AFL 2022: Follow all the pre-season news out of Melbourne
Melbourne’s president Kate Roffey has conceded that the impending board challenge is disruptive for Dees in their quest for back-to-back premierships.
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Melbourne president Kate Roffey says the impending board challenge is a “bit disruptive” and has put the club in a holding pattern as it awaits a postal vote from members.
Three current directors – David Robb, John Trotter and Sally Freeman – have had to re-nominate for their positions while two additional candidates, John Condon and Peter Lawrence, are also seeking to join the board.
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Roffey said the situation was far from ideal but admitted members have the right to challenge.
“It is a board election, it’s not an ideal situation, certainly for me as president I’d like to see some stability and just be able to get on with it,” Roffey told the club website.
“It does create a bit of a holding pattern. I’m not sure who’s going to be on my board yet so ballot papers are out.
“It’s a bit disruptive but members have the right to challenge us, members have the right to vote so let’s get on so I know who I have on the board and we can move forward hopefully in 2022 with unity and total alignment like we saw in 2021.”
Melbourne recorded an operating profit of $2.1m following the club’s first premiership in 57 years, alleviating part of the Covid-hit that has cost the Demons $8m in lost revenue across the past two seasons.
Roffey said she was happy with her current board of directors and encouraged people to fill out the postal ballot form.
Votes must be received by 5PM, February 18.
AFL premier faces surprise board fight
Melbourne president Kate Roffey has called on members to back in the board that the led the club to a drought-breaking premiership win last year,
The Demons have an upcoming election, with three current directors – David Robb, John Trotter and Sally Freeman – having to re-nominate for their positions.
Two additional candidates, John Condon and Peter Lawrence, are also seeking to join the board.
In an open letter to Melbourne members this week, Roffey said they would soon be asked to vote via a postal ballot.
She said the board’s key priority was to “maintain stability and full alignment right throughout the club to ensure a long period of sustained success.”
“As your president, I am very confident that the current directors of the board collectively have the skills and attributes required to lead the club forward and build on the outstanding success of 2021, and as such I have asked David Robb, John Trotter and Sally Freeman to re-nominate,” Roffey wrote.
The Demons had a shock board change early last year during the club’s charge to its first flag since 1964.
Glen Bartlett stepped down as Melbourne president in early 2021 for Roffey, having done his share of the heavy lifting alongside then chief executive Peter Jackson as the club cleared debt and resuscitated its reputation.
“A unified board that encompasses the skills and attributes necessary to fill all our directors’ duties and responsibilities, and that lives the values of trust, respect, unity and excellence is a critical part of this success,” Roffey wrote this week.
“To make sure we have the best possible board for the Melbourne Football Club, we have committed to an ongoing process of determining what skills, experience and other attributes we feel are collectively required in directors to continue to be a successful club both on and off the field.”
Members will vote in a postal ballot, which will cost the club around $150,000.
“We are aware that a postal ballot is far from ideal, both logistically and cost wise … however until our current constitution is updated, we require a ballot by post,” Roffey said.
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