Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin knows he can’t ignore his team’s goalkicking woes

Goalkicking accuracy in the AFL is at historical lows, and in recent weeks no team has shown that more than premiership hopefuls Melbourne.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has “subtly” introduced more goalkicking at training after conceding accuracy had been at the core of a run of form that has netted the Demons just one win in the past month.

Goodwin was happy his team, which was dumped form the top of the AFL ladder last week by the Western Bulldogs, was generating enough scoring opportunities but said Melbourne couldn’t “ignore” the lack of return from all those shots.

Since round 12, Melbourne ranks last in the AFL for goalkicking accuracy with a rate of 37.5 per cent that has contributed to the Demons averaging 69 points a game across their past six matches.

That’s come from an average of 21 scoring shots per game, and Goodwin said the method and personnel were right, but more goal kicking practice was needed.

“It’s just subtly introducing a little bit more into our training,” Goodwin said.

“We have a real process how we go about our goalkicking. We are confident the guys are getting their practice in.

“We’re working incredibly hard and we have all year. We have for a number of years. Our forwards do a power of work in that space.

“Some of the quality of our shots isn‘t where it needs to be at the moment in terms of where we’re taking them on the ground, so we’re working on our method to get better shots, but we do need to improve our accuracy, there’s no doubt about that.

“We’re generating the amount of shots in games of footy that we want to kick a score, but we need to do it better. We’re working incredibly hard. Our players are out there now on the track doing extra work right now. It’s something we’re not ignoring and something we need to get better at.”

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin wants better accuracy from his players. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Ben Brown has returned to the Melbourne line-up for the last two matches and kicked 3.4 from his shots at goal.

Goodwin was adamant the forward structure, with three talls at times, including Oscar McDonald and Baily Fritsch, with ruckmen Max Gawn and Luke Jackson also drifting forward, was the mix he wanted.

He said the results of that group playing together could come over the next few weeks and he wouldn’t be changing his personnel, which means no look-in for Sam Weideman.

“We are starting to build, we are generating shots and a forward half which will show in the next four weeks they have the cohesiveness and the talent to kick winning scores,” Goodwin said.

“I’ve got enormous belief in our forward half.

“I’m confident in the DNA of our team and I am confident we will get it right at the right time.”

Goodwin said the Demons were preparing to play the Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday as they wait for confirmation from the AFL.

Originally published as Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin knows he can’t ignore his team’s goalkicking woes