Melbourne legend Garry Lyon has said he is “shocked” by Melbourne’s decision to sack Simon Goodwin.
It was reported on Tuesday morning that the club would be parting ways with the 2021 premiership coach.
Goodwin had been on borrowed time after consecutive poor years where the Demons failed to make finals.
But with a contract that was set to see him through to the end of 2026, Lyon was blindsided by the decision to see the call made now.
MORE: Melbourne set to sack Simon Goodwin after run of poor form
“I’m stunned, shocked, totally shocked. [I] had no heads up on this whatsoever,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast
“I thought that there would be a long review at the end of this year, and then determine whether he coached out his final year.
“Premiership coaches are pretty rare at the Melbourne Footy Club, he’s one of four. He’ll be a hero of this football club forever.
“This is a massive call.”
Goodwin was thought to be on the hot seat after the Demons coughed up a 46-point lead against St Kilda just over a week ago.
An 83-point win over the last-placed West Coast Eagles on Saturday was not enough to save him his job.
Goodwin will go down as one of the greatest coaches in Melbourne’s history, helping the club break a 57-year premiership drought in the 2021 season.
But the Demons had failed to win a final since winning the flag, and now face an uncertain future as the club transitions into a rebuild, with several premiership players expected to gain significant interest in this year’s upcoming trade period.