Why I owe Richmond a grovelling apology
After reflecting on my pre-season predictions for The Age, I, Bob Murphy, would like to formally apologise to the Richmond Football Club. I was wrong. I was soooo wrong. I boldly predicted that the Tigers wouldn't win a game. Not one. Zero.
I have a long and somewhat complicated relationship with the Richmond Football Club. I was born into a family that had a strong allegiance to the Tigers. I had a Matthew Richardson poster on my bedroom wall; my first footy jumper was a woollen Tigers short sleeve with a collar and Wayne Campbell's No.9 proudly stitched into the back.
I was at the MCG on September 16, 1995 on that magical day for the Tiger army when Matthew Knights kicked three stunning first-half goals against the flow of play against the Bombers. Despite being five goals down at half-time, my Tigers came charging home via some brutality from Scotty Turner and co to win a classic.
It remains one of my all-time favourite days at the footy. Three years later I was lucky enough to be a year 10 work experience kid at Tigerland, hanging out with Jeff Gieschen, Benny Gale, Paul Broderick, Ash Prescott and Richo – who caught me watching his highlights on a VHS tape and asked, 'Do you mind if I have a look at that, champ?' For a footy mad kid, it was the greatest week of my life!
Weirdly, just four games into my own AFL career, I was in a Bulldogs jumper playing against my Tigers at the MCG when all hell broke loose. Long story short. Knights had his nose smashed in (as a Bulldog, I can't recall how Matthew was hurt). An all-in brawl ensued and a new rivalry in footy took flight. What a gloriously confusing time it was.
So it is, with all of that history, that we arrive at this point today and the current iteration of the Richmond Tigers who I apologise to, cap in hand. Yes, the Tigers have won five games, but it's in two recent losses (against Geelong and Collingwood), where they have won me over, despite sitting 16th on the ladder.
Young, developing teams will often meet top-tier teams and shrink in confidence, dare and bravery.
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The Australian
3 hours ago
- The Australian
Demons players 'blindsided' as coach Simon Goodwin shown the door
It took Melbourne exactly six weeks to crumble around Simon Goodwin. On February 28, interim president Brad Green provided the strongest endorsement of his premiership coach's capabilities, knowing the club needed a bridging year to change the game style and personnel in 2025. Off-field grenades had been going off for years in the boardroom and there was a split around the futures of superstar midfielders Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca. But as the summer of love concluded at Melbourne five months ago, Green hit out at the coach's critics and declared emphatically 'We have got a beauty. Players love him. He is very smart and strategic. He is a deep-thinker of the game, and he is emotive.' 'It annoys me and frustrates me that he doesn't get the respect and kudos he deserves. 'It sh-ts me, actually, that this industry bags Simon Goodwin. He gets battered and bruised by everyone.' Yet on Monday night, it was Green who delivered the left hook which sunk Goodwin and blindsided the players when four Melbourne officials knocked on the door about 7pm at Goodwin's home in the eastern suburbs. There was Green, board member Angela Williams, footy boss Alan Richardson and interim CEO David Chippindall. With grim looks on their faces, the four senior figures sat with Goodwin in his own home and said the club needed a new voice. It was the right time, they said. But there was no other detail. And nothing more forthcoming in an unconvincing press conference at the MCG on Tuesday. No explanation on the team's flaws or misgivings about coaching style or moves, inefficiencies in the forward half, midfield connection woes or differences in vision. The flummoxed and devastated looks on the faces of Melbourne's senior players were clear on Tuesday, with one of the most respected Melbourne figures labelling the decision to move on Goodwin 'unbelievable'. Another said it was 'embarrassing'. Captain Max Gawn looked forlorn. Melbourne blinked this week because it didn't want the heat that would come next year with a coach out of contract in the same way Western Bulldogs stared directly into the fire and delayed a call on Luke Beveridge's future this year. At the start of this season, Goodwin was given the imprimatur to make considerable changes to the game plan and team mix. 'A new way', Goodwin declared at the annual general meeting in December. And the coach thought he had another season in 2026, as per his contract, to complete the work. For all the team's disappointing performances this year, they still beat Fremantle at the MCG in round 6, knocked off Brisbane at the Gabba by 11 points, hammered Sydney Swans and fell one point short of Collingwood. Clearly, the team was in transition, and few experts had Melbourne in their top-eights at the start of the season. 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The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Premiership window slammed shut for Goodwin after '21
