By Michael Gleeson, Peter Ryan and Andrew Wu
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has been urged to lighten up in his dealings with players as part of an overhaul that will see chief executive Gary Pert depart and club great Steven Smith join the board as president in waiting.
Smith declared on Thursday he had agreed to president Brad Green’s urging that he stand for election as a director to help rebuild the Demons’ culture after three years of turbulence including board unrest, litigation, behavioural issues, and disgruntled star players.
Steven Smith outside the MCG.Credit: Joe Armao
“I wanted to be involved in the implementation of the recommendations,” said Smith, 68, who won the club’s best and fairest in 1981 during a 203-game career, and was previously the Melbourne Cricket Club president.
“[We] need the right people in place to restore the culture that the club had and I guess I was always concerned that the club needs more stability at the moment.
“If elected I can hopefully help with stability of the club generally, with players, the board, sponsors. I am much more comfortable doing it now with Brad there and then have an orderly transition.”
Melbourne’s premiership coach Simon Goodwin.Credit: Paul Jeffers
Green said he would “encourage Steve to take over from me [as president] in 12 months”.
A football department review to be released on Friday found the events of the past year had weighed heavily on Goodwin, making him intense and stressed around players, according to two sources familiar with the findings who were not authorised to speak publicly.
The sources said Goodwin welcomed the recognition of the burden he had been carrying. The review reinforced that the players still held the 2021 premiership coach in high regard and wanted him to have the support needed to perform at his best.
The review recommends a tweaking of roles within the football department and a shift in the focus of high-performance manager Alan Richardson.
Former New Zealand All Blacks manager Darren Shand, who helped lead the review, will continue supporting Richardson during the year as he deals with the team, coach and the rest of the department.
Pert, who was also involved in conducting the reviews, has brought forward his retirement plans to Christmas. His departure follows former president Kate Roffey exit from earlier this year.
Green said the review did not recommend Pert go. However, the CEO recognised it was preferable to introduce new leadership after such a turbulent period. Pert will be retained as a consultant on the development of a training and administration base at Caulfield racecourse.
Champion player Christian Petracca revealed on Thursday he had held “healthy conversations” with club officials about the club’s culture.
Petracca was at a Melbourne Cup promotional event for Penfolds unveiling the Birdcage Enclosure, his first public appearance since his disillusionment with the Demons became public more than two months ago.
Departing Melbourne chief executive officer Gary Pert.Credit: Joe Armao
Asked if he was happy with the culture at the club, Petracca said: “I think so. Culture is an interesting word. It’s a high-performance industry and for me we’re always trying to improve and get better.
“For me, getting people through the door is the right thing. We’ve had healthy conversations and that’s awesome. Like any industry and any club, we’re looking to improve.”
Melbourne’s chief operating officer David Chippindall will take over as acting CEO.
As part of the succession plan Smith will nominate for the board along with businessman Chris Barlow.
The plan allows Smith to be involved in critical decisions the club needs to make now, including the appointment of a new CEO, but also enables him to take a long-planned break in Europe next year after retiring from his legal practice, before returning to take over as president from Green at the end of next season.
Green stepped into the role after the Roffey’s departure in September.
Pert has been leading Melbourne’s proposal to build the club’s headquarters at Caulfield. This masthead reported that the club faced a $70 million funding gap for the project, continuing the Demons’ 20-year search for a permanent home in central Melbourne.
He had been discussing a mid-2025 retirement with Roffey before she stood down.
Christian Petracca at the opening of the Birdcage at Flemington.Credit: Eddie Jim
“I asked [Pert] what a succession plan might look like and the conversations flowed from there,” Green said.
“I then asked him if he would consider staying on [to complete] Caulfield because we are that close to getting that high-performance centre done.”
Petracca said he was not fazed by the widespread commentary generated when he privately voiced frustrations with aspects of the culture and the club’s dealings with him after a life-threatening internal injury he sustained during the King’s Birthday match.
“Disappointed is a strong word. I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed, that’s the media’s job is to report on issues,” Petracca said.
“For me, all I’m trying to focus on right now is my rehab and my injury and just being ready for day one of preseason.
“I love my job, I’m passionate about footy, that’s all I’m really focused on now.”
Pert became CEO in 2018 and has become the longest ever serving chief executive of Melbourne. The Demons have won a men’s and a women’s premiership during his tenure, but the period since their drought-breaking 2021 premiership has been beset by controversy. They have not won a final in that time.
Soon after Petracca recommitted to the Demons, fellow midfield champion Clayton Oliver was offered for trade with six years remaining on his contract, before the club shut down the prospect on the opening day of trade period.
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