Matthew Pavlich, who has recently taken over as the chief executive of the Sydney Swans, shared an interesting anecdote about how he was first approached for the role. While managing his children’s Saturday morning sports, he received a text from a recruiter inquiring if he would consider stepping into the position left vacant by Tom Harley, who is transitioning to a new role at the AFL.
In an interview on Nine’s Today, Pavlich described the unexpected nature of the approach: "It was a bit left-field," he remarked. After engaging with the recruiter and undergoing a formal interview process with the club, he expressed his excitement about the opportunity and his gratitude for being chosen.
Pavlich, a legend of the game with 700 goals scored during his time with Fremantle from 2000 to 2016, was announced as Sydney’s new chief executive a week prior. He holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Western Australia, and has built a diverse career post-retirement that includes co-founding a brand partnerships business and serving as a sports presenter for 9News Perth.
Reflecting on his new role, Pavlich acknowledged the challenges that come with managing a business with an annual revenue exceeding $70 million. He noted, "It’s a big business in terms of people," describing the significant responsibilities that lie ahead.
As he steps into this pivotal position, Pavlich is keen to immerse himself in the community, making connections with fans, members, and corporate partners, especially since he admits to being relatively new to the Sydney environment.
In the midst of this transition, the Swans recently secured a narrow two-point victory over the Brisbane Lions in a rematch of the previous season’s grand final. However, sitting at 10th place on the ladder, the team has been ruled out of finals contention and will prepare to compete against the Geelong Cats at the SCG on Sunday.