Simon Goodwin deserves the credit for coaching Melbourne into semi-final against Hawthorn
SUCCESS has a 100 fathers and Melbourne has a host of them - and deservedly so - but missing out on the recognition is coach Simon Goodwin. Where’s the love, asks Mark Robinson.
Mark Robinson
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mark Robinson. Followed categories will be added to My News.
IT STARTED minutes after the game on Friday night.
Eddie McGuire, hosting on Fox Footy, helped whip a group of frenzied Melbourne fans in the top deck of the MCG into chants of “Roosy … Roosy”.
And Paul Roos, the former Melbourne coach sitting in the studio with McGuire, was lapping it up.
SKIPPER: DEMONS’ DARK DAYS LIKE “HELL ON EARTH”
DEMON: ALEX WEARS RED AND BLUE HEART ON SLEEVE
BLIGHT: DEMONS HAVE MADE A GOOD(WIN) CHOICE
And why not.
It was a moment of adulation and reflection for the one-time Demon.
Roos didn’t take the credit for Friday night’s win, and nor he should, but unquestionably he played a role in it, starting when he joined the club in 2014.
The resurgence of the Demons has many fathers.
In the past fortnight, since the Demons reached the finals for the first time since 2006, which in turn meant they had a shot at their first premiership since 1964, the appreciation of everybody’s role has not been missed.
There have been congratulations for Jim Stynes, Don McLardy and Glen Bartlett, the succession of club presidents.
There’s Peter Jackson, the steady hand of a chief executive who has worked at reducing debt, building a football club and building a football department.
There’s Josh Mahoney, the one-time assistant coach and now head of the football department.
Jason Taylor and Todd Viney, the recruiter and manager of player personnel who helped massage, cleanse and build the playing list.
There’s Brendan McCartney, the development coach guru who bleeds contested footy.
There’s Craig Jennings, the supposed numero uno of strategy and education, in other words he knows a lot about how football should be played.
There’s Ben Mathews, who has overseen the development Melbourne’s young midfield.
Like a wedding speech - there are people who have been forgotten here - but the point is, a whole tray of contributors have made headlines and feel-good TV segments except the one man who deserves the most recognition, coach Simon Goodwin.
“Everyone deserves the credit and sometimes you have to look in front of the tree and say, hang on, we’ve got a bloody coach and he’s doing a bloody good job,” Roos said.
This is Goodwin’s second year in charge, although he largely coached the team in Roo’s final year.
Roos was a commercial appointment and was paid close to $1.5 million a year to buy time for the club to stabilise and to help rebuild the team.
Goodwin was the coaching appointment and is probably paid half as much as Roos. His role was to build relationships, and instigate and improve a game plan.
“He’s got a real close bond with the guys,” Roos said.
“His first year with me he was out to dinner with guys. He was bringing them over his house for dinner. It doesn’t happen by accident.
“He spent a lot of time investing in the players when I was coaching. He put an enormous amount of time and effort into those young guys, building relationships.”
It was only a snapshot, but while Roos was being lauded in the grandstand, Goodwin was in a hugfest on the ground with his players.
Goodwin’s connection with his players is absolute. That’s not new for a winning team going into a semi-final, but clearly there is more love and affection for Goodwin than there was Roos, probably because of the relationship investment.
Always calm, sometimes witty - note his offering of “fugazi” and James Bond in his press conferences - Goodwin’s appointment has proven to be an inspired choice.
“It’s a case of putting the right people in place,” Roos said.
“Just because we did four (wins), seven and 10, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to go 12 and 14, so you have to get the right person in.
“What we tried to do is pick the right guy to take the club to the next level because it was unlikely we were going to play finals in three years.
“This is why I’m so big on succession plans. It’s the understanding of the players that you get when you’re there for a year.
“You get the experience of taking the game plan, taking training ... the whole process has been seamless, but you can only do that if you pick the right person.’’
Goodwin would probably hate the apportioning of credit and would argue his team hasn’t achieved anything just yet.
And they haven’t.
But it is the fairytale club, which has collectively climbed out of the gutter and is romancing the MCG.
“You’d have to say he’s going to be a long-term coach and is going to take this young team on a fantastic journey for supporters over the next eight to 10 years,” Roos said.
“I’m rapt for everyone at the footy club and I’m rapt for Goody.”
Originally published as Simon Goodwin deserves the credit for coaching Melbourne into semi-final against Hawthorn
The players that made Robbo want to do a top 57
The hardest spot to pick in the top 50 isn’t No.1. It’s actually No.50. Robbo names the players he wanted to fit into his annual list – but couldn’t.
The Tackle: What Lethal told Fagan – before and after epic flag
Leigh Matthews says history only remembers what happens on grand final day – so now Chris Fagan will get the recognition he deserves. MARK ROBINSON reviews the 2024 premiership legacy.