A nice piece about Koz in The Age: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/kysaiah-pickett-opens-up-on-his-culture-his-future-and-his-safe-space-20250516-p5lzqg.html

Of note:

“Pickett’s connection to home and the club where he has become a favourite among teammates and fans is apparent in an interview he and his father gave to this masthead to mark the league’s celebrations of Indigenous culture in the game.

“There’s always homesickness,” Pickett said. “Anyone who’s from interstate, they’re always homesick, they always think about going home. I have honest conversations with Goody and [I’ve] been able to tell him I’m homesick, but there’s never really any talk about leaving at the moment.”

And on Goodwin: “We’ve got a pretty close relationship,” Pickett said. “We’ve had a lot of honest conversations and all that and he’s supported me a lot.

“Like when we play away, when we play home [in WA], I get to stay a few days, get to go early to spend time with my family during the week. If I’m not feeling up to it, he’ll let me stay home. He’s a very supportive coach. And I just love him for that.

“I think I proved to him that I can work hard away from the club and I’ve been able to earn his trust since a young age.”

And his father’s comments: “The treatment of my son at this club has been amazing,” Kropinyeri said. “Their love, understanding. Then you got Matty Whelan, who comes in, helps him out with any type of Aboriginal perspectives here.

“I get a real family atmosphere, and they have loved and treated my son very well. If you’re loving my son well, then you’ve got my love and respect.”

Love that. A huge endorsement on Goodwin as a person too.

Wasn't it MW that convinced Goody that it would be a bad idea not to let Koz spend a chunk of the pre-season back in WA?

If he can be convinced to sign a contract extension it will virtually ensure that all of his best years will be in a red & blue guernsey and that his offspring are locked in as father son / daughter picks.

Just read that article. It really casts doubt on the theory that he is going to WA next year, and it is a ringing endorsement of the club and of Goody and how they are working with Kossie. Of course, the Goodwin haters will ignore it.

2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

A nice piece about Koz in The Age: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/kysaiah-pickett-opens-up-on-his-culture-his-future-and-his-safe-space-20250516-p5lzqg.html

Of note:

“Pickett’s connection to home and the club where he has become a favourite among teammates and fans is apparent in an interview he and his father gave to this masthead to mark the league’s celebrations of Indigenous culture in the game.

“There’s always homesickness,” Pickett said. “Anyone who’s from interstate, they’re always homesick, they always think about going home. I have honest conversations with Goody and [I’ve] been able to tell him I’m homesick, but there’s never really any talk about leaving at the moment.”

And on Goodwin: “We’ve got a pretty close relationship,” Pickett said. “We’ve had a lot of honest conversations and all that and he’s supported me a lot.

“Like when we play away, when we play home [in WA], I get to stay a few days, get to go early to spend time with my family during the week. If I’m not feeling up to it, he’ll let me stay home. He’s a very supportive coach. And I just love him for that.

“I think I proved to him that I can work hard away from the club and I’ve been able to earn his trust since a young age.”

And his father’s comments: “The treatment of my son at this club has been amazing,” Kropinyeri said. “Their love, understanding. Then you got Matty Whelan, who comes in, helps him out with any type of Aboriginal perspectives here.

“I get a real family atmosphere, and they have loved and treated my son very well. If you’re loving my son well, then you’ve got my love and respect.”

That article and Goody's absolute confidence that Kozzie is staying ( not surprising from a coach of course ) and the fact an extension has been offered, may see Kozzie signing up with us for a longer period and putting these "leaving stories" to bed.

That would not surprise me at all.

While you can mount an argument that Goodwin needs to be replaced as senior coach, it’s really vital to understand the relationships that he has with some of our most important players. The risk vs reward needs to be taken into account.

Another coach may not have the connection to Kosi or Trac or hell even Jackson.

Port may soon find out how much Ken had to do with keeping Butters in Adelaide…

5 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

While you can mount an argument that Goodwin needs to be replaced as senior coach, it’s really vital to understand the relationships that he has with some of our most important players. The risk vs reward needs to be taken into account.

Another coach may not have the connection to Kosi or Trac or hell even Jackson.

Port may soon find out how much Ken had to do with keeping Butters in Adelaide…

While I was thinking we need a new coach and FD, I was also thinking of Goody’s connection to many of our players and maybe future players and changing our Coach may actually cause more harm than good.

1 minute ago, Redleg said:

While I was thinking we need a new coach and FD, I was also thinking of Goody’s connection to many of our players and maybe future players and changing our Coach may actually cause more harm than good.

