Jeff Kennett must show his hand if he is serious about a Melbourne take over Former Hawks president Jeff Kennett must show his hand, writes Michael Warner Source: News Limited IF Jeff Kennett is serious about taking over Melbourne the time has come to reveal his hand. Melbourne's current group of leaders yesterday showed that a complete rebuild of footy's disaster club has now begun. Don McLardy's decision to stand down as president came just hours after he and new chief executive Peter Jackson begged the league for emergency funding. McLardy quits It was an admission the joint is rotten. For all his efforts - and we must remember McLardy reluctantly took over the club because of the ailing health of Jim Stynes - his board has failed spectacularly. Melbourne has become a joke. The tanking saga, which ended in shame and a $500,000 fine, was just one example of a club that had completely lost its way. The decision by McLardy's board to re-sign chief executive Cameron Schwab for three more years last year, only to sack him eight months later, was a shocker. These are costly times and the AFL is demanding Melbourne show it has a detailed survival plan. McLardy had no choice but to walk because multi-million-dollar AFL bailouts come with responsibility. More board members will follow. Senior football staff and probably the coach will be axed in the coming weeks. What beggars belief is that it has taken Jackson just a handful of weeks to figure out the club's problems. The football department structure was dysfunctional, with at least four different people reporting to Schwab. The board, too, was bereft of ideas. Surely now Melbourne has reached rock bottom. A new football boss, new coach, new president, new chief executive and new directors will at least deliver hope for long-suffering fans. For all the doom and gloom, Melbourne still has the makings of a competitive playing list. And the irony won't be lost on McLardy that yesterday's meeting with the AFL could effectively see the league pay off the $500,000 tanking fine and even deliver a priority pick. It's now or never, Jeff.