Melbourne announce seven person coaching panel, include NRL director

Sean Dillon

Melbourne announce seven person coaching panel, include NRL director image

Over one week after Melbourne sacked coach Simon Goodwin, today the Demons announced the panel looking for his replacement.

Goodwin, who coached the Demons to their drought-breaking premiership in 2021, was dismissed as coach last week.

President Brad Green said the club needed a new voice in the coaching role at the press conference confirming the sacking.

The club released a statement today announcing the panel, which includes people at the club with Green, director Steve Smith, incoming CEO Paul Guerra, committee member Meahan Callaghan, and Demons general manager of AFL football performance Alan Richardson on the panel

MORE: Demons star tipped to be a senior coach in the future

Outside of the club, Frank Ponissi, the current director of football at Melbourne Storm, who has been at the NRL side for 18 years, will be one member of the Demons panel.

Ponissi has won four premierships during his time at the Storm and has formed one of the most successful partnerships with coach Craig Bellamy

Former Essendon club legend Jobe Watson is also one member of the panel, with the two-time All-Australian and 220-game player seen as a good member with experience from another club.

Watson played under legendary AFL coach Kevin Sheedy, who won 4 premierships at the Bombers, as well as other premiership coaches John Worsfold and Mark 'Bomber' Thompson.

Earlier this week, Goodwin confirmed the reason he was given by the board for his sacking was to give the players a new voice.

The Demons said the panel will start on their search for a coach immediately and will try and make an appointment by mid-late September.'

Sean Dillon

Sean Dillon is a contributing Wires Writer at The Sporting News based in Sydney, Australia