AFL poaches Sydney Swans administrator for key role

Former Sydney Swans administrator Tom Harley has been appointed the AFL's chief operating officer. (Scott Barbour/AAP PHOTOS)

The AFL has poached Sydney administrator Tom Harley as its next chief operating officer in a bid to bolster the leadership around chief executive Andrew Dillon.

Sydney chief executive Harley, who looms as the AFL's next chief, will stay at the Swans until at least the end of the season before joining the league as Dillon's second-in-command in October.