Behind the scenes: How Goodwin was told he was sacked

• Garry Lyon "shocked and stunned"
• Hodge: Will Gawn stay
• The contenders: 12 names in the mix
• Troy Chaplin will act as caretaker

The decision to sack Simon Goodwin was a unanimous decision by the Melbourne board, according to stand-in president Brad Green who fronted the media alongside the outgoing coach.

The pair presented a united front as Green lifted the lid on when and how the news had been delivered to the 48-year-old.

"When we made the decision last night (Monday) I got straight on the phone to him," Green said.

"I said ’mate the board has come to a decision I need to come over and have a chat’.

"This has been a process it wasn’t a decision made in just a few days. It’s been going on for four or five weeks.

"After the decision (was made) I got straight into the car to go and see him.

"Once I got over there I had a chat with Simon and delivered the news. That’s how it played out.

"This is not about Simon's coaching career, he can coach, we believe the club needs a new voice and coach to take this forward.

"It’s nothing against Simon, we think he is a terrific coach, he has been in our program 11 years.

"It’s about timing and to go forward we need a new voice."

Green confirmed the club had offered Goodwin the chance to coach the final three games of the season but for the good of the players the offer was turned down.

Troy Chaplin will act as caretaker until the end of the season.

Goodwin said he had been inundated with messages and calls since the news broke.

"I spoke to Gawny at 7:30 this morning," he said. "He rang and we had a really long chat about his sadness for me not being here.

"There’s a lot of sadness from me as well. We will sit down and have a beer and debrief what has been an incredible nine years.

The Demons currently sit 12th on the ladder with a 7-13 win-loss record. They beat West Coast by 83 points on Saturday.

Read below for how the press conference played out.

A final note from Goodwin:

"Can I just say before I go, I want to thank the fans the club the staff and everyone for the support. It’s been a ride.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart, it’s been terrific."

__Brad Green asked if Goodwin was given all the chances and help he needed: __

GREEN: "We think we have. Simon has been here nine years and he won’t be happy with where the club has gone recently.

"It’s unfortunate we get to this decision. He had the energy and had the fight. We believe the club needs a new leader."

Why Goodwin opted not to coach the final three games:

"It’s to give the players the clear air. I always talk about the team mentality, and no one is bigger than the team. I didn’t want it to be about me. It’s about them and the progress they have had.

"I would love to coach again. I love coaching and the game. I’ve been 30 straight years in this game. I’ll get away and spend some time with the family.

"I’ve got five kids, and they ride every bump with you. They have been on the whole journey."

"I'll miss the people"

GOODWIN: "I’m going to miss the players first and foremost. I have some amazing relationships. Seeing them grow as players and people. I’ll miss giving George Gawn a bag of lollies after every game.

"I’ll miss the people. I wont miss driving down to Casey.

"I spoke to Gawny at 7:30 this morning, he rang and we had a really long chat. About his sadness for me not being here. There’s a lot of sadness from me as well. We will sit down and have a beer and debrief what has been an incredible nine years.

"Not at all (no regrets). Everyone said I wont achieve anything here and something really special got us to the pinnacle. I’ve been blessed to work with so many good people.

"What we are going through is a natural progression.

"I’m excited about my next chapter."

GOODWIN

"I was disappointed there’s no doubt about that but I respect their decision its their right to make that decision. Disappointed because I think we are a hell of a lot closer to making this team a contender than what people think.

"Ultimately, it’s the board decision.

"The club are taking a different approach. I've been fortunate to coach this club for nine years. I've worked with wonderful players and people.

"We've been to the top of the mountains once and we can get back. Now we are in transition.

"The challenges you work through and they can be really defining moments for your football club. I thought last week showed we have a different mindset.

I will watch them this week with great pride against the Bulldogs."

Why did you sacked him?

GREEN: "When we made the decision last night I got straight on the phone to him. I said ’mate the board has come to a decision I need to come over and have a chat’.

"This has been a process it wasn’t a decision made in just a few days. It’s been going on for four or five weeks.

"Once I got over there I had a chat with Simon and delivered the news to Simon. That’s how it played out.

"After the decision I got straight into the car to go and see him. This is not about Simon's coaching career, he can coach, we believe the club needs a new voice and coach to take this forward.

"Simon has got resilience you look at the last five six years. We don’t shy away from how hard change is. We’re a board to direct and govern the place. Simon has been resilient through that period.

"The media has not respected Simon enough.

"It’s nothing against Simon, we think he is a terrific coach, he has been in our program 11 years.

"It’s about timing and to go forward we need a new voice."

1:03pm Brad Green

"It’s a tough day for our football club. We will be parting ways with Goodwin. These things are never easy for anyone involved. Its not a decision we or the club have taken lightly.

"Simon achieved the ultimate success and took this club to its first AFL men’s premiership in 57 years.

"203 games, in 2021 he was All Aus coach, 2021 he was coach of the year.

"I want to take a moment to acknowledge the unbelievable journey we have had with Simon."

12:45pm Goodwin will speak

The Demons have confirmed that Simon Goodwin will join Brad Green in today's press conference.

It's set to get underway in about 10 minutes.

Demons players are filing in for the press conference.

