MELBOURNE has signed iconic and respected Australian company Haymes Paint as a ball sponsor.

The Australian manufactured, family-owned and operated business has agreed to be a club partner for the next three years.

As part of the arrangement, the Haymes brand will appear on Melbourne’s match ball for its home games.

Melbourne chief commercial officer George de Crespigny said the club was excited to partner with Haymes Paint.

"Melbourne Football Club is thrilled to be partnering with Haymes Paints for the next three years,” he said.

"It is encouraging for Melbourne that Haymes have bought into the journey that this club is on, and we hope that we can help Haymes celebrate their 80th year in style and with success.

"I would like to thank the entire Haymes family for their support of the Melbourne Football Club, and we hope that together this is a long lasting and beneficial partnership between two iconic Australian brands"

Haymes Paint’s Matthew Haymes said the family-owned company was thrilled to partner Melbourne.

“The family and team at Haymes Paint are delighted and truly excited to be involved with the MFC,” he said.

“Haymes is 80 years old this year and is Australia’s largest and one of the few remaining 100 per cent Australian made and family owned manufacturers of paint. 

“The Melbourne Football Club is the first Australian Football League club and their home ground is at the MCG – Australia’s home of footy and the synergies in our partnership just work.

“Although none of the Haymes family barracks for the Demons, they are everyone’s second team. We would love to see the club and its supporters experience success.

“As Haymes grow from a regional Victorian brand – [we want] to achieve our vision that every Australian has the opportunity to try our products – and the timing for us to get involved in a sponsorship of this nature was right.

“Melbourne is very much a family club and Haymes Paint is only sold through other family businesses – not the large corporate hardware chains.”