The Melbourne Demons have made the surprising decision to part ways with head coach Simon Goodwin, just four years after he led the team to an AFL premiership victory. The decision comes as the Demons find themselves languishing in 12th place after 21 rounds, with a finals appearance increasingly unlikely for the second consecutive year.
Goodwin, who took over the coaching reins from Paul Roos in 2017, was informed of his dismissal last night. Players were briefed this morning, with a press conference scheduled for 1 PM AEST at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The move has sent shockwaves through the AFL community, particularly among club legends.
Reactions from Club Legends
Melbourne icon Garry Lyon, who played 226 games for the club between 1986 and 1999, expressed his shock at the news. Speaking on SEN, Lyon said, “I’m stunned, shocked. Totally shocked. I had no heads-up on this whatsoever.”
“Absolutely shocked. I can’t get my head around it. He won’t be coaching a farewell game, that’s something I can promise you,” said Lyon.
Despite the abrupt end to Goodwin’s tenure, Lyon praised him as a “hero” of the Melbourne Football Club, noting that premiership coaches are rare in the club’s history. “He’s one of four [in the men’s competition] — he will be a hero of this football club forever and a day, but that obviously doesn’t guarantee your tenure. This is a massive call,” Lyon added.
Challenges and Controversies
The Demons’ decision to dismiss Goodwin underscores a tumultuous period for the club. After their 2021 premiership win, Melbourne seemed poised to become the AFL’s next dynasty. However, a series of off-field issues and internal turmoil have plagued the team.
Legal troubles involving players like Clayton Oliver and Joel Smith have fueled rumors of a toxic culture within the club. These issues were compounded by unsubstantiated allegations against Goodwin himself, prompting him to publicly deny any wrongdoing earlier this year.
“I do not use illicit drugs,” Goodwin declared in response to the rumors. He also criticized the media’s role in perpetuating these allegations, stating, “The rumors have to stop. It’s gone way out of control from a boardroom battle into court documents into republication and rehashing of a story over and over again to the extent where it’s become a ‘fact’, which is just not fair.”
Goodwin emphasized the toll these allegations have taken on him and his family, calling for a more responsible approach from the industry. “I’ve had enough and I think as an industry we need to be better than what we are today. We’re starting to really hurt people in this game too much through this period of time,” he said.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges, Goodwin remained optimistic about the club’s future as recently as June. Following the re-signing of star forward Kysaiah Pickett, he stated, “It’s a sign that we’ve got things in good order. It says a lot about our footy club, about where we’re at and where we’re going.”
With three games remaining in the season against the Bulldogs, Hawthorn, and Collingwood, all scheduled at the MCG, the Demons will need to regroup quickly. Sunday’s rematch of the 2021 grand final against the Western Bulldogs represents a significant opportunity for the team to demonstrate their resilience.
The decision to dismiss Goodwin, while unexpected, may signal a broader strategy to reset the club’s trajectory. As the Demons prepare for the upcoming press conference, the AFL community will be watching closely to see how the club navigates this pivotal moment.
