By Andrew Wu
Melbourne president Kate Roffey has announced she is stepping down from her role and the board immediately, replaced at the helm by ex-Demon Brad Green, as the club launched a review after several years of off-field controversies.
Roffey is the first major Demons figure to quit their post after superstar Christian Petracca effectively put the club on notice when he aired his grievances to senior officials and expressed his desire to be traded.
Melbourne president Kate Roffey stepped down from her role on Friday.Credit: Justin McManus
The Friday afternoon announcement of Roffey’s departure and the review of the board comes a week after Roffey revealed she had not spoken to Petracca, whom she referred to by his nickname “Trac”, about his disgruntlement with the Demons in a widely criticised interview on SEN.
After several weeks of speculation over his playing future, Petracca last Saturday reaffirmed his commitment to the Demons, with whom he is contracted to the end of 2029.
The Demons have not won a final since their drought-busting premiership in 2021, and failed to qualify for this year’s finals, finishing 14th after losing 10 of their last 15 games.
The club said the review of the board was aimed at “resetting and refreshing its performance”.
Starting in 2013 when Melbourne finished 17th with two wins, Roffey has seen dizzying highs and lows in her 12 seasons on the board. The past four years alone have delivered a famous men’s flag in 2021 and a first AFLW premiership in 2022, but also numerous off-field controversies that curtailed the Demons’ bid for a red-and-blue dynasty.
The Dees’ 2024 campaign was hampered from the jump as star midfielder Clayton Oliver’s struggled on and off the field and questions emerged over their playing culture after the Joel Smith drug investigation. Angus Brayshaw was forced into retirement for medical reasons and Petracca suffered a life-threatening internal injury and subsequently aired his unhappiness with the club.
Roffey has finished a year before she was due to be up for re-election in 2025.
“As I finish up my incredible time with the Melbourne Football Club, I pass on my sincere thanks to all those who have supported me along the way – fellow directors, CEO Gary Pert and the staff who work so tirelessly behind the scenes, our football department, in particular our head coaches Simon Goodwin and Mick Stinear, footy boss Alan Richardson, and our members, yes – especially the mighty Demon army,” Roffey said in a club statement.
“To the families of our players, thank you!
“And of course, to the men and women who play for the red and the blue – by far the most rewarding part of a president’s role is having the opportunity to know you all and share a hug.
“As always, I will be sitting in the stands cheering you on.
“My best goes to everyone for the ongoing success of the mighty Dees!”
Green, a best-and-fairest winner who played 254 games for Melbourne from 2000 to 2012, will lead the review of the board. The position of president will be up for re-election after the review.
“I am honoured to have been chosen as president by my colleagues and proud to continue to serve this great club which has given me so many opportunities in life,” Green said.
“I have told my colleagues that I will lead the review process and once it is completed I would like to give the board the opportunity to vote again on the presidency.
“This will be a collaborative reset of the board and it’s important that we are honest with each other about where we have succeeded, and where we could have done better.
“There is no doubt that we need to turn the faith and belief of our members and fans into results and performance, and the board stands at the top of that process.
“We are united by a love for this footy club and I want to bring us all together as one red-and-blue force.”
Green paid tribute to Roffey, the Demons’ first female president, saying she had “etched her name among the great pioneers of our game”.
“Kate’s legacy as president is outstanding and we owe her a debt of gratitude. She took over at a tumultuous time, brought great stability to the board and backed our management team and football department to deliver premierships,” Green said.
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