Following a 51-point loss to Port Adelaide back in 2019, then Melbourne president Glen Bartlett labelled his side “soft as butter” and “disgraceful”.
Ex-Demon Gerard Healy asked Bartlett on Sportsday if he regretted the comments after Melbourne broke a 57-year premiership drought this season.
“No, I don’t,” Bartlett said.
“I just had so much belief in the list and what was being done and we were a lot better than that.
“My phone was melting down from supporters, inner sanctum, sponsors.”
Bartlett said he called a meeting in the aftermath to address his scathing comments after Melbourne heavy defeat.
“I spoke about the effort and needing to respect the jumper and we didn’t just hand these things out,” he said.
“The interesting thing about that was it led to a lot of positive discussions.
“The board were totally on board with it, Alan Richardson rang me up and actually thanked me after and just said after the initial shock you’ve really helped the coaches and the leaders.
“Simon (Goodwin) himself spoke, and owned it to his own credit and said, ‘when the president speaks you need to listen.”
When asked whether his comments were linked to his exit as Melbourne president, Bartlett replied: “No … complete and utter nonsense.
“I can categorically say, no, they were not linked. It was my decision to step down.”
Bartlett stood down as Melbourne president in April and was replaced by Kate Roffey.