Simon Goodwin meets with rival AFL club as wife detail could hold key to next move

Yahoo

4 days ago

Former Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin might not be out of a job for long, with reports he's already met with the GWS Giants about a role at the AFL club next year. Goodwin's wife Kristine is based in Sydney for work and it could be a key factor around the future of the former premiership-winning coach, who was shown the door at Melbourne before the final three games of the season.
Goodwin's position had been in question after they failed to secure a top-eight finish for a second consecutive year. They also bowed out in straight-sets of the AFL finals the previous two seasons after finishing in the top-four. Goodwin led the Demons to their drought-breaking premiership in 2021, and admitted to AFL 360 on Wednesday night that his axing last week came as a surprise after appearing to have the backing of the Melbourne board.
'It was a shock, there's no doubt about that. I was disappointed that they'd come to that decision — but you accept that position,' Goodwin said. 'Do I 100% think that I was the right person to carry this team forward? Yes, because I've done it before... but that's the decision the board made, and I accept that decision."
"There MUST have been more than that?!"Former Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin explains on #AFL360 the one reason he was given for his sacking - and why he thought the Demons weren't far off returning to glory. pic.twitter.com/6kXNkX9xv9
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 13, 2025
Goodwin said the explanation he got from the board was that the club 'needed a new voice' to take the team forward and no longer felt he was the right man to do so. But the fact Goodwin is a former two-time premiership player with Adelaide and has spent more than a decade in the AFL coaching system, makes him a highly sought-after target for rival clubs looking for experienced people to join their footy departments.
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Seven AFL reporter Mitch Cleary revealed on Wednesday night that GWS have already reached out to Goodwin about a role and says they 'would be able to comfortably afford' him in their footy program after an increase in the AFL's soft cap for next year. Cleary pointed out that a move to Sydney could be enticing for Goodwin because his wife Kristine is based there for business.
Simon Goodwin has spoken with GWS over a role for next year. With the increase to the soft cap, the Giants would be able to comfortably afford Goodwin in their football program. He spent recent days in Sydney following his sacking @7NewsMelbourne @7AFL https://t.co/TbzTb4ID5u
— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) August 13, 2025
Cleary previously wrote on social media: "Simon Goodwin's wife is based in Sydney. The Swans and Giants will sound out the departing Melbourne coach for a key role in their football departments. Both clubs have previously spoken of the challenges in attracting highly credentialed football people to Sydney."
Simon Goodwin 'open-minded' about an AFL return
Goodwin confirmed on AFL 360 that would be speaking to a number of different people in Sydney and remains 'open-minded' about a range of possibilities around an AFL return next season. 'I've spent some time up in Sydney, and I'm going to catch up with a whole range of different people,' Goodwin said.
'I'm open-minded to doing anything in football. I love the game, I love coaching. I want to get away, have a spell ... (but) coaching's never complete, you want to get better. And I know with the experience and everything that's I've gone through, with some PD (personal development), I'll come back even better.'
Goodwin admits there were 'challenges' at the Demons that his coaching successor will have to address. Among them are the futures of superstars Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver who have both been at the centre of previous trade requests. But Goodwin believes the club is well set up for success for whoever the new coach turns out to be.
"If you walk through the doors at training at Casey Fields with those players, the environment's healthy, alive and well ... and that's the biggest part of your program to get right," Goodwin added. "For the next coach, I think it's set up incredibly well. I'd be incredibly excited by the group that they've got available to them.'