- Comes after record loss to St Kilda
- Has faced scrutiny since 2019 grand final
- Will be paid out remainder of contract
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has been sacked, with the board losing faith in the team’s direction.
The 48‑year‑old was reportedly told on Monday night after the club’s win over the West Coast Eagles.
Goodwin’s future had been in doubt after opening the season with five straight losses, followed by another five‑game losing streak that crushed their finals chances.
He will receive a payout of nearly $1million for next season despite being contracted through 2026.
Goodwin has spent much of the past few years navigating a string of controversies that have repeatedly threatened to overshadow his premiership success.
In early 2022, reports surfaced that the club board had considered standing him down over allegations of bullying, gambling with players and an incident at the Sorrento Hotel, but a review cleared him to continue.
Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin (pictured with wife Kris) has been sacked by the club after a season of poor results and ongoing controversies
The Demons had just notched up a big win against the West Coast Eagles before the decision to cut ties with Goodwin
Court documents lodged by former president Glen Bartlett and his partner later claimed Goodwin had used illicit drugs and behaved poorly after the 2019 grand final, accusations the coach and the club strongly rejected as unsubstantiated.
Goodwin has consistently denied all drug rumours, saying they have damaged his reputation and hurt his family, while CEO Gary Pert has maintained the allegations are false and that the coach retains full board support.
In mid‑2025, his handling of player welfare came under scrutiny when he publicly mentioned captain Max Gawn’s private struggles, a revelation that reportedly blindsided Gawn and raised questions about internal trust.
That came on the heels of a disastrous collapse against St Kilda, when Melbourne blew a 46‑point final‑quarter lead.
Around the same time, a threatening social media post about Goodwin was reported to the AFL and police, although it was later revealed to be a hoax.
The announcement still came with a degree of shock for Demons fans, after the club notched up a relieving 83-point win over the West Coast Eagles.
‘I’ve said it all along, it’s not about me,’ Goodwin said after the win.
‘It’s about the footy team and the footy club and we think we’ve been building something throughout the year without outcome and sometimes that can be really tough for our supporters and it can be tough for people internally.
‘But I’m really clear about what we’re building and what we’re trying to build and what we’re trying to transition into and I can see it unfolding.
‘But we need to learn how we turn the process into outcome and today was a part of that, but we’ve still got work to do.’
The Melbourne Demons are 13th on the AFL ladder with a 7-13 record and three rounds left of the regular season.
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