AFL chairman Richard Goyder said Andrew Dillon was the “standout candidate” from a prolonged search which began when McLachlan announced he was quitting in April last year.

“(Dillon) is an exceptional football person. He has been a key leader in the AFL, he has been involved in every major decision of the AFL for many years,” Goyder told reporters on Monday.

The chairman said there was “a field of high-quality candidates in what was a very, very competitive search process”.

“It was incredibly competitive,” Goyder said.

“The process identified a number of excellent candidates both within the football industry and externally.”

Dillion, describing his appointment as humbling, said his mission was to ensure “our game continues to expand its reach”.

“I want to have footy in every home across the country,” he told reporters.

“We are going to make sure that football is the number one sport of choice for everyone all across Australia.”

McLachlan, who has been CEO since April 2014, wanted to stand down at the end of last season but was urged to stay on by the AFL commission amid a global search for a replacement.

The hunt ultimately landed on Dillon, who joined the league in 2000 as legal counsel.

Dillon has since held several positions including general manager of areas including legal and business affairs, as well as national and international development.

His appointment has prompted a reshuffle in other senior management roles.

The current general manager of competition management, Laura Kane, will now be acting general manager of football.

And the incumbent general manager of legal and regulatory, Stephen Meade, will become the league’s general counsel.

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