From premiership heroes to trade bait: The big calls looming at Melbourne
We break down the Demons' playing list and game plan, analysing what the new coach replacing Goodwin will inherit at Melbourne and what changes will need to be made in the hope of resurrecting a talent-laden team which sits in 12th spot with seven wins, having squandered what should have been a premiership era.
What to do with Petracca, Oliver, May and Fritsch?
Champion Data statistics show Clayton Oliver is ranked only average, and Christian Petracca above average, for their positions this season. Many in the football industry claim the Demons missed a trick last season when they should have traded Oliver – contracted until the end of 2030 – to the Cats when his value was high. Once the bull in the middle, Oliver's lack of pace – emblematic of the Demons' midfield – can be exploited, and he has even been used as a tagger this season.
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Petracca, contracted until the end of 2029, was also disgruntled at the time after his career-threatening injury, and overall club cultural issues, and was also keen on leaving. Instead, the Demons held firm.
It remains to be seen what the new coach wants, but competition sources expect the Demons this time to at least hear what any rival club may be willing to offer – should a call come. This could lead to salary-cap relief, and a first-round draft pick. However, as one rival club source said, Oliver and Petracca may not be keen on playing for the new coach, and could test the market themselves.
Steven May is also a curious case. While his behaviour and unfiltered feedback on and off-field can be polarising – just ask Max Gawn after the King's Birthday clash – he remains a key defensive pillar, although rival club sources have questioned whether he has lost half a step when handling leading forwards. He is contracted until the end of 2026 but, at 33, could be worth a look by a club firmly in the premiership window.
It hasn't also been lost that premiership forward Bayley Fritsch, with a modest 31 goals this season (ranked above average), is contracted to only the end of next season, when he will be a free agent. Goodwin had shut down speculation Fritsch could be traded.
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21 hours ago
- ABC News
Max Gawn shocked by Simon Goodwin sacking but tells Demons 'don't wait' on replacement
Melbourne captain Max Gawn says he was shocked but not angry at the sacking of coach Simon Goodwin, as he urged prospective candidates to take the call from the Demons. Goodwin, who coached Melbourne to the 2021 premiership, was axed on Tuesday, despite having a contract that ran until the end of 2026. Melbourne sits 12th on the ladder, with the club's board believing the team needs a new voice to help steer them towards the finals again. Demons wingman Ed Langdon made it clear on Wednesday he did not agree with the board's opinion. Gawn was more diplomatic on Thursday, toeing a fine line between expressing his love for Goodwin and respecting the "ballsy" decision from the club's board. "I was shocked, as most people were. They didn't see it coming," Gawn said on Triple M. "I'm definitely not angry. I'm a lover of the Melbourne football club, and in the end, I'm going to support most decisions they make, and this is another one I'm going to get behind. "They've sacked people who I've loved before, and I've moved on, and so have they. "This one is a harder one to take … but I also have great relationships with people who made the decision, and they've explained it carefully to me as to why." When asked whether the Demons needed a new voice, Gawn joked: "Ed Langdon butchered this one yesterday." "Do we need a new voice? I appreciate after nine years, a new voice could help," Gawn added. "I was pretty bullish on what we were building at the football club, and the old voice was doing well for me. "But we were also 6-13 (win-loss record), and good clubs don't wait. It's natural to be scared of change. I'm scared of change. "I've got a lot of relationships in that building, [and] I hope they all keep their jobs. But change sometimes is necessary." Nathan Buckley, John Longmire, Adam Simpson and Ken Hinkley are among the experienced names floated to replace Goodwin. "I feel like it's a call you should take," Gawn said in a message to anyone who is considering applying for the role. Troy Chaplin has been appointed interim coach for the rest of the season, starting with Sunday's match with the Western Bulldogs at the MCG. AAP
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
The inside story of the $1.2m Demons axing of Simon Goodwin
