou as chief executive of the $445 million business yesterday after a selection process that threw up 100 candidates.

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McLachlan put addressing fan frustration over the total cost of going to the footy, as well as ensuring the health of the competitions’ smaller clubs, at the top of his to-do list.

While it will be difficult to change prices immediately, McLachlan told the Herald Sun work had already begun with venue operators and other suppliers to tackle the issue.

He also said he wanted club members to get a better reward for their commitment to the game.

News_Image_File: McLachlan wants fans to have the best game day experience. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said the league was committed to its contentious variable ticket pricing for now and would not “throw the baby out with the bath water too early” — but the system will be reviewed at the end of the year.

While the league has admitted to poorly communicating the system, McLachlan said structural flaws had also emerged.

“It’s not all bad, there are some good parts, but some stuff around general admission members having to pay reserved seat premiums, it’s something that’s flawed and we are going to address that,” he said.

McLachlan yesterday said:

HIS preference was for a day Grand Final.

THERE would be no new teams in the “foreseeable future, whether that’s five or 10 years”.

HE would join the AFL Commission, as Demetriou had done.

HE had “lost some bark” in the Essendon doping scandal and the league would prioritise transparency in any future dramas.

WOULD not overpay for Etihad Stadium, which the league is due to buy for $1 in 2025.

NO decision has been made about Good Friday football next year, and the commission would likely review a submission on the issue in June.

HE was in favour of retaining the centre bounce.

THE future of Hawthorn and North Melbourne in Tasmania was up to each club but that he would prefer the state to be behind a single team.

News_Image_File: McLachlan at his announcement yesterday. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

After a day packed with interviews and appearances yesterday, McLachlan will be back in harness at an equalisation subcommittee meeting today, where the final touches are being put on the league’s competitive balance measures that will be ticked off in June.

McLachlan said he did not believe there was a disconnect between the league and the fans, but said “we hear the fans around the total cost of going to a game”.

“We will be addressing the cost of going to the football.

“I think engaging with our fans and understanding their challenges and, in my words, taking away any encumbrance — whether they be financial, scheduling or logistic — from them being able to pursue their passion to go to the football.

“We need to work incredibly hard on dealing with the issues they have and the challenges they have with going to our game.”

McLachlan said he would “travel far and wide in the early period — listening, connecting and learning”.

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He said much of his work would be about consolidating the “extraordinary level of growth” that Demetriou had overseen, but said there would be changes in the AFL leadership and structure.

“I will be a different leader to Andrew — there’s only one Andrew,” he said. “It will mean I take a different approach.

Amid debate about the aesthetics of football, McLachlan said he would “have his say” but trusted the Laws of the Game Committee and football operations boss Mark Evans to take care of the game.

“The game evolves, there has always been good games and always been bad games,” he said.

McLachlan was promoted to AFL deputy chief executive after turning down a rich approach to head the NRL in 2012, but said he would not have a designated No.2.

News_Rich_Media: AFL Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick has confirmed the Gillon McLachlan will take over from Andrew Demetriou as Chief Executive of the AFL.