2 minutes ago, Hopeful Demon said:

Fair enough. I just thought that you overstated supporters' involvement in the sacking because there's no way the board bases its decisions on what people on this site are saying (as @Jaded No More said earlier).

But yeah, looking back I probably was harsh with the language that I used earlier so I apologise.

That is gracious. Thank you

I’d say that honestly im feeling relief more than anything.

No more wondering will they won’t they regarding the coach, a little more optimism with future game plans, and that change (however it happens) is afoot.

Goodwin’s time was up, not his fault the board overcommitted. As a premiership coach he deserved his full payout.

The club and Simon can now move forwards.

This is a piece of cake compared to the post-Daniher to pre-Roos eras.

10 minutes ago, kurtneverdied said:

This is a piece of cake compared to the post-Daniher to pre-Roos eras.

I always say if you survived Neeld’s reality bus, you’ll survive anything

We are all trauma bonded for life

9 hours ago, Credit To Du Bois said:

I ended up putting my thoughts down on Goody's tenure here: https://credittodubois.com/blog/history-doesnt-repeat-itself-but-often-it-rhymes

I fall more on the glass half full side of things (with the exception of 2025). Thought it was worth having some things out there of that bent given most of what I've read published is pretty negative on him.

A very well written piece.

'Tis indeed ironic that 6-6-6 told his story.

I have said at times he was quite inventive earlier in his coaching. Could he be a victim of his own doing , in a fashion . Mavericks aren't tolerated well in the AFL. It just struck me as unfortunate that in these latter years he couldn't reinvent our game, well not quick enough. It's as though he got stuck in sand .

Thanks for that effort 👍

In answer to the basic question of "how are you doing ?" - to be honest when this was first announced earlier in the week, I had a real sinking feeling and almost embarrasment like "oh no, here we go again". Melbourne are a basket case, sack the coach, ra ra ra.

But after riding all the bumps over the past 40 odd years of following our team the past 20 in particular) I've learnt not to get quite so emotional about this stuff and just switched off footy for a few days.

Putting things into perspective a bit too while its certainly not the season we'd have hoped for, our season hasn't actually been all that bad either. Yeah we've copped a couple of 60 point losses, but nothing worse than that and handed out a couple back the other way. We've been pretty compeditive against some of the higher ranked sides too and our percentage is getting close to 100%.

I don't actually read all that much into the St Kilda loss - Hawthorn had just as bad a quarter against Adelaide the other week, which took them from a dominant position to loosing the game as well. GWS had a bigger turn around against Sydney in a quarter too. If anything, St Kilda got pretty lucky to be gifted a 50m penalty and a free kick out of the centre in the dying minutes and seconds, without which we win the game and it's pretty much a non story. Big turn arounds happen in quarters these days - just look at the last 45mins of our 2021 GF.

What happened this week was nothing compared to some of the bad old days era 2008-2013. As an asides, I reinstated my MFC membership while living interstate in 2012 after a thumping loss to West Coast by 108 points that had many baying for blood. This past weeks have been nothing like that.

On 05/08/2025 at 18:28, GawnOfTheDead said:

Just a quick check to see how everyone’s traveling with the huge news?

Myself? I’m still shocked, but not surprised.

I feel change was required, however I also don’t know if the change will bring the desired outcome any time soon.

I feel a bit sad too, like a part of me is off. It’s not a nice feeling knowing the clubs in unknown territory.

I’m excited, I’m excited to see the changes in personnel and also game style.

I’m optimistic. I’m optimistic that we come back with all the changes that Goody spoke of over the last seasons, new style, exciting play, close team etc.

What do you think is coming for the club? What do you hope to see for the end of 2025 and pre-season into 2026?

The prospect of us knocking the pies out of the 8 has me feeling pretty good!

6 minutes ago, Doug Reemer said:

The prospect of us knocking the pies out of the 8 has me feeling pretty good!

Oh mate, [censored] bring it on. I’d put this season down as a success if we can pull that off!