The AFL premiership window always looks at the time like it's built on a rock-solid structure. But the foundations can quickly turn to sand. Just ask Simon Goodwin's old club Adelaide, who are finally back in contention after paying a fearful price for 40 minutes of bad football in the 2017 grand four years ago Melbourne fans consoled themselves in the afterglow of their 57-year premiership drought ending, but in bittersweet circumstances. Sure, it wasn't ideal the grand final was played on the other side of the country because of COVID-19 restrictions. But with a list boasting Gawn, Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Lever, May, Jackson, Brayshaw and Pickett, it was surely only a matter of time before they'd be running a lap of their spiritual MCG home with the premiership cup. Instead, the MCG was Tuesday's venue for the press conference where the diabolical Demons explained the decision to sack Goodwin as coach. What looked like the next premiership dynasty started unravelling spectacularly on February 8, 2022. That was when leaked documents were first published, outlining concerns over off-field issues at Melbourne before their triumphant 2021 season. Goodwin featured prominently in the reporting and then-president Kate Roffey was strident in her defence of him. Goodwin would also strongly deny rumours about illicit drugs. But it also quickly emerged that Roffey's predecessor Glen Bartlett, who left the club suddenly in April, 2021, was not going quietly. He would eventually sue club board members, alleging defamation, with the matter finally settled out of court in November last year. When that settlement was announced, the club again strongly refuted "serious allegations" about Goodwin and social drug use that had been investigated while Bartlett was president. On the field, Melbourne started their premiership defence well with a 10-game winning streak to open the 2022 season. But soon after that streak ended, it emerged teammates Steven May and Jake Melksham had a fight outside a Melbourne restaurant. Melbourne finished the regular season in second spot, but bowed out of the finals in straight sets. They would do the same in 2023 and have not looked like top-eight contenders since. At the end of the '22 season, grand-final hero Luke Jackson was traded to Fremantle and Brodie Grundy took his place as the back-up ruckman to captain Max Gawn. After just one season, Grundy went to Sydney. The '23 qualifying-final loss to Collingwood was the last game for Angus Brayshaw, one of the Demons' most important players, who ultimately had to retire because of concussion issues. Also in '23, star onballer Clayton Oliver was out for an extended period because of injury. As that season ended, it emerged Oliver had significant off-field issues - at one stage he was rushed to hospital because of a medical episode - and Melbourne considered trading him. Geelong courted Oliver again in the '24 off-season, but he stayed at Melbourne. Shortly after the '23 season ended, defender Joel Smith was banned after testing positive to cocaine. He was later accused of trafficking the drug. As rumours swirled in October '23, Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert gave a radio interview where he declared their club culture was the best he'd seen in 40 years of football. The next big hit came in March last year, when federal MP Andrew Wilkie used parliamentary privilege to allege Melbourne had tested players "off the books" to avoid the league's anti-illicit drugs regime. On the field, as Melbourne's season spluttered, star onballer Christian Petracca suffered serious injuries in a collision during the blockbuster King's Birthday clash with Collingwood. The injuries were life-threatening and, as Petracca recovered, there was rampant speculation he could leave Melbourne. He stayed, but Roffey went days after a train-wreck radio interview in September where she was asked about Petracca's future. Shortly after her departure, Pert also left. For much of this year, the Demons have had an interim president and CEO. At Tuesday's media conference, Goodwin referenced the need for stability. He also made mention the Demons still don't have one club headquarters - and that he will not miss the long drive to their training base at outer-suburban Casey. For all the glory of 2021, the aftermath at the Demons has been hell. The AFL premiership window always looks at the time like it's built on a rock-solid structure. But the foundations can quickly turn to sand. Just ask Simon Goodwin's old club Adelaide, who are finally back in contention after paying a fearful price for 40 minutes of bad football in the 2017 grand four years ago Melbourne fans consoled themselves in the afterglow of their 57-year premiership drought ending, but in bittersweet circumstances. Sure, it wasn't ideal the grand final was played on the other side of the country because of COVID-19 restrictions. But with a list boasting Gawn, Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Lever, May, Jackson, Brayshaw and Pickett, it was surely only a matter of time before they'd be running a lap of their spiritual MCG home with the premiership cup. Instead, the MCG was Tuesday's venue for the press conference where the diabolical Demons explained the decision to sack Goodwin as coach. What looked like the next premiership dynasty started unravelling spectacularly on February 8, 2022. That was when leaked documents were first published, outlining concerns over off-field issues at Melbourne before their triumphant 2021 season. Goodwin featured prominently in the reporting and then-president Kate Roffey was strident in her defence of him. Goodwin would also strongly deny rumours about illicit drugs. But it also quickly emerged that Roffey's predecessor Glen Bartlett, who left the club suddenly in April, 2021, was not going quietly. He would eventually sue club board members, alleging defamation, with the matter finally settled out of court in November last year. When that settlement was announced, the club again strongly refuted "serious allegations" about Goodwin and social drug use that had been investigated while Bartlett was president. On the field, Melbourne started their premiership defence well with a 10-game winning streak to open the 2022 season. But soon after that streak ended, it emerged teammates Steven May and Jake Melksham had a fight outside a Melbourne restaurant. Melbourne finished the regular season in second spot, but bowed out of the finals in straight sets. They would do the same in 2023 and have not looked like top-eight contenders since. At the end of the '22 season, grand-final hero Luke Jackson was traded to Fremantle and Brodie Grundy took his place as the back-up ruckman to captain Max Gawn. After just one season, Grundy went to Sydney. The '23 qualifying-final loss to Collingwood was the last game for Angus Brayshaw, one of the Demons' most important players, who ultimately had to retire because of concussion issues. Also in '23, star