Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin visits England rugby union team to help find an edge for Demons

As Simon Goodwin looks for an edge to take his side a step further next season, the Melbourne coach has reunited with a familiar face who’s now playing a key role with England’s rugby union team.

Simon Goodwin has been overseas. Pic: Getty Images

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has spent time with the English rugby union team in preparation for his team’s tilt at next year’s premiership.

Goodwin, 41, is in the final days of a three-week overseas trip which included visits to several English Premier League soccer clubs.

It begins a huge year for the Melbourne coach who is expected to sign a lucrative contract extension before the 2019 season starts.

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His signature is a priority for new chief executive Gary Pert as well as the continued push to build a new club facility in Yarra Park, next to the MCG.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin will likely sign a new deal next year. Pic: Michael Klein

In England, Goodwin has reunited with former Adelaide senior coach Neil Craig, who has become England rugby’s high-performance boss, since leaving Carlton late in 2017.

Craig, 62, travels with the English rugby union team assisting coach Eddie Jones and helping oversee the fitness department, player development and team culture.

AFL coaches routinely travel overseas in the off-season in a bid to learn methods from other sporting organisations.

Neil Craig (left) was Adelaide coach back in 2004 when Eddie Jones (second from left) was coach of the Wallabies. Goodwin (far right) was among some Crows to meet the rugby stars.

Hawthorn premiership mastermind Alastair Clarkson has also been in the UK visiting clubs and scouting Gaelic football players.

Melbourne surged up the ladder last season and during the trade period added full-back Steven May and wingman Kade Kolodjashnij from Gold Coast, and ex-Roos ruckman Braydon Preuss to next season help break the game’s longest premiership drought.