19 hours ago, Credit To Du Bois said:

I ended up putting my thoughts down on Goody's tenure here: https://credittodubois.com/blog/history-doesnt-repeat-itself-but-often-it-rhymes

I fall more on the glass half full side of things (with the exception of 2025). Thought it was worth having some things out there of that bent given most of what I've read published is pretty negative on him.

Great read, but more importantly, your username is amazing lol 😂

I've been a Dees supporter since I can remember. My Trident membership is coming up for its 20th auto renew.

There's been some good [censored] during that time and lots of bad [censored].

But ... when it all comes down to it ... football is an industry built around a game. It's not life !

I'm sure I don't lack emotion but I just don't understand or share the feeling of bereavement that some posters pour out.

I feel like Maxy does.

really looking forward to the doggies game now.

a new beginning. the possibilities

Feeling good. The correct decision was clearly made IMO and we move on.

We beat St Kilda at Marvel in Goodwin's first game in 2017 and the vibes were good. If someone said to you walking out of the ground that day that the coach would be there for 9 seasons with a flag, three top 4 home and away finishes and a prelim appearance despite not finishing top 4, you'd more than sign up for that. So a job well done to Simon.

I'm still gutted that Goody isn't our coach. However, I think Max was fantastic on his recent MMM radio slot in helping supporters like me with the process of moving on from the board's decision. As I've said many times, we're so lucky to have him as our leader.

I guess if you don't move on and change with the game, you have to move on. If he really thought he could sniff another premiership, I think he was delusional and needed moving on.

How am I going? Fine - thanks for asking (that's not supposed to be snarky - I mean it).

One thing I've noticed mentioned a lot is that "this is a business", the implication being that in business cold, commercial decisions are made and if you're an adult you accept them.

I've always thought of this as a strange assertion, whether you take it as a kind of metaphor (AFL clubs are akin to businesses) or as a literal statement (AFL clubs are now, in many ways, exactly the same as corporations). Businesses certainly make ruthless decisions. They also don't. Businesses want you to believe they are the ultimate meritocracies, their every decision based on perfect analysis of perfect data. They're not. Modern businesses aim to maximise profit, sometimes to an absurd, pathological extent. Football clubs don't.

I'm fine, but not because I accept football is a business. It's because I accept football - the football we're talking about here - is elite level sport. It has a far, far greater claim to true meritocracy than business. And it has something the vast majority of businesses don't have: very large numbers of people emotionally invested in its success.

I don't see sacking Goodwin as a rational business decision. I say it as the natural conclusion to several years of viscerally disappointing performances. As Goodwin said for much of the year, the AFL is about "outcomes". And as he said for several years, when describing poor games, we weren't "at the level". That level is the very top. Everyone there has been tested over and over and over again and deserve enormous admiration for making it that far. But those tests continue every day. And eventually, everyone is found wanting, whether through age, a lack of new ideas, a drop in enthusiasm or numerous other things.

Goodwin deserves the most generous applause for not just getting to the rarified position of AFL coach but reaching the absolute pinnacle of elite sport success. But what he achieved didn't entitle him to a job in perpetuity. I feel I owe him gratitude but not vicarous resentment or outrage.

I'm fine.

On 07/08/2025 at 08:27, Ollie fan said:

It's two days now, and I still feel absolute anger at all the people, many of them on this site, who have been relentlessly critical of him.

The talk about money is sickening. If they think that money is what motivates the coach or the players, they have no effing idea. I am really worried that some great players are going to leave the club. I fear that it is going to be a classic case of, be careful what you wish for, with many of the people on this site. And then, will they say, I was wrong? No, they will just be more and more critical, criticising from the sidelines.

Yes, I am still extremely angry.

11 hours ago, Doug Reemer said:

The prospect of us knocking the pies out of the 8 has me feeling pretty good!

I am happy if we take away the double chance away from them.

1 hour ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

I've been a Dees supporter since I can remember. My Trident membership is coming up for its 20th auto renew.

There's been some good [censored] during that time and lots of bad [censored].