onballer Clayton Oliver was out for an extended period because of injury. As that season ended, it emerged Oliver had significant off-field issues - at one stage he was rushed to hospital because of a medical episode - and Melbourne considered trading him. Geelong courted Oliver again in the '24 off-season, but he stayed at Melbourne. Shortly after the '23 season ended, defender Joel Smith was banned after testing positive to cocaine. He was later accused of trafficking the drug. As rumours swirled in October '23, Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert gave a radio interview where he declared their club culture was the best he'd seen in 40 years of football. The next big hit came in March last year, when federal MP Andrew Wilkie used parliamentary privilege to allege Melbourne had tested players "off the books" to avoid the league's anti-illicit drugs regime. On the field, as Melbourne's season spluttered, star onballer Christian Petracca suffered serious injuries in a collision during the blockbuster King's Birthday clash with Collingwood. The injuries were life-threatening and, as Petracca recovered, there was rampant speculation he could leave Melbourne. He stayed, but Roffey went days after a train-wreck radio interview in September where she was asked about Petracca's future. Shortly after her departure, Pert also left. For much of this year, the Demons have had an interim president and CEO. At Tuesday's media conference, Goodwin referenced the need for stability. He also made mention the Demons still don't have one club headquarters - and that he will not miss the long drive to their training base at outer-suburban Casey. For all the glory of 2021, the aftermath at the Demons has been hell. The AFL premiership window always looks at the time like it's built on a rock-solid structure. But the foundations can quickly turn to sand. Just ask Simon Goodwin's old club Adelaide, who are finally back in contention after paying a fearful price for 40 minutes of bad football in the 2017 grand four years ago Melbourne fans consoled themselves in the afterglow of their 57-year premiership drought ending, but in bittersweet circumstances. Sure, it wasn't ideal the grand final was played on the other side of the country because of COVID-19 restrictions. But with a list boasting Gawn, Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Lever, May, Jackson, Brayshaw and Pickett, it was surely only a matter of time before they'd be running a lap of their spiritual MCG home with the premiership cup. Instead, the MCG was Tuesday's venue for the press conference where the diabolical Demons explained the decision to sack Goodwin as coach. What looked like the next premiership dynasty started unravelling spectacularly on February 8, 2022. That was when leaked documents were first published, outlining concerns over off-field issues at Melbourne before their triumphant 2021 season. Goodwin featured prominently in the reporting and then-president Kate Roffey was strident in her defence of him. Goodwin would also strongly deny rumours about illicit drugs. But it also quickly emerged that Roffey's predecessor Glen Bartlett, who left the club suddenly in April, 2021, was not going quietly. He would eventually sue club board members, alleging defamation, with the matter finally settled out of court in November last year. When that settlement was announced, the club again strongly refuted "serious allegations" about Goodwin and social drug use that had been investigated while Bartlett was president. On the field, Melbourne started their premiership defence well with a 10-game winning streak to open the 2022 season. But soon after that streak ended, it emerged teammates Steven May and Jake Melksham had a fight outside a Melbourne restaurant. Melbourne finished the regular season in second spot, but bowed out of the finals in straight sets. They would do the same in 2023 and have not looked like top-eight contenders since. At the end of the '22 season, grand-final hero Luke Jackson was traded to Fremantle and Brodie Grundy took his place as the back-up ruckman to captain Max Gawn. After just one season, Grundy went to Sydney. The '23 qualifying-final loss to Collingwood was the last game for Angus Brayshaw, one of the Demons' most important players, who ultimately had to retire because of concussion issues. Also in '23, star onballer Clayton Oliver was out for an extended period because of injury. As that season ended, it emerged Oliver had significant off-field issues - at one stage he was rushed to hospital because of a medical episode - and Melbourne considered trading him. Geelong courted Oliver again in the '24 off-season, but he stayed at Melbourne. Shortly after the '23 season ended, defender Joel Smith was banned after testing positive to cocaine. He was later accused of trafficking the drug. As rumours swirled in October '23, Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert gave a radio interview where he declared their club culture was the best he'd seen in 40 years of football. The next big hit came in March last year, when federal MP Andrew Wilkie used parliamentary privilege to allege Melbourne had tested players "off the books" to avoid the league's anti-illicit drugs regime. On the field, as Melbourne's season spluttered, star onballer Christian Petracca suffered serious injuries in a collision during the blockbuster King's Birthday clash with Collingwood. The injuries were life-threatening and, as Petracca recovered, there was rampant speculation he could leave Melbourne. He stayed, but Roffey went days after a train-wreck radio interview in September where she was asked about Petracca's future. Shortly after her departure, Pert also left. For much of this year, the Demons have had an interim president and CEO. At Tuesday's media conference, Goodwin referenced the need for stability. He also made mention the Demons still don't have one club headquarters - and that he will not miss the long drive to their training base at outer-suburban Casey. For all the glory of 2021, the aftermath at the Demons has been hell.
