WITH THE beginning of Melbourne’s 2022 AFL season mere days away, President Kate Roffey has taken the opportunity to acknowledge the momentous work of the club and its leaders.

Addressing the room at last week’s 2022 AFL Season Launch, Roffey began by recognising the dedication of club CEO Gary Pert in the lead up to Melbourne’s drought-breaking premiership win.

“To my magnificent CEO Gary Pert,” Roffey said.

“Gary, you and your team of administrative staff have done such a magnificent job to get the Melbourne Football Club into a position where we can challenge for premierships on the field, so, I thank you for that.”

As she detailed the journey to success that the club has taken over the past decade, Roffey spoke to the incredible impact AFL senior coach Simon Goodwin has had, both on and off the field.

Roffey touched on the strong relationship herself and Goodwin have developed during their time at Melbourne and praised his commitment to building a successful club.

“Goody and I have backed each other in for a long time,” Roffey said.

“He’s our head coach, he’s a premiership coach, he’s the coach of the year and he’s someone that the players and this club love very dearly for the way he goes about his work.

“We are very much a club that is bound together by a desire to be as good as we can be, on and off the field, and Simon certainly as our head coach, has led in an extraordinary way.”

Lastly, Roffey took the time to celebrate Melbourne’s loyal members and supporters who have stayed committed to the club through the years of hardship.

“It is such an extraordinarily long journey, but to everyone who hung in there from the Melbourne Football Club through that journey, I say thank you.”

During the season launch, Roffey was presented with the 2021 premiership flag, which will be unfurled on Wednesday night ahead of the season-opening clash between Melbourne and Western Bulldogs.

“To our members, that’s for you,” Roffey said as she motioned towards the premiership flag.

“It’s not my flag, it’s not Perty’s flag, it’s not Goody’s flag, it’s not Maxy’s flag, it is the Melbourne Football Club fans and members’ flag.

“We hope, like our cup, we get it around to as many people as we can, to touch and to hold it, because you have stuck by us through thick and thin.”