Melbourne and Simon Goodwin being misaligned on the club's premiership timeline and the Demons not wanting the premiership coach to depart at 'rock bottom' reportedly played key roles in the decision to part ways. But the club will need to pay out Goodwin in excess of $1.2 million as it faces several big calls on its list for the next coach, with a number of stars' fates unknown. Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph explained the 'two key flash points' that led to Melbourne's call to axe Goodwin, which was 'months in the making' dating back to a dismal 0-5 start to the season. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The 7-13 Demons have been on a gradual decline since their historic 2021 premiership, including missing finals the last two seasons. However Goodwin, much like he professed in his exit press conference, thought the club was close to contending again. 'Simon Goodwin presented to that board on Monday night, it was all about how this club would compete for a premiership next year: 'We're so close, we can sniff it'. 'That board was diametrically opposed to that view. They were crystal clear this was a club that needed some kind of step or two backwards before it pushed forward,' Ralph told Fox Footy's Midweek Tackle. 'So their path was different to his. Was he deluded? Was it blind faith? Somewhere in between? 'The other interesting sub plot was the death threat to Goodwin last weekend. Hoax or not, it absolutely took its toll on Goodwin and his family. It also gave the Demons another reminder of the toll placed upon him. 'They didn't want him to go out rock bottom as a premiership coach. They could see he was never going to back down or quit, he was always going to forge on ahead to that next premiership. They almost had to make the decision for him. 'They're two key issues about why Goodwin was removed from his tenure.' Goodwin, who had another year to run on his contract, departs with a 54 per cent win rate (111 wins, one draw and 90 losses) over 202 games since taking over the Dees in 2017. Ralph said Melbourne's decision to move into a new direction came down to not seeing him as its next 'premiership coach,' believing the list needs a 'significant revamp'. 'They know they could've kept him on for next year and this same situation might've occurred. At very best, he could've survived for two more years after that if they gave him a two-year extension,' he said. 'This is a football club that wants to set a new path, they didn't want to be run off a cliff. 'They think as good as those glories were including the flag, the short-term fix was to keep him. The decision they've made is to forge ahead for the next premiership coach for the next decade. 'We might think that's not enough to sack a premiership coach. But that was the big picture thinking the Melbourne Football Club came to.' The Herald Sun reports Goodwin is owed more than $1.2 million in a payout from Melbourne for the remainder of this season and 2026 that will be a 'costly' blow to the club's soft cap and footy department spending. 'Of course it's going to impact then. They also have football department taxes on top of that, as much as 50 per cent,' Ralph added. 'Hawthorn split Alastair Clarkson's $900,000 payout over two years. But let's face it, clubs have been screaming 'we need a bigger soft cap'. 'All of a sudden (Melbourne might) get $750,000 extra next year. You'd imagine most of that would be taken up by (Goodwin). There will be decisions ahead on the likes of (head of development) Mark Williams and whether they can save some money if they move him on. 'But it's going to be costly and cost them in terms of (footy department) personnel next year.' 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There's Victorian clubs swirling, but they just need to keep him.' Ralph said the 'big one' to watch is Oliver, who nearly left for Geelong last year, suggesting the only way the four-time best and fairest could move is if he took a pay cut and Melbourne contributed towards his salary elsewhere. 'If he accepted a massive, massive pay cut — let's call it $400,000 — and Melbourne paid out — let's call it $300,000 — he's still on that $800,000-$900,000 a year. I just don't think there's any takers for him,' he said. 'But if I was a fresh coach coming into this situation, would I want Oliver always in my midfield? I think I'd probably want him to move on. But it's just so hard to factor a market where there's enough money off the books to pay him. 'I think if you're paying over $1 million for him, Petracca and Kysaiah Pickett, that's too much of a handcuff. Especially if they're not going to win a premiership in the next couple of years. 'I think it's a big decision ahead on Clayton. If I was them I'd move heaven and earth to move on Clayton.'
Perth Now
a day ago
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Gawn opens up on ‘ballsy' coach sacking
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