Simon Lethlean
{{Short description|Australian football manager (born 1975)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Simon Lethlean
| image = Simon Lethlean.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Lethlean in February 2016
| birth_name = Simon Lethlean
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|11|17|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = *Camberwell Grammar
| nationality = Australian
| other_names =
| occupation = St Kilda Football Club CEO
| known_for = Australian Football League executive
}}
Simon Lethlean (born 17 November 1975) is a former Australian Football League (AFL) football operations manager and the former CEO of the St Kilda Football Club.
Career
Previously working as a commercial solicitor, Lethlean began working for the AFL in 2004.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/simon-lethlean-appointed-head-of-st-kildas-football-department-20171214-h052tj.html|title=Simon Lethlean deserves a second chance, say Saints|last=Colangelo|first=Anthony|date=15 December 2017|work=The Age|language=en-US|access-date=3 January 2018|archive-date=3 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103200421/http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/simon-lethlean-appointed-head-of-st-kildas-football-department-20171214-h052tj.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/jon-anderson-examines-the-rise-and-temporary-fall-of-simon-lethlean/news-story/1ce89c0de80d7f1301b35adec8f7a3aa|title=Jon Anderson examines the rise and temporary fall of Simon Lethlean|last=Anderson|first=Jon|date=20 July 2017|work=Herald Sun|url-access=subscription }} He worked across various roles at the league, where he was involved in the legal department, broadcasting, fixturing, and game development.{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/simon-lethlean-devises-afl-draw-one-of-world-sports-most-complicated-fixtures/news-story/bf95ae9fdf6a9a0324cc85b7eeaf4600|title=Simon Lethlean devises AFL draw, one of world sport's most complicated fixtures|last=Warner|first=Michael|date=30 October 2014|work=Herald Sun}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/simon-lethlean-appointed-afl-football-operations-manager/news-story/dc1377f66c4e479993c31e762a202225|title=Simon Lethlean appointed AFL football operations manager|date=3 March 2017|work=Herald Sun|access-date=3 January 2018|archive-date=6 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806074139/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/simon-lethlean-appointed-afl-football-operations-manager/news-story/dc1377f66c4e479993c31e762a202225|url-status=live}} As general manager of game development at the league he was involved in the creation of the AFL Women's league, and oversaw its inaugural season.{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/afl-chiefs-plan-expanded-twoweek-aflw-finals-series-for-2018-season/news-story/6249be710ad6a79a4f25bff406813aee|title=AFL chiefs plan expanded two-week AFLW finals series for 2018 season|last=Chris|first=Cavanagh|date=25 February 2017|work=Herald Sun|url-access=subscription }}
In March 2017, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan announced that Lethlean would be replacing outgoing football operations manager Mark Evans, who was taking on the CEO position at Gold Coast Football Club. Lethlean retained his role in running the AFL Women's competition.
