ON THE eve of this Sunday's tribute game at the MCG for the retiring Brad Green, Melbourne president Don McLardy has revealed that the club has a renewed focus on ensuring players are treated with respect when they leave the football club.

McLardy said the club wanted to ensure exits were handled in a professional fashion and was committed to an open, honest and respectful process.

He said while tough list management decisions were an inevitable part of the AFL scene, the way such decisions were handled was a very important indicator of a club's culture.

"We actually spoke to the coaches and the senior [members of the] footy department, if you like, about making sure we really respect our older players, and in fact anyone on our list, because there are people coming and going on AFL lists all the time. Everyone understands that has got to happen but there is a way to do things," McLardy said.

In recent seasons Melbourne has lost the services of former captain James McDonald and stalwart Cameron Bruce in less than ideal circumstances.

McDonald was surprised when told he was finished and joined Greater Western Sydney this season after a year out of the game while Bruce joined Hawthorn at the end of 2010 after 224 games and 11 years with the Demons. Bruce played 10 games with Hawthorn before retiring midway through this season.

While the decisions might have been right for the long-term future of the club, the perception remains that the process was not as good as it should have been.

Green announced he was retiring at season's end two weeks ago after spending many weeks discussing his future with coach Mark Neeld and other senior members of the club.

He indicated he is comfortable with the decision and implored his teammates to buy into the program developed under Neeld.

He is hoping to remain involved in the game as a coach and has been part of the AFLPA's Next Coach program during 2012.

McLardy said the parties involved made sure they kept working together "until we got to a point where everyone was happy because it is an emotional time for Brad."

Like many clubs, Melbourne is expected to make significant changes to its list at the end of the season.

McLardy knows that while no-one can control a player's reaction to being delisted, the club needs to ensure it has a proper process: "The decision is one thing, then the methodology around how you do that is another thing," McLardy said.

"I am pretty obsessed that our intent is respectful to our players at all times. Now we might get it wrong [but] the thing is if we have got the intent, if that is what is happening and everybody knows that then I think everyone is in a good spot."

At the Foundation Heroes dinner on Tuesday night McLardy made the club's approach very clear to its players.

"The harsh reality of AFL football is that some of you won't be here next year and at times that will be difficult to manage and to comprehend, but for life you will always be connected to the Melbourne Football Club," McLardy said.

"And as president of the football club I can assure you I have had discussions with Mark (Neeld) and with Neil (Craig) and we're all committed to a process that is open, honest and respectful to all our players and it is my role at this club to ensure that occurs and I will."