It was in the last weeks of the season and only a few on the board knew what was going on. Just as well the season was over before it had finished, as I have no doubt the players were affected by the uncertainty. Less than a year later, a new board brought a new approach. Chris Tarrant, Nick Davis and Tarkyn Lockyer were a few who gained valuable experience in this period. The woes of the Melbourne board are unlike anything I have seen, but, based on my experience, these will not affect the players like a coaching dilemma would.
Players can distance themselves from board problems and focus on their responsibilities.
In Melbourne's case, with recent on-field successes and a very stable coach, I would suspect the immediate outlook for the club has been taken care of with the current football structure. The challenge facing Melbourne is to restore a board that will ensure the best structure and long-term planning to underpin the success and viability of the club. The catalyst was the coaching debacle at the end of 1998. Since that time the administration of the club has turned around with the appointment of Greg Swann and David Emerson. After ensuring the club is financially viable, the next priority of a board is to assist the football department to achieve success.