Mega Thread General MFC Discussion IV – Roffey and Pert Gone, Bartlett Case Settled, Board Election Finalised

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Someone post full article please?


Former Melbourne great and ex-Melbourne Cricket Club president Steven Smith has emerged as a leading candidate to join the Demons’ board and potentially become their next president.

Smith, who is highly respected for his four-year reign as president of the MCC, has strong support within AFL circles to nominate for a board position.

Current president Kate Roffey is under significant pressure after a heavily-criticised radio interview about Christian Petracca’s future on Thursday.

A successful lawyer, Smith played 203 games and kicked 144 goals for Melbourne and won a best and fairest for the club in 1981.

The 68-year-old was previously a Melbourne director between 1990 and 1992 and rose through the ranks at the Melbourne Cricket Club as part of a decorated stint between 1998 and 2019.

One of Smith’s proudest achievements was helping the MCG secure the AFL Grand Final until 2057 as part of a landmark deal with the AFL in 2018.

Smith continues to have close links to the Demons who are under siege for their on and field struggles since the 2021 premiership.

Petracca recommitted to the Demons on Saturday, ensuring he will play at the club next year despite his concerns about the Demons’ culture and standards.

Melbourne has been stalled over the past decade trying to establish a new training base, but has zeroed in recently on a site inside Caulfield Racecourse.

Any changes to Melbourne’s board would occur before the end of the year at the annual general meeting.

Melbourne was contacted for comment.
 
I will never subscribe to HS, so happy for people to just rip-off their articles x
The real worry for humanity is that some people actually fork out money to pay to read something Mark Robinson wrote
 
The real worry for humanity is that some people actually fork out money to pay to read something Mark Robinson wrote
There is a pretty easy way to "bypass paywalls" if you know how to "add-on" things like that to your browser so you can read the footy stuff...
 
There is a pretty easy way to "bypass paywalls" if you know how to "add-on" things like that to your browser so you can read the footy stuff...
Footy stuff sure. Mark Robinson footy stuff shouldn't be read, even for free
 

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AFL can see us falling apart again a la 2012-2013 and would like to avoid it.
That's exactly what it sounds like. I would also presume we've probably internalised everything we can within the club everything since ousting Bartlett
 
Footy stuff sure. Mark Robinson footy stuff shouldn't be read, even for free
Always got a soft spot for Robbo. He's that drunk uncle that just rambles on at the family barbie and you just go along with it because it seems the right thing to do. Geez some of his 360 appearances the last couple of years have been bordering on bizarre though.

"Is that the moon?!" will be a fave for a long time of mine.
 
Swaggy Vee (it's niche)


Put on a trackie like that and he'll be in the EPL within a week.

Can see him walking out of Old Trafford and jumping into a Lambo for sure.
 
Someone post full article..


Melbourne star Christian Petracca consulted trusted confidants both inside and outside the club – including teammates – last week before choosing to put an end to trade speculation, while moves are being made to convince a former player and Melbourne Cricket Club chairman to join the board.

Petracca’s carefully chosen words were part of a club statement released on the same day as he made it clear to the club he would remain with the Demons, where he is contracted until the end of 2029.

His statement indicated that his primary motivation for enduring weeks of speculation about his future, and where his motivations lay, was simple: To make the football club, and its culture, better so they can regularly contend for premierships again. That was backed up by an industry source familiar with Petracca’s thinking who wished to remain anonymous to speak freely.

Petracca also debunked any notion that he hoped to leave Melbourne to improve his brand and play in front of bigger crowds.

“I love my footy – it remains my number one priority and always has been,” Petracca said.

After those discussions with trusted parties, Petracca was satisfied enough that broad issues would be addressed to commit to rolling up his sleeves and contribute to finding solutions for Melbourne to end the external discussion. It’s not clear if any commitments were made to Petracca.

However, what has become clear is that the hierarchy is now on notice that change needs to be made in the best interests of the club, with powerbrokers looking to Steven Smith to step up. Smith, who retired from his legal career several months ago, is believed to be weighing up the move according to two sources with knowledge of his thinking who preferred to remain anonymous due to the private nature of conversations.

That’s where attention will now turn with skipper Max Gawn – who has been forced to address the issues constantly in the post-season – admitting on Triple M radio on Friday that the external communication of the club’s position had not matched the communication internally.

“There has definitely been multiple times where key leaders have got out and maybe said something that they potentially shouldn’t have,” Gawn said. “But, internally, I am extremely proud of the conversations we are having.”

President Kate Roffey’s underwhelming interview on Whateley on Thursday, when the searchlight for her became a spotlight, has put her under pressure.

Known as someone confident enough to speak publicly without notes, she could not find the words to meet the moment, despite being prepared for what was to come when in front of the microphone.

An internal review being conducted by CEO Gary Pert is already well-advanced, however Roffey refused to accept that an independent review conducted by people outside the club was necessary during her now infamous interview.

Carlton conducted an independent review into their football department in 2021, while St Kilda president Andrew Bassat conducted a review of the Saints in 2022. Demons great David Schwarz has called for his club to hold an independent review, as has board challenger Peter Lawrence.

Petracca – with some justification according to those close to him – wants to move forward, using the off-season to wind down to recuperate from the serious injuries he suffered on King’s Birthday and let the club get on with the job after a gruelling week that included the prospect of a trade being raised.

A source familiar with the situation, who wished to remain anonymous due to the nature of the conversations, said Petracca had not directly requested a trade but made it clear that, unless the club seriously addressed ongoing concerns, he would be open to exploring that option.

It was not delivered as an ultimatum but as a sign to his level of frustration.

Those close to Petracca understood such a move would be difficult to achieve while the Demons remain united and steadfast in their refusal to entertain moving on their star midfielder.

According to a club source who wanted to remain anonymous, Petracca had been in good spirits at the club’s “wacky Wednesday”, with his ability to repeat famous movie lines and Luna Park smile both on full display. His teammates, although bemused that his dissatisfaction could lead to a trade request, had been comfortable with the direction of the conversations they were having with their teammate and will be happy he’s staying.

The club is also throwing its support behind Kysaiah Pickett, who does not want to be traded but informed the club last week he felt homesick at times.

A source close to Pickett, who preferred to remain anonymous to speak freely, said that was reinforced post-season when he caught up with AFL footballers playing in Western Australia who encouraged him to think about joining them. However, a trade has never been seriously considered.

The club was contacted on Sunday but chose not to comment on what led to Petracca’s decision to put an end to the speculation. Smith was also contacted for comment.
 

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Mega Thread General MFC Discussion IV – Roffey and Pert Gone, Bartlett Case Settled, Board Election Finalised

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