Mark Robinson: Gary Pert hits back at culture claim critics after stepping down as Demons CEO

In a laid-bare interview hours after announcing his departure from Melbourne, Gary Pert tells Mark Robinson he does not regret the claims he made about the Dees’ culture in 2023.

The footy world we live in now means you can die by what you say and not be celebrated for what you did.

In that regard, Gary Pert will be remembered more for saying that Melbourne had the best culture he’s seen in 40 years in football than for helping to guide the club to the 2021 premiership. He accepts that, but Pert says he doesn’t regret saying it.

He concedes he could’ve explained it better, but at the time he was thoroughly p----d off because the behaviour of a couple of players had “tarnished” everyone at the football club.

In a laid-bare interview hours after it was announced he was departing as chief executive, Pert said “culture” covered 200 people at the footy club and not just those who had gone off the rails.

Gary Pert has stepped down as Melbourne CEO. Picture: Michael Klein

“My point, that was taken out of context – I was saying we are dealing with player behaviour issues and I don’t want the entire club being tarnished by that,” he said.

“When I made the comment, we had won more games of footy in the past three years than any other team (in the league) and had recently won a premiership, and that we were doing a lot of great things. I was saying, the player behaviour issues had to be dealt with in that regard and not discredit the Max Gawns, Jack Vineys and Kate Hores … I didn’t want the whole football club being tarnished by a couple of people.’’

In what was a complex situation, Melbourne had to carry the can for its players being in the controversial and secretive AFL drugs program, which meant the club wasn’t fully across all the information – and still isn’t. It’s frustrating, but it’s reality.

“I did take offence, and maybe got a bit emotional, but I did take offence to a couple of players’ behaviour tarnishing what I think is a club full of magnificent people,” Pert said.

“I don’t regret what I said, but in hindsight I probably should’ve been clearer in the way I worded it because culture is just a too wide-reaching word. I think it’s misused and out of context.

“I do very much see it at that particular time – and forget what happened today – but that particular time, I was seeing that as behavioural issues of two players and not a reflection of all the aspects of the Melbourne Football Club and the 200 people I’m most proud of.

“That’s why I responded that way.’’

Pert’s departure was surprising for its timing, but hardly unexpected, because it was inconceivable that Kate Roffey would be the sole casualty at the damaged footy club.

That’s the two highest officeholders gone in a savage post-season and with the outcomes of two reviews to come as early as Friday, there’s a possibility more will be sacrificed.

Melbourne sources said on Thursday that’s unlikely, meaning coach Simon Goodwin and his consigliore, Alan Richardson, will be entrusted to keep the footy department in order.

Both Pert and Kate Roffey are now gone from the Dees. Picture: Michael Klein.

Their positions will be heavily scrutinised throughout the 2025 season, however, and if that goes belly-up, the Demons’ next off-season might be a doozy as well.

Supporter reaction to Pert leaving on Thursday was basically good riddance.

It’s a touch unfair because Pert accomplished plenty since his appointment in 2018: Debt-reduction, membership growth, stability and – potentially – a future home base.

The past three years, however, were pockmarked with dramas and Pert’s peculiar ability to talk a lot without saying a lot didn’t endear him to fans wanting explanations around former president Glen Bartlett’s beef with the club, the Joel Smith fiasco, the Clayton Oliver fiascos and the Christian Petracca situation, for example.

Pert can’t be blamed for all those issues, and nor for the team going bang-bang in two consecutive finals series post the 2021 premiership. However, it became increasingly obvious the fans were on war footing. And you could hardly blame them.

After Roffey’s sensational September departure, it was probably one of Goodwin or Pert next, but that throwdown was avoided because Pert had already informed Roffey and stand-in president Brad Green that he was leaving at the end of the season.

‘‘Now is the right time for me and the right time for the club,’’ Pert said.

Gary Pert and Simon Goodwin in 2021. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“And I think it’s been unfair on the players and the coaches – all the negative noise around the club – and if this plays a role in taking away some of that noise, before our program starts again, then that’s part of my decision as well.’’

A footy club person since he made his playing debut with Fitzroy in round 4, 1982, Pert leaves with a CV that reads 233 games, a member of Fitzroy’s team of the century and as a two-time premiership chief executive. It’s not to be washed over.

Asked how he would like to remembered at Melbourne, above the best culture in 40 years comment, he said: “I want to be remembered not so much for the premiership, but taking the opportunity after the premiership to reconnect so many of the Melbourne supporters, past players, past board members, the people who have been so critical to our history.

“I reckon my proudest takeaway is we’ve brought so many people back to the club.

“Footy clubs are about all different aspects of the club being connected and Melbourne needed that. It shocked me when I got to Melbourne how many people were angry and disconnected and had a history of issues, and the one commitment I made was that everyone was going to be given an opportunity to be invited back and embraced (by the club).

“The premiership gave us the ability to do that and I think we’re a better club as a result.”