Latest news with #AFLNorthDees
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Demons jump to the defence of out-of-form spearhead
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin reckons the criticism levelled at Jacob van Rooyen has been unfair, saying the out-of-form spearhead will play a key role in the club's future. Van Rooyen enjoyed a meteoric start to his AFL career, kicking 28.9 in his debut season and following it up with 30.16 last year. But the 22-year-old has endured a big drop in form this season, kicking just 4.3 from six games and finding himself squeezed out of the senior side. Van Rooyen has played just one game since round five, and his huge drop in output has left many people scratching their head. "It is (unfair)," Goodwin said of the criticism Van Rooyen has copped. "He's a key forward that's developing his game. "There's not too many dominant key forwards at his age that are having as much impact as what he's been able to have in his first 45 games of footy. "He's going through a little patch now where he's growing his game to a different level, and we've got huge belief he's going to be able to do that and take our footy club forward." "Look at the height, LOOK AT THE BEND!"Jacob van Rooyen that is gorgeous!#AFLNorthDees — 7AFL (@7AFL) March 23, 2025 Goodwin is optimistic about what the future holds for van Rooyen, who was the No.19 pick in the 2021 national draft. "He's going to be a Melbourne player for a long, long time," Goodwin said. "Everyone will look at the short term and where it is right now. "He's a part of our long-term future, and he's going to be a big part of it moving forward." Melbourne improved their season record to 4-6 following last week's shock 11-point win over defending premiers Brisbane. They face another big challenge on Sunday when they host beaten grand finalists Sydney at the SCG. Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney have been in hot form for the Swans (4-6), with the pair combining for 68 disposals, four goals and 13 clearances in last week's 16-point win over Carlton. Star Demons midfielder Clayton Oliver has been employed as a tagger in recent weeks, and he could get the job on either Warner or Heeney. "We've loved what he's been able to do," Goodwin said of Oliver. "He's really invested about what the team's about ... and he's growing his game off the back of that. "Clearly we're going to have to have plans for Heeney and Warner. They're two guys who are having a significant impact on the game."
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Coach cops backlash after going public with personal revelation about Max Gawn
Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin has come under fire around the AFL world after going public with a revelation about Max Gawn's private life, in the wake of his side's 59-point drubbing by North Melbourne. The Demons were given a sobering reality check by the once AFL easy-beats at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, as Kangaroos star Tristan Xerri won the ruck battle against Gawn, in what many suggested was a changing of the guard moment. Gawn is a seven-time All-Australian and has long been the AFL's premier ruckman, but he was comprehensively outplayed by the man many have tipped to take his mantle. Xerri was best-afield and caused Gawn and the Demons headaches all game, with Melbourne coach Goodwin suggesting after the game that challenges in Gawn's private life were behind his underwhelming performance. Asked about how Gawn had responded to losing the ruck duel, Goodwin told reporters: "Today he'll acknowledge he got beaten by a really good opponent, but you also have to realise that in life, there are other things that are going on. We'll support Max, he's a great person, a great leader, and there's a back story to everyone's performance. I'm not going to go into the details. There's footy, there's some stuff in life. He's someone we love dearly and he'll certainly be a big part of our response." The Melbourne coach was asked to clarify the situation and responded by saying: 'I'm not going to go into the details, but you know, he's someone that - there's footy, and there's stuff in life, and we've just got to understand that people have back stories. And he's someone that we love dearly, and he will certainly be a big part of our response.' "We'll support Max... There's a backstory to everyone's performance."Simon Goodwin has discussed Max Gawn's performance against the Roos: — AFL (@AFL) March 23, 2025 While few could criticise the sentiment behind Goodwin's comments around his captain, many questioned why the Melbourne coach felt the need to make mention of Gawn's private life in the first place. And by refusing to provide any further details about the topic, critics argued that all Goodwin had done was fuel more questions, speculation and rumours about the 33-year-old. Veteran broadcaster Neil Mitchell and ABC reporter Marnie Vinall were among the many to question why the coach felt the need to comment without providing any detail. I really hope Max and the people around him are ok. But gosh, addressing it in this way is not going to do much to help with rumours and speculation. — Marnie Vinall (@marnievinall) March 23, 2025 I respect and like Max Gawn as a man. I wish his coach would not throw attention on his private life. Please, it is not our business, whatever he was referring to . Max had for him a bad game. Leave it there. — Neil Mitchell (@3AWNeilMitchell) March 23, 2025 full support to Max Gawn if there's something we don't know about (and I'm not trying to find out) but also uhhhhh this is probably gonna raise a million more questions — Leonardo Puglisi (@Leo_Puglisi6) March 23, 2025 PR genius Simon Goodwin creates from nothing a media feeding frenzy on Max Gawn's personal life — James Nankivell (@JamesNanks) March 23, 2025 Gawn is normally so dominant in the ruck duels and few players have been able to consistently get the better of him like Xerri did on Sunday. The Kangaroos dominated in the last term and Goodwin pointed to North's displays in midfield as something his men could not cope with. The Demons rode their momentum to finish the game in style and Melbourne's coach lamented his side's inability to find a way back into the contest. "Obviously losing the centre bounces the way we did early in that last quarter put us under enormous pressure - that's tough to watch and we have to be better at how we arrest momentum, especially around the centre square," Goodwin said. "I felt all day that was coming. We acknowledge and we accept that it's not to the level." Melbourne yet again failed to capitalise on their chances in attack, particularly in a wasteful third term. The Demons ended up with more inside 50s - 56 to 53 - but struggled to score and Goodwin accepts it's something they need to find an answer for. "I know it's going to be a story and a narrative. In some ways, when you're two weeks in and you haven't seen the change you want, everyone is going to go down that path," Goodwin said. "We're confident with the work we've done over the summer, that we'll start to see it." Kade Chandler was Melbourne's best player and the only real shining light in their forward line after kicking three goals for the game. But the loss means Goodwin's side are now 0-2 to start the season ahead of Saturday's home clash at the MCG against a refreshed Gold Coast side coming off a bye. with AAP
