PRESIDENT Glen Bartlett says the club has now secured and locked in “great people” across every area of the club.

Speaking at Melbourne’s season launch at the MCG on Monday night, Bartlett said the club was now settled, with a stable board, following the appointment of directors Jane Martino and David Robb last week.

“A footy club is only as good as its people and I am so pleased with the people who have come to our club in recent times,” he said.

“The two most recent appointments (Martino and Robb) further bolster the calibre and experience of the people who have joined our board in recent times.

“We have a board whose members have significant experience relevant to the activities of the club and it is diverse and united. I know this board will provide a stable platform for our management and football department in the next few years.

“And I know the Demon Army will be pleased to know that David Robb is actually a former member of your group.”

Bartlett said chief executive Peter Jackson and his administration were “doing an outstanding job with the business of our club”. 

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the strategy Peter and his team have developed,” he said.

“And in our football department, under Roosy’s leadership, we have an outstanding group of coaches and support staff. I was delighted that the club welcomed Simon Goodwin and Brendan McCartney to further add to our group last year. And of course [we’re delighted with] the additions to our playing list.

“Our first game is only 12 sleeps away. I personally cannot wait for the season to start.”

Bartlett said Melbourne was developing its people across all areas of the club.   

“The development focus has been an important shift for our club and it isn’t just the players who will be developed, our coaches, our staff and our board are all focused on this,” he said.

“We have great people at our club who we will develop to be the very best they can be and it will be those people that take our club to success.

“Whilst we have great people working on the inside of the club, it extends much more broadly … to every one of you who is here tonight [at the season launch] and to everyone whose heart beats red and blue – you are the lifeblood of our club. Thank you to all of you for everything you do for our club.”