Simon Goodwin to receive monster pay out after his brutal sacking as coach of Melbourne Demons

Simon Goodwin is set for a monster payout after his brutal sacking as Melbourne coach. All the details and what the $1.2 million figure means for the Dees’ soft cap heading into 2026.

MELBOURNE will pay out coach Simon Goodwin more than $1.2 million inside the club’s soft cap after sacking him on Monday night.

Goodwin, 48, has a full payout contract clause including $1.1 million for next season as well as a portion for the remaining three games of this year.

It means the Demons will incur a massive cost inside the AFL’s $8 million soft cap and potential luxury taxes for going over the limit for next season after making the bold call to axe Goodwin which “shocked” and “shattered” senior players on Tuesday.

The premiership coach was contracted for next season on the seven-figure wage off the back of the club’s 2021 premiership and board room turmoil.

Simon Goodwin will receive a $1.2 million pay out. Picture: David Geraghty

But the Demons made the expensive call to part ways on Monday night as they consider former senior coaches Adam Simpson, John Longmire, James Hird, Nathan Buckley as well as highly-rated senior assistants Hayden Skipworth (Collingwood), Brendon Lade (Western Bulldogs) and Steven King (Geelong) among the list of potential replacements.

Asked if the payout was a concern, president Brad Green said On Tuesday: “We will be OK.”

There is also considerable pressure on football boss Alan Richardson, while changes in the assistant coaching ranks are expected.

Green said the expectations remained high considering the talent on Melbourne’s list.

“We have got a list that, sort of, we should be playing finals we believe,” Green said.

Goodwin said he was disappointed to be moved on but stood aside immediately in the best interests of the players.

“It is just to give the players clear air,” Goodwin said.

“It just gives them a pathway forward to finish the year really strongly.”

The coach said he spoke with captain Max Gawn early on Tuesday morning from his bed with the sad news.

“At 7.30am Gawny rang and we had a really long chat about the journey, about his sadness for me not being here and being a part of it and obviously there is a lot of sadness from me as well,” he said.

“But we will sit down and have a coffee and have a beer and relax and really debrief what has been an incredible nine years.

“I have loved coaching these guys and these players, they have given their all for this football club and it is something I will cherish forever.”

‘Got that wrong’: Goodwin eyes second coaching gig after sacking

- Josh Barnes

Simon Goodwin is keen to take on a second coaching job after being axed by Melbourne as Demons president Brad Green declares his side has the list to play finals.

Goodwin was dumped as Melbourne coach on Monday night, just over 48 hours after smashing West Coast by 83 points, before the sacking became public on Tuesday morning.

He turned down an offer to coach out the season and assistant coach Troy Chaplin will take charge against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

Green was adamant on Tuesday that the decision to sack Goodwin wasn’t made because of his coaching record, which included the 2021 premiership, but because the Dees were after “a new voice”.

Simon Goodwin said he was disappointed by the board’s decision. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Green held discussions with key figures over a month-long period before making the call to dump Goodwin.

The president denied the call had come in the wake of a round 20 implosion, in which Melbourne surrendered a 46-point three quarter-time lead, a VFL/AFL record.

Green said his board thought the Melbourne squad should be in the top eight, rather than sitting 12th.

“We still believe we’ve got a list that should be playing finals as a board, we don’t shy away from that,” Green said.

Goodwin said he was “disappointed” to be cut by the club and said the Dees were “a hell of a lot closer to turning our club back into a contender than a lot of people think”.

He said he didn’t feel blindsided to be axed just days after belting the Eagles.

A Goodwin assistant, Mark Williams is the only premiership coach of the AFL era to only lead one club, and Goodwin said he would “love” to lead another club.

“I’d love to coach again, I love coaching, I love the game,” he said.

“Right now I need a little holiday, a little rest. It has been 30-straight years in this game. And obviously finishing up a little early gives that time for a little more rest.”

Green agreed that Goodwin could coach again.

“This (sacking) is not about Simon’s coaching career, Simon can coach. He has got the energy and the fight,” Green said.

“We just believe the club was looking for a new voice and a new leader to take this group forward.”

He departed as only the fourth coach to win a male senior premiership for the Demons, alongside Norm Smith, Frank Hughes and Bert Chadwick.

Only Smith, Hughes and Daniher coached more than Goodwin’s 202 matches for the club.

Green said Melbourne has not begun canvassing the market for Goodwin’s replacement and a looming $1m payout for the coach would not impact their ability to bring in a strong replacement.

Green will hand over the reigns as Melbourne president to Steven Smith later this year, while Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Paul Guerra will take over as club chief executive in September.

Green said the call to sack Goodwin came after a discussions held with key football people over “four or five weeks”.

Green then went with interim CEO David Chippindall, footy boss Alan Richardson and board member Angela Williams to deliver the news.

Goodwin held a long phone call at 7.30am on Tuesday with captain Max Gawn to talk through the end of his tenure.

Goodwin told media last week he thought he had the board’s support and admitted on Tuesday “obviously I got that wrong”.

“I was disappointed. There’s no doubt about that but I certainly respect the board’s decision. That’s their right to make that decision,” Goodwin said.

“I am disappointed I think we are a hell of a lot closer to turning our club and back into a contender again and what people think. And I’m disappointed that I’m not able to work with this great bunch of players that I know that we’ve developed and spend a lot of time developing out of talent.”

MELBOURNE PLAYERS ARRIVE, TOLD OVER ZOOM OF SACKING

Melbourne players and staff have begun arriving at AAMI Park in the wake of Simon Goodwin’s surprise sacking.

The players were due to join a breakfast for player sponsors in Tuesday morning, but were pulled at the last minute.

Simon Goodwin will be speaking to the media from 1pm.

Star midfielder Christian Petracca was one of the first arrivals and he told the waiting press pack it was “not an appropriate time to comment”.

Goodwin was confident he had the support of the club on Saturday after a big win over the Eagles.

“I’ve said all along, it’s not about me, it’s about the footy team and the footy club,” he said.

“We feel like we’ve been building something throughout the year without outcome and sometimes that can be really tough for our supporters and our people internally.

“I am really clear about what we’re building, what we’re trying to build and transition into and I can see it unfolding.

“We need to learn how to turn the process into outcome and today was a part of that, but we’ve still got work to do.

“It’s never about me, it’s not about the coach … I am the coach of the Melbourne footy club, I’m proud to be able to do that.

“Clearly I’ve got a clear plan, I’m well supported by the board in terms of where we’re heading and what we’re trying to achieve.

“They understand that sometimes when you’re building something, challenge will occur and what happens is you ride the challenge, have clarity and keep building.”

Demons legend Garry Lyon couldn’t hide his surprise when he heard the news.

“I’m stunned, shocked, totally shocked,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.

“I had no heads up on this whatsoever. Absolutely just shocked, I can’t get my head around it.

“He won’t be coaching a farewell game, that’s something I can promise you.”

Originally published as Simon Goodwin to receive monster pay out after his brutal sacking as coach of Melbourne Demons