Demons president Kate Roffey has backed premiership coach Simon Goodwin, after reports suggested the club had considered standing him down on the eve of last season.
Key points:
- Reports suggested Demons coach Simon Goodwin had been scrutinised over behavioural issues heading into 2021
- The club carried out a review of its football department after missing finals in 2020
- Melbourne broke a 57-year premiership drought by winning the 2021 grand final over the Western Bulldogs
Goodwin, who led Melbourne to the 2021 AFL premiership, was the subject of a wider review process at the end of 2020 after the club missed finals.
News Corp reports on Tuesday suggested the club had looked at relieving Goodwin of his duties due to alleged behavioural issues, including claims of bullying.
However, Roffey said that was not the case, and Goodwin had the full backing of the club after the review process had been completed.
“On behalf of the current board, I would like to make it incredibly clear that Simon Goodwin, as the current reigning premiership coach and AFL coach of the year, is an exceptional leader of our football club,” Roffey said.
“As has been widely publicised, at the conclusion [of] the 2020 home and away season the Melbourne Football Club board commissioned a review of the football program which was conducted by chief executive officer Gary Pert.
“At the completion of the review process, the resulting recommendations were presented to the board at the time, and which were unanimously signed off and endorsed.”
Roffey said the review had led to changes throughout the club, including the coaching, high performance and medical areas, while Goodwin’s position was reaffirmed.
“As expected from any review, the final recommendations outlined areas for improvement for several key staff within the football program, that feedback was given and welcomed by Simon and others as a way of improving our young leaders who are driving the cultural change,” Roffey said.
“Simon, like many others within the department, was given this feedback and embraced the opportunity it provided to evolve and improve as a coach.
“During these feedback discussions, Simon totally rejected any accusations of bullying behaviour and as the club president, I totally support Simon rejecting those accusations.”
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