Perth Now
11 hours ago
- Perth Now
Premiership window slammed shut for Goodwin after '21
The AFL premiership window always looks at the time like it's built on a rock-solid structure. But the foundations can quickly turn to sand. Just ask Simon Goodwin's old club Adelaide, who are finally back in contention after paying a fearful price for 40 minutes of bad football in the 2017 grand final. Likewise, four years ago Melbourne fans consoled themselves in the afterflow of their 57-year premiership drought ending, but in bittersweet circumstances. Sure, it wasn't ideal the grand final was played on the other side of the country because of COVID-19 restrictions. But with a list boasting Gawn, Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Lever, May, Jackson, Brayshaw and Pickett, it was surely only a matter of time before they'd be running a lap of their spiritual MCG home with the premiership cup. Instead, the MCG was Tuesday's venue for the press conference where the diabolical Demons explained the decision to sack Goodwin as coach. What looked like the next premiership dynasty started unravelling spectacularly on February 8, 2022. That was when leaked documents were first published, outlining concerns over off-field issues at Melbourne before their triumphant 2021 season. Goodwin featured prominently in the reporting and then-president Kate Roffey was strident in her defence of him. Goodwin would also strongly deny rumours about illicit drugs. But it also quickly emerged that Roffey's predecessor Glen Bartlett, who left the club suddenly in April, 2021, was not going quietly. He would eventually sue club board members, alleging defamation, with the matter finally settled out of court in November last year. When that settlement was announced, the club again strongly refuted "serious allegations" about Goodwin and social drug use that had been investigated while Bartlett was president. On the field, Melbourne started their premiership defence well with a 10-game winning streak to open the 2022 season. But soon after that streak ended, it emerged teammates Steven May and Jake Melksham had a fight outside a Melbourne restaurant. Melbourne finished the regular season in second spot, but bowed out of the finals in straight sets. They would do the same in 2023 and have not looked like top-eight contenders since. At the end of the '22 season, grand-final hero Luke Jackson was traded to Fremantle and Brodie Grundy took his place as the back-up ruckman to captain Max Gawn. After just one season, Grundy went to Sydney. The '23 qualifying-final loss to Collingwood was the last game for Angus Brayshaw, one of the Demons' most important players, who ultimately had to retire because of concussion issues. Also in '23, star onballer Clayton Oliver was out for an extended period because of injury. As that season ended, it emerged Oliver had significant off-field issues - at one stage he was rushed to hospital because of a medical episode - and Melbourne considered trading him. Geelong courted Oliver again in the '24 off-season, but he stayed at Melbourne. Shortly after the '23 season ended, defender Joel Smith was banned after testing positive to cocaine. He was later accused of trafficking the drug. As rumours swirled in October '23, Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert gave a radio interview where he declared their club culture was the best he'd seen in 40 years of football. The next big hit came in March last year, when federal MP Andrew Wilkie used parliamentary privilege to allege Melbourne had tested players "off the books" to avoid the league's anti-illicit drugs regime. On the field, as Melbourne's season spluttered, star onballer Christian Petracca suffered serious injuries in a collision during the blockbuster King's Birthday clash with Collingwood. The injuries were life-threatening and, as Petracca recovered, there was rampant speculation he could leave Melbourne. He stayed, but club president Kate Roffey went days after a train-wreck radio interview in September where she was asked about Petracca's future. Shortly after her departure, Pert also left. For much of this year, the Demons have had an interim president and CEO. At Tuesday's media conference, Goodwin referenced the need for stability. He also made mention the Demons still don't have one club headquarters - and that he will not miss the long drive to their training base at outer-suburban Casey. For all the glory of 2021, the aftermath at the Demons has been hell.