As put in post elsewhere. I think he's in the wrong role. Slide Goody sideways.. Get a better strategic coach. Win win

Edited May 17May 17 by beelzebub

16 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

As put in post elsewhere. I think he's in the wrong role. Slide Goody sideways.. Get a better strategic coach. Win win

I have thought recently that Goody is really a player manager of sorts and the tactical side comes from others in the Coaches box.

If we improved the tactical side, there is no reason Goody couldn’t stay on as he is clearly supported by the players.

1 hour ago, Jaded No More said:

While you can mount an argument that Goodwin needs to be replaced as senior coach, it’s really vital to understand the relationships that he has with some of our most important players. The risk vs reward needs to be taken into account.

Another coach may not have the connection to Kosi or Trac or hell even Jackson.

Port may soon find out how much Ken had to do with keeping Butters in Adelaide…

This.

Plus those arguing for a change are ignoring the implications to our soft cap. A new coach would not be cheap and would want to bring in their own people and this isn’t feasible if we are paying Goodwin $1m to not coach their own people club.

3 hours ago, Redleg said:

That article and Goody's absolute confidence that Kozzie is staying ( not surprising from a coach of course ) and the fact an extension has been offered, may see Kozzie signing up with us for a longer period and putting these "leaving stories" to bed.

That would not surprise me at all.

I think the most important thing is that Kozzie is reasonably happy at Melbourne and a close connection with the club. We dont need him to sign an extension this year. Still has 2+ years to run.

Matt Whelan should get props for his role at the club, he’s clearly been a really important part of our program. He’s gone from a player we all loved to a key part of the footy department.

6 minutes ago, deegirl said:

Matt Whelan should get props for his role at the club, he’s clearly been a really important part of our program. He’s gone from a player we all loved to a key part of the footy department.

Another PJ appointment. 👏

3 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Port may soon find out how much Ken had to do with keeping Butters in Adelaide…

Butters and Kenny are very, very close by all accounts.

2 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

I think the most important thing is that Kozzie is reasonably happy at Melbourne and a close connection with the club. We dont need him to sign an extension this year. Still has 2+ years to run.

But signing an extension would be a clear statement from Kozzie and that would be good for a lot of reasons.

2 hours ago, Adam The God said:

Another PJ appointment. 👏

This was actually a Josh Mahoney endorsement and appointment. Mahoney was an assistant coach when Wheels was still playing and kept in close contact with him when he was doing some work at Essendon.

6 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

While you can mount an argument that Goodwin needs to be replaced as senior coach, it’s really vital to understand the relationships that he has with some of our most important players. The risk vs reward needs to be taken into account.

Another coach may not have the connection to Kosi or Trac or hell even Jackson.

Port may soon find out how much Ken had to do with keeping Butters in Adelaide…

A coach should be kept because he can coach not because of his relationships with certain players. As I said in another thread it’s these same relationships that have gifted certain players games and potentially turned a blind eye to certain goings on with others.

Port have achieved nothing under Hinkley and should have turfed him years ago. If Butters is to leave it probably has more to do with chasing success than his relationship with Hinkley. Players aren’t stupid, very few would have the one coach at AFL level.

Edited May 18May 18 by Bombay Airconditioning

On 25/04/2025 at 11:28, KozzyCan said:

They got unlucky with Hogan

so did we

On 26/04/2025 at 10:32, mmwd6 said:

Seems downright impossible if he hits his triggers though. Contracted till 2031 would make him worth more than Kozzie.

Apparently Michael Frederick might be on the out if they lure Kozzie home. I think he'd be worth a look. Super fast, great overhead, and great shot at goal. Think he can be a much better player than he is on the dockers. They don't use him well enough.

Do you think we would use him (Frederick) better?

2 hours ago, monoccular said:

Do you think we would use him (Frederick) better?

If there's any chance Frederick might be on the out, I'd absolutely target him. Exactly what we need. Keep Kozzy too. Let's pick the bones of Freo.

14 hours ago, Redleg said:

I have thought recently that Goody is really a player manager of sorts and the tactical side comes from others in the Coaches box.

You're selling him short. If you go back to the time he was an assistant at Essendon, there was already commentary around as to how astute he was. Not for nothing that it was Goodwin who was asked to take the reins when Hird stepped down.

There's been talk here as to the role Yze played at Melbourne, but once again, not for nothing that assistants like Yze and McQualtor (especially) chose to work under Goodwin in the first place, when they could have had their pick of teams/coaches.

And same for players like May, Lever etc., who've come into the club, or even re-signing players like Brayshaw, Viney, Pickett, Oliver etc. It's not just that Goodwin's a good people person, it's that they know that he knows what he's doing.

It's interesting in this context to watch that miked-up video from the 21 GF. Goodwin isn't just giving players pep talks and pats on the back, most of what he's saying is tactical.

