Long ago and far away, the Melbourne Football Club replaced its coach in difficult circumstances after the team suffered a devastating loss. In the aftermath, I penned the following words:

“Then came the politics, the intrigue, the axing, the sound of the football world laughing at a club, the circling of the media vultures, the reinvention of history, the anger, the irony, the pathos, the hurt on the face of the president, the dignified departure of the coach, and the determination of the newly appointed caretaker.”

Today, we’re back in the same place although one difference here is that the coach who was terminated this time is Simon Goodwin, the man who four years ago guided the club to its most recent premiership victory. 

There is a considerable amount for which we are indebted to Simon Goodwin. The club’s first premiership after 57 years in the wilderness, multiple finals campaigns, the feeling of excitement and the restoration of relevance as a sporting organization notwithstanding some relentless media scrutiny, and recent issues at board level for a club without a home base. And with our eternal thanks to Goody, we move on …

And we move forward with reason for confidence in the future as expressed by Goodwin at his outgoing press conference. That’s not an unjustified belief. He was in the midst of overseeing a significant change in style from contested slow ball movement with a base of midfield bulls to a faster transition into attack. 

When the Demons fell to 0-5 following their loss to the Bombers, they had a percentage of 59.5, whereas today, their record stands at 7-13 with a significantly improved percentage of 95.0. Notably, despite struggling with poor forward movement, dismal goal-kicking inaccuracy, and several close losses, their record from Round 6 onwards has been 7-8 with a percentage of 109.6. This is a resurgence of sorts and it includes victories over both of last year's grand finalists and a finals contender in Fremantle, as well as a narrow one-point loss to Collingwood, not to mention a couple of other close ones. A record that’s not shabby and not evidence of a basket case as some in the media would represent. But it raises the real question of why now?

The answer to this question takes us back to 2011 when the playing group's inconsistency and unreliability created an unsustainable situation for the coach. This year's performances provided sufficient evidence in scattered instances for the board to determine that Goodwin's long-term future was similarly untenable. Perhaps, the change to a more direct, attacking style, blunted its once vaunted defensive pressure? Regardless of perspective, the style he was implementing proved insufficient in their minds to stimulate a revival over the remaining term of his contract. Consequently, this marks the end of an era and signals significant changes on the horizon.

That horizon is however, outside the club’s boundaries for 2025, and given the fixture the Demons are facing, there is little optimism about improving the club’s record. Interim coach Troy Chaplin is caught betwixt and between. His team is facing three teams vying for finals participation or better, while Melbourne has a different agenda as the season draws to a meaningless close.

This week, the team will face off against the Western Bulldogs, who boast Bontempelli, Darcy, and Naughton at the pinnacle of their abilities, as well as a midfield that potentially rivals or surpasses that of the Demons. Melbourne holds an advantage in the ruck, but the absence of Lever and May in defence continues to be felt. The most feasible outcome is that the younger players will gain invaluable experience against an opponent that will be desperate to secure a big win. 

Had the entire team demonstrated a slightly greater sense of urgency during certain periods of earlier games this year and more recently, the circumstances might be vastly different, and we could have provided our only premiership coach in six decades with a more fitting conclusion to season 2025.

Western Bulldogs by 55 points.

THE GAME

Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs at The MCG on Sunday 10 August 2024 at 3.15 pm 

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 92 wins Western Bulldogs 80 wins 1 draw

At The MCG Melbourne 49 wins Western Bulldogs 29 wins

Last Five Meetings Melbourne 4 wins  Western Bulldogs 1 win 

The Coaches Chaplin wins  Beveridge 0 wins

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Western Bulldogs 15.20.110 defeated Melbourne 9.5.59 at Marvel Stadium in Round 21, 2024 

Melbourne had no answer to Marcus Bontempelli who delivered a phenomenal performance for the Western Bulldogs and was instrumental in destroying the Demons from the very beginning of the game at Marvel Stadium. The result was that Melbourne's waning hopes of making the finals came to a dead end.

THE TEAMS 

MELBOURNE

B J. Bowey, T. McDonald, J. Adams

HB C. Salem, D. Turner, T. Rivers

C J. Culley, C. Petracca, T. Sparrow

HF H. Langford, B. Fritsch, K. Chandler

F J. Melksham, J. Van Rooyen, K. Pickett

FOLL M. Gawn, J. Viney, E. Langdon

I/C J. McVee, C. Oliver, H. Petty, C. Windsor SUB B. Howes

EMG T. Campbell, M. Jefferson, H. Sharp

IN J. Adams

OUT H. Sharp (omitted)

WESTERN BULLDOGS

B L. Bramble, J. Busslinger, J. O'Donnell

HB L. Cleary, R. Lobb, J. Johannisen

C 0. Baker, E. Richards, B. Dale

HF R. Sanders, A. Naughton, M. Kennedy

F C. Poulter, S. Darcy, R. West

FOLL T. English, M. Bontempelli, T. Liberatore

I/C J. Freijah, L. McNeil, L. Vandermeer, B. Williams SUB R. Garcia

EMG S. Davidson, J. Dolan, B. Khamis

NO CHANGE

Injury and Suspension List: Round 22

Jack Henderson — groin / Available 

Steven May — suspension / 1 week

Oliver Sestan — face / 2 weeks

Jake Lever — ankle/ TBC

Marty Hore — knee, shoulder / season

Shane McAdam — Achilles / season

Andy Moniz-Wakefield — knee / season

One correction to your wonderful comments Demonland. Third paragraph.......the man who guided the Club to it's last premiership victory. Most recent looks and sounds better don't you agree ? Keep up the great work.

demongorm.

2 minutes ago, demongorm said:

One correction to your wonderful comments Demonland. Third paragraph.......the man who guided the Club to it's last premiership victory. Most recent looks and sounds better don't you agree ? Keep up the great work.

demongorm.

Point taken - and changed. I forgot about 2026.

I was struggling to see us winning this before SG was replaced. There will no doubt be a few who don't give 100% on Sunday. A loss by 8 -10 is my prediction. What these next 3 games will show us is those who move on quickly and those who don't. The don'ts will then show us they want out. The reason we did it now and not in 3 weeks I guess. Gives the FD/ new coach more info on who to trade.

Three tough games coming up. Realistically it will be tough to just win one game. If that is the case, I hope it is against Collingeffingwood.

Edited August 7Aug 7 by Wodja
Misspelt Collingwood