11:15am - Brad Green's letter to Melbourne members

Dear Members,

I am writing to inform you that after 9 years at the helm, Simon Goodwin will be departing the club.

The Board and I came to the decision earlier this week that it is time for a new voice to lead our AFL playing group and program forward.

Simon has given every ounce of his passion and energy to our club over his 11 years here, and as we look to transition to our next AFL premiership, the Board believes that a new senior coach is required to maximise the opportunity ahead of us.

Obviously, decisions like these are never easy to come to, but ultimately, we have made this decision in the best interests of the football club. While Simon leaves an incredible legacy, it is now time for someone else to take the reins and bring with them new energy and new ideas to revitalise our playing list and program.

As a club we have confidence in our playing group and what it can achieve, this decision is about ensuring we maximise our potential and put the right person in place to drive us to our next AFL premiership.

While we have made the decision to part ways with Simon, that should not dampen the extraordinary legacy he leaves behind. Simon leaves our club as one of only four coaches in the club’s history to take our AFL program to a premiership and sits behind only Norm Smith, Frank Hughes and Neale Daniher, for games coached at the Dees. A legacy, he should be incredibly proud of.

On behalf of the entire football club, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Simon for everything he has given to the red and blue over the journey. The role of a senior coach is an incredibly demanding one, and despite the challenges along the way, Simon has poured his heart and soul into the Melbourne Football Club.

While this is the end of Simon’s tenure at the Dees, he will always be a Melbourne person, and we wish him, his wife Kris and their family, all the best in their next adventure.

Simon will finish with the club effective immediately and assistant coach Troy Chaplin, will step in as caretaker coach for the remainder of the 2025 season. Troy has been with the club since the end of 2016 and is well equipped and ready to guide the program over the next few weeks.

We will now commence our search for the next Senior Coach of the Melbourne Football Club. As you all know, this is a crucial appointment and one which will significantly shape the future of our club. The Board will assemble a panel to lead the search for our next Senior Coach.

We will confirm the full structure of the panel early next week, but for now I ask that today we focus on celebrating and thanking Simon Goodwin for his incredible contribution to our footy club.

10:45am - JORDAN LEWIS

Jordan Lewis played under Goodwin for three seasons from 2017 to 2019 and admits it was a shock to see the news.

“When I first saw it I thought it was a joke and I was a little surprised, I must say,” Lewis said on SEN's Whateley.

“It wasn’t something I was expecting, especially with three games to go.

“But there must be a variety of reasons why they’ve decided to go now, make that change and start their search for their next premiership coach.”

Does Lewis believe it is the right decision? As he sees this Melbourne list as one that should be contending, he does believe so.

“I think in the end it is,” he replied.

“At the end of the day the performance of the players which is mirrored by the performance of the team, if that’s not at a standard that matches what you think your list demographic is able to achieve I think that’s the decision that needs to get made.

“If you look at their list on paper you would think this should still be a team that’s better than seven wins in a season.

“I would imagine the coach they want next is a coach that can come in right away and make an impact to hopefully get them back up to challenge for a premiership in the next 12 to 24 months.”

Is this a jolt for change?

“I’ve got no doubt,” Lewis added.

“When you look at it more deeply, the stability of the club is important. If you’re looking from Simon Goodwin’s point of view, I think he would be relatively disappointed with the stability over the last couple of years that he’s been provided. Those above him have been trying to make decisions when there is not total alignment and that would have been hard I would imagine.”

What would the right coach look like?

“I think this list is still capable of doing something. So this is a coach, for me, that will come in and hopefully have an immediate impact,” Lewis said.

“When they’re searching for a coach right now, it might not necessarily be the best coach, but it needs to be the right coach for this particular group.”

Lewis floated former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley as the one he would be pursuing if he were at the Dees.

“They need to be tactically sound. It needs to be a bit new age.

“I think the coach needs to have a really strong character. Maybe the players have gone into a bit of self-interest rather than what’s to the benefit of the team. I think that’s impacted the whole club in terms of performance.

“Maybe people think I’m a little bit biased but I think Nathan Buckley would be my number one target. I would be calling him and seeing if he still has the desire to coach.

“He would be top of my list.”

9:45am - GARRY LYON

Melbourne legend Garry Lyon admits he is absolutely shocked by the club’s decision to sack Simon Goodwin.

The former Dees captain had no idea the call was about to be made and can’t quite get his head around the decision.

Lyon spoke of the news immediately after it broke.

“I’m stunned, shocked, totally shocked,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.

“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.”

9:25am - LUKE HODGE

"This is always the tough part of the year when teams don’t play finals. Players get told they won’t be needed next year as we have seen.

"The next stage is the coaches and it’s always a big one.

"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.

"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, Oliver, Petracca and his injury. That’s more than just the coach but it always falls back on to them."

9:06am - GERARD WHATELEY

"Simon’s Goodwin’s 9th season has proven to be his last.

"11 wins last year, seven this year.

"Goodwin has been under pressure, things looked stale. Change has been necessary.

"The question of whether that would include the coach has been answered.

"The progressive decline of Melbourne is owned at each level.

"The situation at Melbourne is not a situation conducive to change."