Demons Owe Goodwin the Chance to Lead Them Through This Turmoil

No doubt the commencing of the 2025 AFL season has been a woeful disappointment for the Melbourne Demons. The easy road forward for the club would be to sack current head coach Simon Goodwin and start fresh, ultimately stripping it all down to rebuild for the future.  

The club has been embarrassed this season so far, sitting currently 0-5, and showing tremendously low levels of fight.  

Rightfully so, members and supporters are outraged, crying out for change. But is the dismissal of a veteran senior coach the answer? 

Struggling clubs have learnt the hard lessons in the modern era that personnel consistency can be more important than holding coaches comprehensively accountable. This very football club knows this all too well, as before Goodwin, it was five head coaches in a seven-year window.  

The Melbourne Demons owe it to Simon Goodwin the chance to prevail, and the chance to showcase the list that only a few years ago achieved the ultimate glory.  

Goodwin celebrating after the 2021 AFL Grand Final at Optus Stadium 

Goodwin has publicly stated his confidence in recovering the season. 

"We've had a lot of challenges through my time at the footy club. And I've been pretty well serviced to see the club through that and I feel pretty well credentialed to do that”. 

Fox Footy’s John Ralph stated that "The 20 good minutes of football the Demons played made it even worse tonight [Saturday Night] because it showed the talent is there." 

However, I firmly disagree, as the personnel are present, the likes of Petracca, Oliver, Gawn, Viney and May. “The talent is there”, and while it is not currently working, this is still that gifted and skilled playing group from years ago.  

The wounds that crippled the Demons off the field over the last twelve months have largely been eradicated and healed, and it is with in mind that Goodwin be given this lifeline.  

It was just three weeks ago that Captain Max Gawn said “The premiership window is never shut, you are ludicrous in this competition if you don’t rock up ready to win the flag. I’m a long way away from that thought.” 

The pair of Simon Goodwin and Max Gawn embracing each other

How and why would Melbourne be better off following the plague of the past, especially when they were still in a position to compete for a flag as of just three weeks ago.  

Melbourne would not be the first team to make the finals after starting 0-5, just last year it was Hawthorn in this predicament, and look at the juggernaut they are becoming.  

Maybe they will turn it around, maybe they won’t but football is in Melbourne’s court, and keeping Simon Goodwin is fundamental for the Demons to resurge, as when fit and healthy, a formable September charge is more likely than you think.