However,after a short career in the media it was as an administrator with both North Melbourne and then the AFL that his innovative thinking and bravery to make bold strategic calls that made him one of the most influential administrators of his era.
He was one of the key figures behind North Melbourne’s first premiership in 1975 when he helped recruit Ron Barassi to the club as coach after being elected president in 1971,the youngest president in the game’s history when elected. Aylett also recruited players under the shortlived 10 year rule.
AFL chairman Richard Goyder paid tribute to the role Aylett played in setting up the game
“Allen Aylett is a keystone of the national competition we have today,” Goyder said.
“His drive and ambition for the game to be as great as it could be opened new boundaries for our sport,and started the difficult but important steps to build the national competition we see today.”
At the age of 42,Aylett was elected president of the VFL in 1977 where he served for eight years and built the foundations for the modern game.