MELBOURNE president Jim Stynes has said that reading “The Red Fox”, a biography celebrating the life of Norm Smith, the former legendary Demons coach, has inspired him in his plight to lead the AFL’s oldest club into a new era.

Dublin-born Stynes read an excerpt of the book, written by Ben Collins, at its launch at the MCG on Thursday. The launch, hosted by Smith’s good friend Tony Charlton, was attended by many Melbourne club greats including Hassa Mann, John Beckwith, Frank ‘Bluey’ Adams and Stuart Spencer as well as Norm’s son Peter.

“When Smith was coaching during that era, his Melbourne sides were so good that it got to the stage in the ’50s and early ’60s where everyone hated their guts and people went along just to barrack against them,” Stynes read.

“Wouldn’t it be great if we could create that today?” he said, much to the delight of Dees’ supporters present.

Stynes said that he couldn’t wait for the Demons’ current playing group to read the book so that it could inspire them also.

“This is a gift to our club. We have a couple of players here, and I can’t wait for them to read it and really understand what we’re about and what we’re about to begin. Because we’re on the dawning of a new era. That’s where we’re going.”