Melbourne stuns AFL by sacking premiership coach Simon Goodwin
Melbourne is in search of its next coach after sacking premiership mentor Simon Goodwin just days after a resounding victory.
The Demons, 12th on the ladder after beating West Coast by 83 points on Saturday, sacked Goodwin with a year left to run on his contract.
Goodwin steered the Demons to the 2021 premiership but has since failed to win a final.
'I'm stunned, shocked, totally shocked. Absolutely, just shocked, I can't get my head around it,' Melbourne legend Garry Lyon said on SEN after hearing the news.
Melbourne has sacked Simon Goodwin. Picture: Michael Klein
'I thought there would be a long review at the end of this year and then determined whether he could coach out the final year of his contract. Premiership coaches are rare at Melbourne, he's one of four, he will be a hero of this football club forever and a day, but that obviously doesn't guarantee tenure. This is a massive call.'
The Demons finished inside the top four twice in as many seasons after their drought-breaking flag but were eliminated in straight sets on both occasions.
Goodwin presented to the board last Monday following Melbourne's horror loss to St Kilda. The Demons coughed up a record three-quarter-time lead and two goals in the final 10 seconds to lose the match.
On Thursday, Goodwin said the meeting was a routine presentation and denied he was coaching for his career against the Eagles.
'We're all very aligned about the process of where we need to go to, what we need to create success,' Goodwin said.
Goodwin and captain Max Gawn with the ultimate prize. Picture: Michael Klein
'We always knew that in this transition period that there would be challenges, our job is not to get consumed with the noise.
'Our job is to go about the process … these conversations are ongoing and we're really clear about the strategy. I feel incredibly supported by the board, I have for nine years.
'I've been able to go through these challenges before with clarity and strength and stability to create success; 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 clear with your strategy, clear with your process, understand challenge, be clear about it and go about the process to build the next great team – I feel incredibly supported by the board.'
Originally published as AFL 2025: Melbourne sacks premiership coach Simon Goodwin
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