FORMER Melbourne champion Garry Lyon has completed his six-month stint as stand-in Demons football director.

The 226-gamer agreed to help out good friend and Melbourne president Jim Stynes in August last year, after the Dees had suffered an awful 186-point loss against Geelong.

His primary purpose was to act as a liaison between the board and the football department and to make recommendations regarding the football department’s future development.

The ex-Melbourne captain played a big role in the appointments of senior coach Mark Neeld, director of sports performance Neil Craig and fitness guru David Misson.

But the Herald Sun has reported that Lyon's official role with the Demons had now finished, and in another significant change, former Adelaide coach Craig would report directly to the board.

The tabloid also reported Melbourne was head-hunting former club captain and businessman Greg Healy as Lyon's replacement.

"Garry has pretty much backed out now," Melbourne vice-president Don McLardy said.

"We're in discussions with Greg Healy. I would think by the start of the season we would have someone in place (to fill the role).

"Greg is an ex-club captain and pretty multi-talented. But ... there's a few corporate issues we need to work through."

Healy, chief executive of surf company Quicksilver, played 141 games for Melbourne from 1984-93.

McLardy said Lyon had played a crucial role in the rebuilding of the club since the sacking of coach Dean Bailey after the insipid loss to Geelong.

"He's done a fantastic job and been absolutely sensational," McLardy said.

"But he made it crystal clear from the start that he had no thoughts whatsoever of this going on into this year. He was very conscious of his need to be impartial as a commentator."

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs

Niall Seewang is a sub editor at AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter @NCWang