Melbourne Demons set for top-to-bottom review into club culture after backflip

After rejecting the need for a full-scale review of the club all through 2024, Melbourne has backflipped. JAY CLARK reveals the three men who’ll conduct the sweeping review.

Melbourne has brought in an external consultant to review the club in a stunning backflip on its approach to the on and off-field problems which have plagued the Demons.

The Herald Sun understands Melbourne has appointed former All Blacks manager and leadership and culture expert Darren Shand to assess the club’s operations.

Shand, who spent one week with the club earlier in the season, will review the Demons’ football department alongside Melbourne CEO Gary Pert and interim president Brad Green.

The three men will form the panel which will attempt to get to the bottom of the club’s key failings including the concerns recently raised by superstar midfielder Christian Petracca.

Melbourne CEO Gary Pert has said the Demons’ culture is the best he’s ever seen. Picture: Michael Klein.

The Demons have repeatedly denied they needed an external review but have buckled to calls to open the club’s operations to outside sporting experts to review operations.

Melbourne great David Schwarz led the charge for a “top-to-bottom” review in the Herald Sun on August 14 in the wake of Christian Petracca’s bombshell decision to explore a trade.

Petracca’s concerns prompted an underwhelming radio interview from former president Kate Roffey who shortly afterwards announced she would be stepping down from the position last week.

But Roffey may not be the only major departure as the review is expected to analyse the performance of all key roles in the football department.

The club has acknowledged it can improve in several areas following a turbulent year on and off the field which saw Simon Goodwin’s men miss finals.

Goodwin is contracted until the end of 2026 after a board decision to extend his deal in August last year. His right-hand man is football manager Alan Richardson.

Green has stepped in to fill in for Roffey as president while the Demons attempt to convince 200-game former Demon and ex MCC president Steven Smith to accept a board position.

Smith has strong support from within the club and is weighing up an approach, as the Herald Sun revealed last week.

Christian Petracca’s desire to explore a trade has rocked Melbourne. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

The external review will be welcomed by the club’s supporters who are eager for the club to address the cultural and on-field issues which have troubled the Demons since the 2021 premiership.

The club has not won a final since the flag and former president Glen Bartlett has launched legal action against club directors in the wake of his exit from Melbourne.

Chief executive Pert said in a pre-season interview the club had the best culture he had seen in 40 years but there has been recent acknowledgment the club needed to face up to its issues.

The club hopes the review can help mend the issues Petracca has spoken about explicitly in recent weeks to club leaders including Goodwin after considering a trade.

They include professionalism within the playing group and inconsistent standards. The management of superstar Clayton Oliver has also been raised.

The audit will be aimed to draw a line on the issues and lead to a fresh start for the club next season with a list which remains one of the most talented in the league.

Melbourne list boss Tim Lamb is spearheading the club’s mission to attract new talent to the club, including another prime big man, amid the turbulence.

Port Adelaide playmaker Dan Houston initially wanted to land at the club but ruled out Melbourne after the Petracca revelations.

Houston is considering St Kilda as a new home for next season.

The Demons are set to consider whether to make a move on Western Bulldog Caleb Daniel as a potential new playmaker to replace retired Demon Angus Brayshaw.

Originally published as Melbourne Demons set for top-to-bottom review into club culture after backflip