CHIEF executive Peter Jackson says Melbourne’s VFL affiliate – the Casey Scorpions – is likely to become the Casey Demons.

Speaking at Melbourne’s annual general meeting at the MCG on Thursday night, Jackson spoke at length about the club and added that it was in talks with Casey to make the name change for the 2017 season.

“We’ve been in discussions with the Casey Scorpions to amend the nature of the alignment and the agreement with them,” he said.

“This was a 10-year agreement and it runs until the end of 2018. The work of [general manager of football operations] Josh Mahoney and others has significantly improved the relationship with the Scorpions over recent years in meeting our player development needs to the point where we are very happy with that part of our alignment.

“The activities of the women’s team and the academy provided additional opportunities [in Casey] and to this end, we’ve had additional discussions with the Casey Scorpions – and we expect that in 2017 we’ll change the name of the VFL team to the Casey Demons and play in the Melbourne jumper.”

Jackson said this was a positive step in Melbourne’s long-term agreement with Casey.

Meanwhile, Jackson said the club was now able to attract key personnel – on and off the field – highlighting the recruitment of experienced players Jordan Lewis and Michael Hibberd, plus the likes of Matthew Egan, Max Rooke and Troy Chaplin in the coaching ranks.

“It’s important to have good people who want to come here – good people to back up the Goodwins, McCartneys, Mahoneys, Vineys and Missons, who have all been involved in premierships at various clubs, who know what it takes to win a premiership,” he said.

“We have got a real collection [of people] in our football department now, who know what it means to win a premiership.

“That’s why we were so keen for Jordan to come here as well.”

Jackson warned that the club wouldn’t necessarily keep climbing in one direction, but was confident success would ultimately be achieved.  

“Football doesn’t have straight line lineal improvement like that does towards ultimate success. There are always going to be hurdles and bumps and stumbles along the way,” he said.

“We’re going to continue to frustrate you from time-to-time, but it’s all part of the journey of moving forward. I’m confident we’re on the path to success. I wouldn’t have stayed on for another year if I wasn’t. I wasn’t going to sit here and waste my time.

“I believe in what we’re doing and I believe in where we can go. I don’t know we’re going to get there while I’m here, but I’m here for a while. I think that is because I believe in this place and I believe in the people that are here and I believe in what we can do.”

Jackson said the journey wouldn’t be straight forward or easy.

“I won’t promise that it won’t happen without further frustration for members or supporters,” he said.

Next year Jackson said the club was aiming to build “a significant game” against the Sydney Swans in round 15. The match will be played on a Friday night at the MCG.

“We want to celebrate Melbourne’s diversity and put your club on the radar again,” he said.

“It is a reality that if the AFL is to remain the number one game in this country and the club itself is to grow, then it needs to address diversity and we need to address it from both agenda and ethnicity point of view.

“We need to appeal to all females … women and girls need to know that the club respects all females.”