The text departing Demons CEO sent Garry Lyon

Garry Lyon touched base with departing Melbourne CEO Paul Guerra on Tuesday afternoon.

The Demons great sent Guerra a text after his shock sacking had become apparent.

“I texted him and just thanked him for his time at the football club,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.

“He said, ‘I did things my way and I was happy and proud of what I did and it hasn't worked out’.

“This happens. Footy clubs have to be all on the same page. Paul will have his chance to say where he thinks the relationship broke down between him and the footy club.”

Lyon admits he’s not aware of the ins and outs of the situation and the specific reasons behind the significant decision.

But it does come at a strange time given the coach he helped hire, Steven King, has the Demons in a very good position early in 2026.

“He was part of the appointing committee, so that has to be acknowledged, and the coach for me is the one that has delivered the change in terms of the way they play and that creates the excitement and they’ve exceeded expectations,” Lyon added.

“But the embracing of the Irish community was a fantastic thing. I think their media department's been much better than it has been in recent times. So how much of that is Paul Guerra, and how much of that is others, I don't know.

“But his departure has been finalised and there'll be a new person in the job.

“I feel as good about the football club as I have for some time.”

Guerra took the vacant CEO role in September of last year, taking the role left vacant for six months after the departure of Gary Pert.

Guiding the Demons through a clean-out over the off-season, Guerra orchestrated the hiring of King amid exits of premiership stars Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca and post the sacking of premiership coach Simon Goodwin.

Melbourne released this statement on Tuesday afternoon:

The Melbourne Football Club Board confirms that Paul Guerra departed today as Chief Executive Officer.

Experienced administrator Brian Cook, previously CEO at West Coast, Geelong and Carlton football clubs, who has been consulting to the club since late last year, will serve as the Interim Chief Executive Officer.

The Club expects to be in a position to make an announcement on a permanent CEO shortly.

Melbourne President Steven Smith said:

“On behalf of Melbourne Football Club, I thank Paul for his contribution to the club and wish him all the best for the future.

“Brian is a highly respected operator and with over 35 years of experience in AFL clubs he will provide much needed leadership and guidance through this period.

“We are pleased that Brian has agreed to step into the role in an interim capacity until a permanent CEO can commence,” said Smith.

Guerra spoke with 9 News following the decision, admitting he was "puzzled", and will now seek legal counsel.

“Yeah, it’s been a challenging day,” Guerra said.

“I’m puzzled by the decision made by the board today.

“I’m really proud of the team we put together in a really short period of time, and I’m really proud of the role that I’ve played in the success of the club.

“I have engaged lawyers, and there’s not much more I can say at this point.

“I’ll say more when I’ve got the opportunity to.”

Reports suggest board member Dan Taylor is leading the race to take over Guerra’s role.

SEN’s Tom Morris tried to make sense of the shock move which reportedly blindsided many at the club and across the AFL.

“It’s a whale of a story,” Morris said on SEN’s Locked In.

“The story was broken by Xander McGuire at 12:53pm and by 5:05pm and there was no release from Melbourne (which came out after 5:30pm).

“That tells me this wasn’t planned. This was a decision that might have been brewing for a while but this has shocked the people I’ve spoken to.

“It shocked people inside that football club, it shocked people outside the club, it shocked the AFL.

“There’s a few elements to go through here. The process is important. The board has made its call, the board had lost faith in Paul Guerra and in his leadership style.

“He is brash, he is confident. After seven months to sack your CEO, the means that something has seriously gone wrong.

“I think probably a series of things have gone wrong here, not just one thing. A lot of people were blinded by this decision.”

Morris suggests the Demons players were given no real reason for Guerra’s sacking.

“Some senior players were given the day off (on Tuesday), but the players that were at the club were told by the president Steven Smith,” Morris added.

“My understanding is Tom McDonald put up his hand and said, ‘Well, why? Can you give us any reasoning?’, and the players who were at the club got no reason.”

The decision comes at a strange time given the Demons under King have started the 2026 season so strongly in fourth position with a 5-2 record.

“You’d want to be making the right call at 5-2 and with such goodwill around the club,” Morris continued.

“Steve Smith had told multiple people in recent months, but more so recent weeks, that he essentially wasn’t a fan of Paul Guerra’s leadership style.

“I’m sure he’s done it with the support of the board but Steven Smith and Paul Guerra didn’t see eye to eye in a while and we’d all heard that in the media. I remember speaking to Caroline Wilson a few weeks ago that something was going on.

“Smith has the right to do that if he thinks something is wrong, but I just get the impression that we are all missing something. There is something that has happened that we don’t know about that has forced Melbourne’s hand. I don’t know what that is.”

Morris added: “This could be legally very sensitive.

“The last thing Melbourne needs two years after Glen Bartlett explored his legal options against the club, and that was a nightmare for a few years.

“When the club is in such a strong position on the field, it’s a huge call to sack the CEO at this time of year.”