AFL great Matthew Lloyd has warned that Simon Goodwin’s time at Melbourne could be up if the Demons suffer defeat to last-placed West Coast on Saturday.
The Demons are reeling after an astonishing collapse against St Kilda, squandering a 46-point lead before losing to a Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera goal after the siren. The result left them 13th on the ladder—and the pressure on Goodwin, who coached the side to their 2021 premiership, has reached boiling point.
Speaking on Nine’s Today, Lloyd said even a win against the struggling Eagles might not be enough to silence the noise around the coach’s future.
“If they lose, that could spell the end”
“I don't think so, no,” Lloyd replied when asked whether a win would ease the heat. “Moreso if they lost that game, that could spell the end for Simon Goodwin, you would think, if they were to lose to West Coast, who have won one game for the season.”
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Lloyd pointed to ongoing unrest behind the scenes, with key players reportedly frustrated or seeking moves away.
“They have been off for a couple of years now, [and] there is something not quite right. Christian Petracca tried to leave last year, Clayton Oliver tried to leave, Max Gawn has been frustrated,” he said.
“Their game plan looks tired, like it's something from three or four years ago when they won a premiership.”
While Goodwin is under contract until the end of 2026, reports suggest a premature sacking could come with a $1 million payout.