Simon Goodwin’s departure as the head coach of the Melbourne Football Club has rocked the Australian Football League (AFL). This sudden decision has caught fans and players off guard. The ruling blindsided everyone, including Goodwin. He’d been sitting at home watching Netflix when he got the call from acting president Brad Green informing him that he was fired, which threatened to leave him entirely blindsided. This unexpected turn of events marks a significant moment in the club’s history and raises questions about its future direction.
Goodwin’s time at Melbourne has been a glorious paradox. Despite leading the team through various seasons, critics have pointed to a stagnation in his game style, often described as being stuck in 2015. Analysts warn that Goodwin’s failure to adapt his playbook could have played a role in his ousting. Kane Cornes notably commented on this stagnation, stating, “They are stuck in 2015 with their game styles, contest and defence. He hasn’t been able to evolve that.”
Reflecting on his five seasons with the Demons, Goodwin didn’t hold back in sharing his feelings. In an emotional farewell, “I’m going to really miss players first,” he said, showing how close to his players he coached their hearts. There was the recognition that he would miss the two-hour commute to Casey Fields, the club’s training base. “I know one thing, I will not miss driving down to Casey,” he joked. His comments revealed his conflicted feelings about the club scene.
The context surrounding Goodwin’s dismissal is complex. As Caroline Wilson noted, it was not long ago that Goodwin was working side by side with his footy chief, Alan Richardson. He was sure he was going to play out the season and play out his contract for the coming year. This abrupt change has raised doubts among supporters about the club’s planning and approach to player recruitment in the future. Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes stirred the pot by claiming that the Demon’s best times were behind them. He said, “Well, that’s their problem now,” unwound Good luck getting players from other clubs to want to go and play at Melbourne!
While Goodwin’s departure marks a worrying time for the Demons, it opens up greater avenues for him outside of Melbourne. His tactical acumen and player development focus would attract the strongest interest of all clubs, including premiership fancies Sydney Swans and GWS Giants. Either way, both franchises will likely need to fill coaching vacancies before then. Many observers believe Goodwin will not be off the football field for long. As Mitch Cleary from the AFL website reported, “he won’t be lost to football for long.”
As discussions continue about Melbourne’s leadership and direction, opinions vary on the implications of Goodwin’s remarks regarding Casey Fields. Wilson responded to Goodwin’s statements regarding the new training facility, calling them a “fair dinkum strike” at the club. Lions captain Luke Hodge echoed this sentiment. Icebound, particularly when the previous coach slaps Casey with a little bit of an elbow on the way out.