In July 2017 following media reports of "inappropriate relationships" within AFL headquarters, McLachlan announced that Lethlean had resigned from his position within the league.{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-press-conference-days-after-affair-claim/news-story/745e542e22dcd4fa1d9e4f0ce0b31618|title=AFL press conference days after affair claim|last=Drill|first=Stephen|date=15 July 2017|work=Herald Sun|url-access=subscription }} It emerged that Lethlean had been involved in an extra-marital relationship with a younger female staff member from the AFL's New South Wales office.{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/afl-sex-scandal-inquiries-made-with-senior-league-figures-months-before-simon-lethlean-resigned/news-story/9681a0db195b2b84fc05869e73763f81|title=AFL sex scandal: Inquiries made with senior league figures months before Simon Lethlean resigned|last=Warner|first=Michael|date=9 November 2017|work=Herald Sun|url-access=subscription }} The relationship had begun a year earlier in August 2016, but had ended prior to Lethlean taking on the football operations role.{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-sex-scandal-simon-lethleans-finals-frolics-stun-colleagues/news-story/f007f59af44173b0b685d085a28e5a20|title=AFL sex scandal: Simon Lethlean's finals frolics stun colleagues|last=Drill|first=Stephen|date=14 July 2017|work=Herald Sun|url-access=subscription }} He also resigned from his position as a director of statistics company Champion Data, which is part owned by the league.{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/afl-affair-fallout-simon-lethlean-steps-down-from-champion-data/news-story/a9ae5a3b08876e7785c45e66dbf6424f|title=AFL affair fallout: Simon Lethlean steps down from Champion Data|last1=Drill|first1=Stephen|date=19 July 2017|work=Herald Sun|last2=Rolfe|first2=Peter|url-access=subscription }}
Following his departure from the AFL, it was reported that Lethlean was seeking a CEO position at an AFL club. He had been linked to chief executive openings at Collingwood, Carlton, and Hawthorn, and later to the head of football department role at Essendon, but in December 2017 it was announced that he would become general manager of football at the St Kilda Football Club from the beginning of 2018.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/simon-lethlean-joins-st-kilda-as-football-boss/news-story/73e545ae2fcf4eb4591d2742a2ff2a15|title=Simon Lethlean joins St Kilda as football boss|date=16 December 2017|work=The Australian|url-access=subscription }} The role became vacant following a restructure caused by the departure of Saints chief operating officer Ameet Bains. Lethlean became St Kilda's CEO in 2022.{{cite web|title=Thank you, Matt Finnis|url=https://www.saints.com.au/news/1226951/thank-you-matt-finnis|date=23 September 2022|accessdate=16 October 2022|work=AFL Media|archive-date=16 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016045314/https://www.saints.com.au/news/1226951/thank-you-matt-finnis|url-status=live}}
Playing/coaching career
Lethlean played for the Hawthorn reserves side,{{cite journal|title=Hawthorn in Detail|journal=Football Record|date=22 April 1994|page=17|url=http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/136068|access-date=10 January 2018}} playing in 40 games during the 1990s before later playing for the Old Xaverians, where he was involved in five premierships.{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/pssst-20130706-2pis0.html|title=Simon says|last=Beitzel|first=Brad|date=7 July 2013|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=3 January 2018|archive-date=3 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103195002/http://www.smh.com.au/sport/pssst-20130706-2pis0.html|url-status=live}} He went on to captain the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) representative team. Lethlean later returned to the Old Xaverians as coach, winning premierships again in 2009 and 2010. He also coached the VAFA representative side to six wins from six games.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/simon-lethlean-returns-to-coach-old-xaverians-20140610-zs348.html|title=Simon Lethlean returns to coach Old Xaverians|last=Beitzel|first=Brad|date=10 June 2014|work=The Age|language=en-US|access-date=3 January 2018|archive-date=3 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103194917/http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/simon-lethlean-returns-to-coach-old-xaverians-20140610-zs348.html|url-status=live}}
Personal life
Lethlean attended Camberwell Grammar and studied law through the University of Melbourne's Sports Law Program.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-xavier-network-20120928-26r0y.html|title=The Xavier network|last=Wilson|first=Caroline|date=29 September 2012|work=The Age|language=en-US|access-date=3 January 2018|archive-date=3 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103135213/http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-xavier-network-20120928-26r0y.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite journal|last=Little|first=Amy|date=June 2013|title=Mastering the game|url=http://law.unimelb.edu.au/alumni/mls-news/issue-9-june-2013/mastering-the-game|journal=MLS News|publisher=Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne|volume=9|access-date=3 January 2018|archive-date=3 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103014717/http://law.unimelb.edu.au/alumni/mls-news/issue-9-june-2013/mastering-the-game|url-status=live}} He previously completed a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws through Monash University.{{Cite web |title=Management Profiles – Helloworld Travel Limited |url=https://www.helloworldlimited.com.au/management-profiles/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |language=en-US}} He is married and has four children.
References
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Category:VFL/AFL administrators
Category:University of Melbourne alumni
Category:Old Xaverians Football Club players
Category:St Kilda Football Club administrators
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)