On 18/05/2025 at 06:20, titan_uranus said:

A nice piece about Koz in The Age: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/kysaiah-pickett-opens-up-on-his-culture-his-future-and-his-safe-space-20250516-p5lzqg.html

Of note:

“Pickett’s connection to home and the club where he has become a favourite among teammates and fans is apparent in an interview he and his father gave to this masthead to mark the league’s celebrations of Indigenous culture in the game.

“There’s always homesickness,” Pickett said. “Anyone who’s from interstate, they’re always homesick, they always think about going home. I have honest conversations with Goody and [I’ve] been able to tell him I’m homesick, but there’s never really any talk about leaving at the moment.”

And on Goodwin: “We’ve got a pretty close relationship,” Pickett said. “We’ve had a lot of honest conversations and all that and he’s supported me a lot.

“Like when we play away, when we play home [in WA], I get to stay a few days, get to go early to spend time with my family during the week. If I’m not feeling up to it, he’ll let me stay home. He’s a very supportive coach. And I just love him for that.

“I think I proved to him that I can work hard away from the club and I’ve been able to earn his trust since a young age.”

And his father’s comments: “The treatment of my son at this club has been amazing,” Kropinyeri said. “Their love, understanding. Then you got Matty Whelan, who comes in, helps him out with any type of Aboriginal perspectives here.

“I get a real family atmosphere, and they have loved and treated my son very well. If you’re loving my son well, then you’ve got my love and respect.”

This is the sense I got from speaking to Kevin a couple of years ago, when I met him at a NSW Demons function prior to playing Sydney at the SCG, Kozzy had at that stage extended his contract. Kevin was thrilled he did that, and told me he had been urging him to stage at Melbourne, because the club have been fantastic in looking after his best interests. This is why I have maintained I can't see Kozzy leaving, especially as Ardu wants to stay in Melbourne. Kevin and Ardu are huge keys in this, they're very supportive and loving of Kozzy and they love that the club are, too.

10 hours ago, bing181 said:

You're selling him short. If you go back to the time he was an assistant at Essendon, there was already commentary around as to how astute he was. Not for nothing that it was Goodwin who was asked to take the reins when Hird stepped down.

There's been talk here as to the role Yze played at Melbourne, but once again, not for nothing that assistants like Yze and McQualtor (especially) chose to work under Goodwin in the first place, when they could have had their pick of teams/coaches.

And same for players like May, Lever etc., who've come into the club, or even re-signing players like Brayshaw, Viney, Pickett, Oliver etc. It's not just that Goodwin's a good people person, it's that they know that he knows what he's doing.

It's interesting in this context to watch that miked-up video from the 21 GF. Goodwin isn't just giving players pep talks and pats on the back, most of what he's saying is tactical.

If we continue playing like yesterday there will be no issue with the Coach.

Great to read that, and speaks volumes about the relationships and how much everyone seems to get on with our coach. Yesterday was awesome, and this to me says "guess what, our culture is actually pretty good" so hopefully it shuts up the haters like Kornes and he finds someone else to kick while they're down.

Hell I'm all in on our coach, he obviously knows what he's doing and guess what, the people that spend the most time with him seem so really love the guy, so perhaps its time we got on board and just let him do his job and realize that there will always be ups and downs in sport because guess what...you can't win all the time...but damn its sweet when you do :)

1 hour ago, Katrina Dee Fan said:

This is the sense I got from speaking to Kevin a couple of years ago, when I met him at a NSW Demons function prior to playing Sydney at the SCG, Kozzy had at that stage extended his contract. Kevin was thrilled he did that, and told me he had been urging him to stage at Melbourne, because the club have been fantastic in looking after his best interests. This is why I have maintained I can't see Kozzy leaving, especially as Ardu wants to stay in Melbourne. Kevin and Ardu are huge keys in this, they're very supportive and loving of Kozzy and they love that the club are, too.

How do you know Ardu wants to stay in Melbourne? Certainly great and helpful if true.

4 minutes ago, Young Angus said:

Great to read that, and speaks volumes about the relationships and how much everyone seems to get on with our coach. Yesterday was awesome, and this to me says "guess what, our culture is actually pretty good" so hopefully it shuts up the haters like Kornes and he finds someone else to kick while they're down.

Hell I'm all in on our coach, he obviously knows what he's doing and guess what, the people that spend the most time with him seem so really love the guy, so perhaps its time we got on board and just let him do his job and realize that there will always be ups and downs in sport because guess what...you can't win all the time...but damn its sweet when you do :)

Loved the big smile on Tracc.

That is not made up and he appears very invested.

That win was very important for the younger guys too, as it gives a sense of belief and they can see the light at the end of the tunnel.