If Richmond boss Brendon Gale is thinking about applying for the role of AFL chief, he’s keeping that under his hat.

Gale told Nine’s The Sunday Footy Show his thoughts were on the job at hand with the Tigers.

Media reports have linked Gale with a possible run for the top job, following Andrew Demetriou’s announcement that 2014 will be his 11th and final season as league chief.

Demetriou’s deputy Gillon McLachlan is considered to be the frontrunner, but not a certainty, to take over next year.

“I have been touted. It’s flattering that some people see me in that role,” Gale said.

“But it’s not something that I’ve thought a lot about. Right now I’m very much focused on Richmond.

“With Andrew confirming his position, there has been a lot of speculation.

“There will continue to be a lot of speculation.

“It’s something I haven’t thought a lot about and if I do at that stage, it’s something I probably wouldn’t comment on.”

Like Demetriou, the highly regarded Gale is a former chief of the AFL Players’ Association.

Essendon great and prominent media commentator Matthew Lloyd says Gale should think strongly about putting his hand up.

“He’d be a great CEO of the AFL,” Lloyd said after watching Gale’s interview.

“He doesn’t want to put it out there because of his job at Richmond.

“But I think he wants the job. That’s how I viewed that.”