Damien Hardwick has backed Richmond boss Brendon Gale to take over as AFL chief executive despite the huge loss it would be for his club.
Gale, 53, is one of the early favourites for the job after Gillon McLachlan announced his decision step down at the end of the season.
"Brendon's a star in my opinion," Tigers coach Hardwick said.
"Whatever Brendon puts his mind to, he's going to succeed.
"He's an aspirational leader, which I love. I love working for him here."
If Gale lands the top job, it will leave Richmond with two huge holes to fill in key off-field positions at the end of the year.
President Peggy O'Neal has already announced her intention to step down.
"I'm sure he's got our club's blessing," Hardwick said of Gale.
"He's got my blessing but it's sort of hard to think of our club without him, to be perfectly honest, and it's the same with Peggy O'Neal.
"He's been such a strong supporter of our football department and our club in general.
"I'm sure the AFL will have a very, very good look at him but I reckon they'll struggle to find a better man than Brendon Gale."
Gale is one of a few club chief executives considered as possible candidates to succeed McLachlan, along with Essendon's Xavier Campbell and Gold Coast's Mark Evans.
Internal AFL candidates include Travis Auld, Kylie Rogers and Andrew Dillon, while MCG boss Stuart Fox and former Australia Post CEO Ahmed Fahour are considered in the mix.
But Gale's track record makes a compelling case after he has resurrected the Tigers' finances, coupled with the club winning three premierships, since taking over as Richmond's chief in August 2009.
Before that, Gale was chief executive of the AFL Players Association from 2005.
He also played 244 games for the Tigers between 1990 and 2001.
