Simon Goodwin responds after AFL great's grim prediction about Melbourne struggles

Yahoo

2 days ago

Under-fire Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says he's refusing to get 'consumed with noise', amid suggestions a loss to AFL strugglers West Coast could spell the end of his tenure. The Demons are reeling from last week's unprecedented capitulation against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, where the Saints came from 46 points down to seal the biggest three-quarter-time comeback in VFL/AFL history.
Goodwin's men have spent the last three days soul-searching after the historic defeat that leaves them languishing out of finals contention in 13th spot, with a 6-13 record for the season. It's led to suggestions from the likes of Essendon great Matthew Lloyd that Goodwin's time as coach could be coming to an end.
Lloyd says another loss would be catastrophic for the premiership-winning coach, and that even a win against the Eagles might not be enough to save him. "I don't think so, no," Lloyd said when asked on Nine's Today Show if victory against West Coast would ease the pressure on Goodwin.
"Moreso if they lost that game, that could spell the end for Simon Goodwin you would think, if they were to lose to West Coast who have won one game for the season. They have been off for a couple of years now, there is something not quite right."
This is ESSENTIAL viewing 🍿Watch every goal of St Kilda's 46-point comeback, the greatest three-quarter time deficit overcome in V/AFL history.#AFLSaintsDees pic.twitter.com/r6ebIzRopo
— AFL (@AFL) July 28, 2025
Lloyd says a number of dramas in recent years at Melbourne - both on and off the field - have left Goodwin's position under threat. Christian Petracca reportedly wanted to leave the club last year after his infamous King's Birthday injury saga and Clayton Oliver's mental health battles have been well documented.
Skipper Max Gawn has also cut a frustrated figure at times and was involved in a heated verbal altercation with teammate Steven May earlier this year. While Goodwin himself has been forced to deny allegations he had an illicit drug problem, with the coach and club bosses continually defending the culture at the Demons.
"Christian Petracca tried to leave last year, Clayton Oliver tried to leave, Max Gawn has been frustrated, their game plan looks tired, like it's something from three or four years ago when they won a premiership," Lloyd added. "Things do need to change, it's just whether it's the coach that cops it at the end of the year."
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Simon Goodwin responds after future at Demons questioned
But the 2021 premiership coach says he feels supported by the club and is refusing to listen to the outside noise. Goodwin and his football department spoke to the board on Monday in an already-scheduled meeting, and remains confident his side can turn things around.
"I feel incredibly supported by the board, I have for nine years," Goodwin told reporters on Thursday. "We've been able to go through these challenges before with clarity and strength and stability to create success. In 2019 we finished second last, two years later we won the flag.
"You can't get consumed in noise. All you can do is be really clear about your strategy, clear about your process, understand the challenge ... and go about the process to build the next great team." The Demons return to the scene of their historic collapse on Saturday, but Goodwin refused to be drawn on what another disappointing loss to the injury-ravaged Eagles could mean for his coaching future.
"That would be me getting consumed with noise, and that's not what I'm about," he insisted. "We get another opportunity against a football club this week to show, not talk, show what we're about."
with AAP