“THEY are big shoes to fill, but you can’t fill them.”
So says new Melbourne president Don McLardy, who has already gained much respect when filling the shoes of the great Jim Stynes in his previous role as joint Vice-President.
But McLardy is adamant he will continue the work of the man he termed the ‘Pied Piper’.
“I came into this with Jim, and had a dream that we’d win a premiership and Jim would be the President and I’d be lucky enough to be around him,” he said.
“That’s changed obviously, but I still hope the fairytale comes true. I feel very honoured and humbled that somehow I’ve ended up where I have, because I certainly didn’t set out to get into this position.
“But I’m very conscious that there is a role to be played and a job to be done and we need to do it, as much for Jim as anyone, to make sure all of his efforts don’t come to nothing.”
McLardy said he would stay in regular contact with Stynes and hoped the 1991 Brownlow Medallist would continue in some form of ambassadorial role.
In terms of styles, McLardy said he would continue to push the standards and style Stynes did at the club.
“We want success, and I’ll be continuing to be very competitive and hope that that will be standard across our whole footy club,” he said.
“Jim and I, as much as anything, are good friends. As I’ve said before, he’s a bit of a mentor of mine and we’ve worked together at Reach, so a lot of his values I subscribe to.
“There are not a lot of differences in the way we conduct things.”
McLardy said Stynes wanted the announcement that he was stepping down as President to be made at Melbourne’s AGM.
“[He wanted it] in front of our most passionate members and those who have supported him through his entire Melbourne Football Club journey,” he said.
“He genuinely loves this footy club, as we all know.
“It would be very remiss of me in this forum not to publicly acknowledge the immeasurable contribution that he’s made.”
So says new Melbourne president Don McLardy, who has already gained much respect when filling the shoes of the great Jim Stynes in his previous role as joint Vice-President.
But McLardy is adamant he will continue the work of the man he termed the ‘Pied Piper’.
“I came into this with Jim, and had a dream that we’d win a premiership and Jim would be the President and I’d be lucky enough to be around him,” he said.
“That’s changed obviously, but I still hope the fairytale comes true. I feel very honoured and humbled that somehow I’ve ended up where I have, because I certainly didn’t set out to get into this position.
“But I’m very conscious that there is a role to be played and a job to be done and we need to do it, as much for Jim as anyone, to make sure all of his efforts don’t come to nothing.”
McLardy said he would stay in regular contact with Stynes and hoped the 1991 Brownlow Medallist would continue in some form of ambassadorial role.
In terms of styles, McLardy said he would continue to push the standards and style Stynes did at the club.
“We want success, and I’ll be continuing to be very competitive and hope that that will be standard across our whole footy club,” he said.
“Jim and I, as much as anything, are good friends. As I’ve said before, he’s a bit of a mentor of mine and we’ve worked together at Reach, so a lot of his values I subscribe to.
“There are not a lot of differences in the way we conduct things.”
McLardy said Stynes wanted the announcement that he was stepping down as President to be made at Melbourne’s AGM.
“[He wanted it] in front of our most passionate members and those who have supported him through his entire Melbourne Football Club journey,” he said.
“He genuinely loves this footy club, as we all know.
“It would be very remiss of me in this forum not to publicly acknowledge the immeasurable contribution that he’s made.”
