Schwab enjoying role
CEO Cameron Schwab is enjoying the challenges thrown at him by a difficult year for the Melbourne football club
The departures of coach Dean Bailey and young midfielder Tom Scully and a 186-point loss to Geelong were lowlights in a season that saw plenty of scrutiny on Schwab's role at the club.
But he said he wished to continue with the club, despite the growing scrutiny.
"I've got a deep love of the club. I still get the same thrill coming in every day. We've gone through some challenging times together, we've work through those times and I'm enjoying it like no other time in my life," Schwab said on Monday.
Vice-president Don McLardy praised Schwab for his work in dealing with Scully's departure and the quest for a replacement for Bailey.
"Cam's a very experienced AFL CEO as we know. He's been very helpful during this process and indeed with our search for a coach and the restructure of the football department. We're looking forward to those challenges coming up," McLardy said.
Schwab denied Scully's departure had anything to do with doubts he had over the dramas surrounding the club this year or last October's trip to China, from which he returned home early.
The Melbourne chief scoffed at suggestions his early departure was because he was unhappy with the club.
"The one thing that has abounded with this whole issue has been the rumour and innuendo around these kinds of things. All of which has been addressed with him personally and all of which were denied," Schwab said.
"He almost said he was embarrassed that as a 19-year-old turning 20 that he was (seen to be) sitting in judgment of an AFL club."
Schwab would not elaborate on Melbourne's search for a new coach but said every candidate interviewed so far had spoken highly of the talent and potential on the Demons' list.
"That's been reflected in the conversations we've had with potential coaches who do see it that way," he said.
"It's an unusual coaching job in some ways because of the fact most clubs have tipped over the edge or they're bottoming out when they're looking for a new coach whereas we've had three or four years of good hard yards put into it and this won't distract from that at all."
Luke Holmesby covers Melbourne news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_LHolmesby