But ... when it all comes down to it ... football is an industry built around a game. It's not life !

I'm sure I don't lack emotion but I just don't understand or share the feeling of bereavement that some posters pour out.

I agree Uncle, but change is harder for some to accept. It might just be a game, but I’d guess a fair few on here would find it far easier to accept change at their workplace rather than change at their football club. Hopefully for those affected, the outpouring here is cathartic for them, and they are able to “let it go”.

I am so much more impressed with Max after his MMM interview. He has set the tone for his team ( and hopefully for our supporters)- an exciting future awaits. And this will start with a great performance on Sunday (I hope). Cheer loud and proud on Sunday Uncle.

12 hours ago, Doug Reemer said:

The prospect of us knocking the pies out of the 8 has me feeling pretty good!

What's strange about that is that if we beat Bulldogs, the 9th team, they're suddenly 3 games behind the Pies with two games left and thus Pies are in the finals. That said I'd prefer we somehow win our last three.

17 hours ago, Ollie fan said:

Did you see the article in the HS today by the convent of Deebrief? He says the "supporters" had a lot to do with it.

Yep! It's amazing to think supporters have no clout. Sure, the board didn't suddenly look at this site or the like and make a decision. But as dissent snowballs, as those on the fence go that way too , I'm sure this becomes apparent even just with supporters at the games (or lack thereof of them) From there a board gets more and more antsy and often end up caving in.

While I'm annoyed there were already dissenters as early as late '22 no online commenter deserves a dressing down (bar the ***** sicko with their death threat). Coaches get sacked too often as a lazy, often counterproductive, solution so I'm disappointed . We rightly persevered with Goody in '21 and Clarkson, Hardwicke, possibly Chris Scott were given reprieves and paid back tenfold (while the likes Carlton, Essendon and St Kilda languish with regular coach changes) In 2021 we really had no proof Goody could go all the way. Yet now despite that proof we're less patient???

Anyway it's done now. Of course Gawn's attitude is the right one. I look forward to following each stage in our new coach's story.

I'm ok but Fritta and Turner are ropeable!!!

Seriously it was good to hear Gawn speak and offer some hope for the future. First baby step in restoring trust.

Every coach gets sacked eventually but I will always be grateful to Goody for 2021.

More upset about the St Kilda game.

On 07/08/2025 at 11:47, Credit To Du Bois said:

I ended up putting my thoughts down on Goody's tenure here: https://credittodubois.com/blog/history-doesnt-repeat-itself-but-often-it-rhymes

I fall more on the glass half full side of things (with the exception of 2025). Thought it was worth having some things out there of that bent given most of what I've read published is pretty negative on him.

That is brilliant credit to dubois the 6-6-6 is very succinct to Simon. Great story telling, thanks.

2 hours ago, BDA said:

I feel like Maxy does.

really looking forward to the doggies game now.

a new beginning. the possibilities

I watched the MMM interview on YouTube with Max last night. He handles himself so unbelievably well. He never just says something as a platitude. He explains his emotions well, and he seems very real when he does it.

He’s had to eat so much [censored] for the club over the last few years. In my opinion he’s one of the greatest Demons of all time, not just as a player, but as a person.

2 hours ago, The heart beats true said:

He’s had to eat so much [censored] for the club over the last few years. In my opinion he’s one of the greatest Demons of all time, not just as a player, but as a person.

The best captain out there. Nobody has had to deal with more highs and lows than Max in recent years. Carries himself so well, is forever the club's biggest cheerleader and handles every situation perfectly.

Honestly he's the only person at our club who genuinely makes me feel positive every time he speaks. I never think we are in a trouble after I hear Max.

But the man must be dead tired. How long can he keep carrying this entire organisation on his shoulders? We have to give him better support going forward. We hear far too little from Alan Richardson who is our FD manager. IMO he needs to be replaced with not just an experienced head, but someone with media clout who can be the spokesperson for this club in bad times. Max can't do it all.

Doing very well I must say