Simon Goodwin signs with Melbourne Demons, turning his back on former club Adelaide Crows

ADELAIDE has missed out on coaching candidate Simon Goodwin after the former Crows captain decided to join Paul Roos at Melbourne.

AFL - Port Adelaide v Essendon at Adelaide Oval. An animated Simon Goodwin at quarter time. Photo Sarah Reed.

ADELAIDE champion Simon Goodwin will succeed Paul Roos as the Melbourne coach, despite speculation he would return to the Crows following the sacking of Brenton Sanderson.

Goodwin has been an assistant coach at Essendon since 2011 and has signed a five-year contract with the Demons that will see him assume the senior coaching position in 2017.

“(Melbourne) has got a clear strategy, it’s going to be successful and that’s the path I want to be on,” Goodwin said.

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“I think it’s really healthy to have a long apprenticeship ... I don’t think you need to be in any rush to be a senior coach.

“I think every year you go through footy you learn something and another two years (under Paul Roos) certainly won’t hurt.

“I learned a lot (at Essendon) but I’m now a Melbourne person and that’s what I want to be.”

The 37-year-old coached one senior game at Essendon and was seen as a stabilising influence throughout the supplements investigation.

Goodwin played 275 matches with the Crows, where he captained the club for three seasons and won three best-and-fairest awards and five All-Australian jumpers.

Brenton Sanderson was sacked by Adelaide on Wednesday night. Picture: Sarah Reed.

His close relationship with Adelaide board member and former teammate Mark Ricciuto led many to believe he was the logical replacement for Sanderson.

However, Sydney assistant coach Stuart Dew is now the firm favourite with the bookies to win the Crows job.

The Demons had been searching for a successor for Roos since the Sydney premiership coach signed on at the end of 2013, but approaches to high profile candidates Stuart Dew and Cameron Ling failed.

Roos initially signed on to coach the club for two seasons, but he activated a third midway through this year with a view to handing over the reigns for the 2017 season.

“The first phase of focus was extending my tenure to three years, then the second phase was looking at a successor,” Roos said.

“We’ve spoken a lot at length about game style and philosophy ... we’re very similar.

“Clearly to have someone (Goodwin) who’s so sought after ... to come to our club sends an amazing message to players ... and fans.”

Essendon coach James Hird praised Goodwin for commitment through a difficult period for the club.

“It’s obviously disappointing to lose a talented coach like Simon, but from the moment he walked in the door at Essendon you could tell he had the ability and skills set to be a senior coach,” Hird said.

“Simon has done a tremendous job developing and strengthening our midfield group, and to a broader extent the football program in his role as senior assistant. Simon will be a great asset for the Melbourne Football Club and I wish him every success.”