Melbourne releases football department review findings

The findings of Melbourne’s football department review are in — with a surprising lack of detail on one issue that plagued the club throughout 2024.

Melbourne has declared it has the list to play finals in 2025 as its football department review prompts a shuffle of assistant coaches around Simon Goodwin.

Review panel member, former All Blacks manager Darren Shand, will stay with the Demons in a mentor role as Melbourne committed to revamping its much-maligned game style in a bid to add more scoring punch.

The football review, led by president Brad Green, Shand and Gary Pert – who was revealed by the Herald Sun on Thursday tobe stepping down as CEO – has led to the Demons sending long-time defensive assistant Troy Chaplin to take charge of the forward line and team offence.

Club great Nathan Jones has returned to the Demons as stoppage coach with assistant coach Sam Radford also mentoring the midfield.

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Former Adelaide defender Nathan Bassett will take over from Chaplin as the defensive boss.

Bassett and Jones step in to vacancies left by new West Coast coach Andrew McQualter and the exiting Greg Stafford.

The public review findings barely touched on the cultural woes at the Dees, which saw Christian Petracca looking for a way out of the club and Clayton Oliver dangled as a trade option.

Simon Goodwin addresses Melbourne’s players. Picture: Mark Stewart

Joel Smith was officially handed a ban of more than four years for anti-doping offences on Friday.

In a letter to members outlining the review findings, Green said the club was disappointed to miss September this year but expected to be back there next year.

“The review identified strong confidence within the playing group and football staff that we can play finals next season,” he wrote.

“We have a very strong core group of players, but fast-tracking the development of our talented young players will be essential.”

Green wrote that the “review emphasised the need to refine our method of play” and “our coaches will work on evolving our game style to maximise the strengths of our playing group”.

Head coach Goodwin promised last off-season to improve the club’s offensive game but the Demons continued to slip in attack in 2024.

Melbourne’s points per game dropped by almost two goals, from 2023’s average of 88.1 to 77.6 this year.

Brad Green has stepped up as Melboourne’s interim president. Picture: Michael Klein

The Demons finished in 14th after top-four finishes the previous three seasons.

“We know that 2024 was a tough year, both on and off the field,” Green wrote.

“We faced some big challenges and we recognise that certain off-field issues caused disruptions. We admit that some situations could have been managed better and we’re committed to learning from these experiences to handle the inevitable challenges more effectively in the future.”

Green wrote that the review panel spoke to 40 players, coaches and staff with Shand then holding workshops with leaders including skipper Max Gawn and vice-captain Jack Viney.

Shand will carry on his connection to the Demons in a role that will “mentor both our on-field and off-field leaders”.

Christian Petracca was one of the key players who was disgruntled.

Green wrote that the review touched on “the importance of empowering the player leadership group to play a greater role” in the club.

A board review run alongside the football review run by Megan Dwyer found unnamed areas where the club’s board can improve.

The Demons will set up new committees on high performance and member engagement.

Former player and Melbourne Cricket Club president Steven Smith will nominate to join Melbourne’s board, with Pert to be replaced as CEO in the new year.

The reviews came after Kate Roffey stood down as president in September, replaced by Green.