Simon Goodwin will forever remain in Melbourne folklore as the coach that broke the curse – the coach that finally followed in the footsteps of club great Norm Smith when he helped end almost six decades of misery with a fairytale premiership. For now, Goodwin is one of only four coaches to lead the Demons to a VFL/AFL flag. But the one-time powerhouse club is right to look forward rather than backward, in the hope of finding the next coach to take it to the promised land.
Melbourne’s decision to sack a premiership-winner is among the most ruthless the AFL has seen in recent years. It has become all too common for head coaches to be given extra time, whether to build a team from the ground up or to turn around an unexpected decline. But in a cut-throat business where there is only one real winner, as well as several other clubs that might take comfort from at least heading in the right direction, Goodwin sails off into the sunset with the Demons’ trajectory going the wrong way.
The 2021 flag was secured thanks to just over a half of football as devastating as has been played on the big stage. With a dynamic and game-busting midfield, led by inspirational captain Max Gawn, there was more than enough to suggest that the drought-breaking premiership was merely the first of many to come for a looming dynasty. Less than four years later and the Goodwin era has unravelled amid diminishing returns. It comes to a close without even another finals victory, let alone a second taste of the ultimate success.
The Demons’ 13th premiership was followed by a pair of straight-sets finals exits as familiar problems resurfaced. An imbalanced list stacked with midfield talent and an imperious defence had fewer weapons in the forward half. The team took too long to evolve from a safe but stodgy game plan that failed to create enough scoring opportunities. To make matters worse, the side paid the price as much as any for wayward kicking for goal when the stakes rose.
Goodwin was rightfully given a free pass as his side plummeted to 14th last year. The dramatic drop off was in part explained by on-field and off-field concerns around star midfielders Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, as well as the premature retirement of Angus Brayshaw. But the coach was back on shaky ground when there were few signs of improvement during five consecutive defeats to start this year. As the Demons’ mid-season revival faded away and they fell out of finals contention, it became a matter of “when” rather than “if” the axe would fall.
The 48-year-old said all the right words as he took his turn to be part of the awkward AFL tradition of sending a coach packing with a pat on the back and a stage-managed press conference. Just two weeks ago, Goodwin was adamant that he felt “incredibly supported by the board” even after a humiliating final-term capitulation against St Kilda. As he fronted the media while seated next to Melbourne president and former player Brad Green on Tuesday, Goodwin allowed himself a smile as he conceded he “obviously got that wrong”.
The record-breaking defeat to the Saints – when even one of the greatest Demons lost his head in the centre square and Goodwin had little to offer beyond standing on the sidelines and looking perplexed – was followed by an emphatic triumph over West Coast last week. A win over the bottom-placed side is hardly one to save a coaching career but it does make the timing of the call to sack Goodwin with a year left on his contract all the more curious.
With three rounds remaining, Goodwin has declined the offer to coach out the season. He has baulked at the opportunity to enjoy the sort of send-off that a premiership coach typically deserves. The farewell tour would even have begun with a reminder of the glory days when Melbourne face their 2021 grand final opponents Western Bulldogs on Sunday. Instead, the Demons will tiptoe into their next era with clear air and a head start on finding Goodwin’s successor.
Goodwin spent 11 years at the Demons including nine seasons as head coach. He was handed a team blessed with top-end talent and ready to rise, as part of a succession plan to take over from coach Paul Roos ahead of the 2017 season. An 11-year finals drought was broken the following year as Melbourne reached a preliminary final ahead of time. The best was still to come as Goodwin led the Demons to heights they had not scaled for 57 years and will live long in their hearts. But the grand old club only has to look to the period before Goodwin took charge, rather than all the way back to the curse of Norm Smith, to recall how a steady decline can quickly turn into something much longer and deeper.
