Updated February 02, 2012 10:32:38
Jim Stynes resigned as Melbourne president on the same day the AFL great had another operation in his fight against cancer.
The 45-year-old was absent from the club's annual general meeting on Wednesday night, where his resignation was made official.
The packed room at the MCG gave the 1991 Brownlow Medallist and four-time Demons best and fairest a standing ovation after vice-president Don McLardy confirmed widespread speculation that Stynes would stand down.
Stynes became club president in 2008 and was diagnosed with cancer the following year.
He has now endured more than 20 operations to remove tumours.
McLardy, who will take over as president, read out a statement from Stynes.
"As Melbourne enters what promises to be an exciting new season and hopefully an exciting new era, I see this as an opportune time to step down as Melbourne president," Stynes said.
"It will give the football club the best chance to be 100 per cent prepared for round one and it will give me the time to fully focus on my health and my family.
"I'm extremely proud of what the board has managed to achieve since I took on the presidency in June, 2008 - particularly in bringing a greater sense of unity and purpose to our football club.
"I feel confident that Don McLardy and the board will continue that work."
Stynes also backed McLardy to be his successor and promised that he would attend Melbourne's round-one match this season.
Stynes told McLardy of his decision to stand down on Tuesday night, with McLardy saying the Irishman had made "an immeasurable contribution" to the club.
The ruckman played 264 games for Melbourne, including an AFL record of 244 in succession.
He then took over as president in 2008 when the club was in a dire financial position.
"Jim's remarkable leadership skills and courage under immense pressure have seen our club become united, have strong values, (be) financially independent and (have) a very bright future," McLardy said.
"He has been an inspiration to the whole club and on so many occasions in the past year, he has led by example and got up and fought when it seemed impossible.
"It is our job now, all of us in this room, to prove that his confidence is well-founded."
McLardy also announced that former Melbourne captain Greg Healy would join the board as a casual vacancy.
Healy will become the board's football director, with his appointment and McLardy's presidency to be formalised at a special board meeting following the AGM.
"Greg will have a specific role in overseeing all aspects of our football department, but will also add depth to the business acumen of our current board," McLardy said.
The Demons said McLardy was a unanimous nomination by the rest of the board for the presidency.
McLardy also said he hoped Stynes would stay involved in a consulting role with the Demons board.
McLardy and Stynes are long-time friends and the new president said he had "mixed emotions" about taking on the role.
"I came into this with Jim and had a dream that we'd win a premiership and Jim would be the president and I'd be lucky enough to be around him," McLardy said.
"That's changed, obviously, but I still hope the fairytale will come true.
"I feel very honoured and humbled that somehow I've ended up where I have.
"I'm very conscious ... there's a job to be done and we need to do it as much for Jim as anybody, to make sure his efforts don't come to nothing."
AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, melbourne-3000 First posted February 01, 2012 18:57:04
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