A CENTRAL plank of Melbourne's restructure was put in place on Friday when the club announced Glen Bartlett as its new president.

He was elected president at a meeting of board members on Friday and his appointment came with the AFL's full support.

Bartlett joined Melbourne's board in July as the club began to revamp its leadership group.

He was widely tipped as the club's next president so his elevation came as no surprise.
 
"It is a privilege and, indeed, an honour to be appointed President of the Melbourne Football Club. I acknowledge the responsibility attached to this position and, of course, the challenge that comes with such an appointment," Bartlett told melbournefc.com.au.

Former Victorian treasurer and alternate candidate for the top job, Alan Stockdale, admitted he was disappointed not to be selected, but congratulated Bartlett on his appointment.
 
"Nothing would please me more than to see Glen Bartlett and Peter Jackson and their board turn the club around," Stockdale told AFL.com.au.
 
"They're not going to achieve overnight success, but the fact they've got a plan and commitment to excellence, that should be encouraging to every supporter."
 
Stockdale said he wouldn't seek a seat on the Melbourne board, because it "would only be destablising."
 
"I would have liked to be president, I wouldn't have gone to the effort I have, if I didn't want to be." 
 
"(But) I've been in this long enough to know you're just a candidate, somebody else can always win."
 
Stockdale insisted he had no plan to challenge Bartlett at the Demons' next Annual General Meeting, declaring the new board had to be given a chance.

However entrepreneur Adam Jacoby who was part of Mr Stockdale's 'Melbourne Matters' campaign was less impressed with the club's selection of president, putting out this tweet on Friday afternoon.

When contacted by AFL.com.au, Jacoby said he was more concerned with the process than the outcome. 

 "At the end of the day we don't have a problem who is there if they are quality people. By all accounts, Glen is a quality person. We have heard nothing but good things about him," Jacoby said. 

"The concern is that it is hard to feel good about a group of people that represent you when no one has been able to articulate for you on what basis those people have been chosen, on what criteria they have been chosen, the breadth and scope of the review to find other people that would be involved."

Jacoby said, however, he had no intention of opposing the board in an election.

"I can say in 100 per cent honesty and sincerity that [forming a challenge] is not something that I have considered and I hope to God there is no reason to consider it," Jacoby said. 

"I really pray they do a great job and come the AGM we're all just endorsing a whole series of wonderful decisions that have been made by Peter [Jackson] and the board."

A leading lawyer, Bartlett played four games for the West Coast Eagles in 1987 and won the best clubman award at the end of that season.  

Bartlett, 49, made his debut at Windy Hill in round 2, 1987 and played in defence as the Eagles lost to Essendon by five points.

He was de-listed at the end of that season. The Brisbane Bears picked him in the mid-season draft in 1990 but he never played a game for the club.

Bartlett is a life member of WAFL club East Perth after playing 153 games with the club.

He won the club's goal-kicking award and was captain there for four years. He was also the president of the WAFL Players' Association, has experience in sports management and football tribunal in Western Australia.

He retired from football in 1993 to concentrate on his legal career.

Bartlett has worked in industrial relations and employment law since 1986 and was managing partner for Clayton Utz until June 2013 when his three-year term ended.

Bartlett joined Melbourne's Foundation Heroes soon after arriving in Victoria.

AFL General Counsel, Andrew Dillon, who is part of Melbourne's nominations sub-committee formed to select new board members endorsed the president.
 
"Glen Bartlett is very well credentialled in both a football and business sense, and has the support of the AFL in leading the Melbourne Football Club Board as it moves to take the club into an era of sustained competitiveness and success," Dillon told Melbourne's website.

"The AFL is confident Glen is well placed to work closely and enthusiastically with CEO Peter Jackson to drive the necessary reforms across the club."

Bartlett is expected to speak before the Demons game at the MCG on Sunday.