After attempting denial, the reckoning has arrived at Melbourne

There was a reckoning due at Melbourne.

And it’s unfolding progressively.

You can only deny for so long the reality.

Pretending the culture is exemplary when those living it are telling you the opposite … that’s a course to disaster.

Missing the finals and mishandling your most important players will sharpen the minds.

The flash point of the Christian Petracca stand-off will ultimately serve the need for change and prove a vital flex point in the direction of the club.

The President Kate Roffey lost all authority in her interview at the height of the Petracca issue and was gone eight days later.

Gary Pert compromised his authority when he declared the culture the best he’d seen in his time in football.

Pert spoke a lot about a loss of alignment. That lasted right through to the trade period where the chief executive wanted to shop Clayton Oliver. The footy department didn’t.

That was ham-fisted.

Melbourne won its premiership but squandered its dynasty.

The off field has been tumultuous for three years and it has undermined and almost sabotaged the on field.

The constant battles with the former President who was left as an unexploded grenade.

The long-term contract for Oliver when his issues were well known.

The positive drug test and suspension for Joel Smith.

The lack of empathy and care for Petracca and his family.

The recruiting of players the leadership group advised against.

These are not the markers of a successful club.

These reviews at Melbourne were necessary and urgent.

The fear was that under Pert’s guidance the club review might not get to the necessary conclusions and ramifications.

But the upshot is once the football review hit the board room table Pert resigned as Chief Executive.

Historically, when a club goes through this kind of reckoning all the positions of authority and responsibility change.

It’s just a question of how long it takes and how decisive a club is prepared to be.

The President is gone.

The Chief Executive is gone.

Now we wait to see what the future holds for the coach and football manager.

But change has come to Melbourne… and change was needed.