Melbourne legend Garry Lyon has been left “totally shocked” by the news that Demons premiership coach Simon Goodwin has been sacked.
Goodwin guided Melbourne to a 57-year drought breaking flag in 2021 in Perth, but has paid the price for diminishing returns since.
The Demons are languishing in 12th place with seven wins and 13 losses so far this year with Saturday’s 83 point thumping of the West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium hanging them just their second win in their last nine games.
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Regardless of their current form line, Lyon could not believe that news broke on Tuesday morning of Goodwin being shown the door.
“I’m stunned, shocked, totally shocked. Absolutely, just shocked, I can’t get my head around it,” Lyon said.
“I thought there would be along review at the end of this year and then determined whether he could coach out the final year of his contract.
“Premiership coaches are rare at Melbourne, he’s one of four, he will be a hero of this football club forever and a day, but that obviously doesn’t guarantee tenure.
“This is a massive call.”
Lyon added: “I had no heads up on this whatsoever. Absolutely just shocked, I can’t get my head around it.”
“He won’t be coaching a farewell game, that’s something I can promise you.”
Since the 2021 premiership, Melbourne have not won a final.
They finished second on the ladder in 2022 but were bundled out in straight sets with losses to Sydney and Brisbane at the MCG.
They finished fourth in 2023 and were once again sent packing in straight sets, losing to Collingwood and Carlton.
The Demons then tumbled down the ladder in 2024, finishing 14th with 11 wins, two victories and almost 12 percentage points out of the top eight.
Two-time Norm Smith medallist Luke Hodge believes “the writing has been on the wall” for sometime for Goodwin given the lack of September success.
“People would sit back and say it’s surprising when you first hear it but then since that 2021 season, they have three of the best midfielders in the comp and they have the best ruckman,” Hodge said on SEN.
“For them to go out after that in straight sets after that, you sit back now and say the writing has been on the wall.
“Questions about whether he could develop this list have been asked. It’s always a said day though especially for someone that won the flag.
“It’s tough that it lays on the coach but that’s their role.
“Where else have we questioned that football club over the last few years. We’ve questioned the culture, (Clayton) Oliver, (Christian) Petracca and his injury.
“That’s more than just the coach but it always falls back on to them.”
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