New Melbourne president Glen Bartlett has denied being a long-time friend of the AFL club’s chief executive Peter Jackson and has called for an end to the struggling Demons’ softer culture.
Bartlett, a former West Coast player and lawyer, wasted no time clarifying where he stood when he gave his maiden president’s address on Sunday after being appointed to the role on Friday, replacing Don McLardy who stepped down earlier this year.
Bartlett was appointed ahead of former Victoria treasurer and Liberal Party national president Alan Stockdale, who claimed his own campaign for the role had been popular with the club’s fans but the AFL has its own way of doing things.
The AFL has a keen interest in Melbourne’s progress after supplying almost $3 million in conditional extra funding in June in a season that has yielded the Demons just two wins in the first 20 rounds and has included the sackings of coach Mark Neeld and chief executive Cameron Schwab.
Bartlett took exception to suggestions he had a lengthy history with new CEO Jackson.
“It has been said and even reported in the media that we have been friends and known each other for a long time,” Bartlett said ahead of the club’s round-21 clash with Fremantle.
“That is not true. I mean, turn it up.
“I met Peter for the first time less than two months ago.
“In the time that I’ve known him, I’ve developed a healthy respect for him and the professionalism he brings to this football club.”
Bartlett said culture was very important at a football club.
“We clearly have a lot of work to do,” he said.
“What does Melbourne stand for? What are our values?
“We need a real harder edge I believe.
“We need some real mongrel on and off the field.
“I’ve been watching probably for three years.
“I appreciate some people might not like this but it’s reality. There is a softer culture.
“I’ve heard a lot of people say ‘we just want to be competitive, that was an honourable loss, the players tried hard’.
“There’s no such thing. We need to build a culture where nothing other than winning is acceptable.
“I’m already tired of people poking fun at Melbourne footy club, feeling sorry for Melbourne, not respecting Melbourne.
“I understand why some people might be cynical and say we’ve heard it all before, talk is cheap.
“It won’t just happen by relying on first-round draft picks.
“We can’t accept mediocrity.”
