How a 'forbidden word' has helped shift Melbourne's culture

Melbourne President, Brad Green believes that the Demons culture is in a good spot as the club looks to move forward.

The 254-game forward for the Demons was appointed President in September last year to replace Kate Roffey and has slowly settled himself in the role over the AFL pre-season.

Green was asked by SEN’s Crunch Time team about how he was finding the new role and what approach he would take as President to assist coach Simon Goodwin.

“There’s always something to do as President,” Green said.

“I’m certainly not in the coaching department, I’m certainly not giving advice to Goody and how to coach the team week to week.

“I’m there to help as a person, as a mate and if you need us (the club) to do anything, I’m around.

“I don’t give him any advice on gameday, pre-game or anything, it’s not my go.

“I was a failed coach, I wasn’t any good at it, so I got out of there and did something else.

“I took Richo (Alan Richardson) and Goody out for lunch just to check up on them, time to time and make sure they are okay and he’s fine.”

During the off-season, Melbourne has been keen on trying to amend its culture from previous seasons.

Green said that the players have been the driving force of the next direction that Melbourne’s culture is going into which is centred around love for each other and the club.

“I think you go back to 20 years ago, I think the word 'love', and Simmo (Adam Simpson) would know, I think it was a forbidden word that you talk around footy clubs and getting out there and playing,” he said.

“I think the word is, you know we’ve got to find and create this wave of connection and our members, and our supporters feel connected as one.

“And our players, we’ve had a few things going on off-field over the last 12 months.

“There’s been a bit going on and you know to bring that back together and get everyone connected was a way and a word that they (the players) wanted to use.

“We’ve got our own internal mottos that we live by, but the players wanted this.

“I think it’s great and they want to stand by it.”

When asked further about the culture by Adam Simpson, Green reiterated his view while the culture may not be perfect, it is certainly in a good spot and the club tinkers with it.

“It’s never a given that you’ve picked it, and you’ve got the standards that the culture’s fixed," Green explained.

“It’s ongoing, we work with it, we play around with it, you’re always bringing people in to help and nurture our people but are we in a good place, yes is the answer.”

 Melbourne’s next match will be against the Geelong Cats at Kardinia Park next Friday.