McGuire, Danger to help guide the game

POWERFUL Victorian figures Eddie McGuire and Patrick Dangerfield are among a dozen AFL figures invited to be on Steve Hocking’s new supercommittee.

The new Competition Committee will help guide the AFL’s direction, with the dozen figures chosen from a cross-section of genders, states and clubs.

Only Geelong has two figures on the committee — Cats president Colin Carter and AFLPA president Dangerfield.

Hocking has also chosen a long-time senior coach in North Melbourne’s Brad Scott and one with experience across three states (Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland) in Brisbane’s Chris Fagan.

The responsibilities of the committee are the game, player movement and the structure of the competition.

It means the new committee, replacing a handful of advisory groups, will decide upon increased free agency and live trading of national draft picks in coming months.

The AFL was determined to have a broad cross-section of clubs and senior officials — so while Alastair Clarkson misses out, Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves is one of the members.

While the dozen members will have the interests of the game at heart, having a seat at the table will also help clubs lobby for rules advantageous to their own teams.

The committee will be a sounding board but all decisions will still be rubberstamped by the AFL Commission.