Simon Goodwin and Melbourne ‘devastated’ after heartbreaking loss to St KIlda

Amid all the chaos at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, an answer to a big question went missing – which Demon was at fault? Simon Goodwin speaks on the 6-6-6 blunder that cost his side the game.

A ‘devastated’ Simon Goodwin says the 6-6-6 infringement that led to Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera’s matchwinner was a ‘simple’ mistake that his coaching staff must own following the heartbreaking loss on Sunday.

St Kilda pulled off the biggest final quarter comeback in AFL history to topple Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

The Saints trailed by 46 points at the last change, but two goals to Wanganeen-Milera in the last 40 seconds gave St Kilda the miraculous win against all odds.

The game looked headed for a draw when the Saints drew level with 8 seconds remaining before the panicked Demons gave up a centre square infringement that led to a Wanganeen-Milera mark and goal after the siren.

“We’ll have a look at that but clearly we didn’t get that right,” Goodwin said.

“It’s a pretty simple process to get 6-6-6 done; you need to communicate and get organised and we didn’t get that done and that’s on us.

“We’ll have a look at how it played out, why it played out, but it shouldn’t happen.

“We had seven forwards and two wingers, so it’s a pretty simple process to get right.

“We’ll look at why it happened, how it happened and make sure that never happens again.”

Goodwin said his players and coaches were shattered after his side panicked in the final term and gave up nine unanswered goals.

“It was a devastating loss clearly,” he said.

“At the start of the last quarter we gave them momentum in the game and I thought we didn’t defend and pressure like we did early in the game.

“We didn’t handle the pressure, we didn’t handle the moment and we didn’t handle the tight game scenario like we should have.

“That’s on all of us and we own that together, but clearly a devastating loss in a game that was there for the taking.”

Marcus Windhager and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera appeal for the 6-6-6 free kick in the final seconds. Picture: Michael Klein

Wanganeen-Milera then dashes forward and marks inside-50 to win the game

Simon Goodwin and the Demons were left ‘devastated’. Picture: Michael Klein

The Demons coach said he addressed the players immediately after the defeat rather than let the emotions subside first.

“We’ve spoken and it’s about developing that ruthless mindset that you need to have to be to be a really good side,” he said.

“But right now, with that last quarter, that’s what we haven’t got and that’s what you’ve got to get.

“Sometimes your darkest moments can be your biggest growth.

“When you have a last quarter like that, it’s a pretty devastated group in there and a pretty devastated group of coaches because we’re here to win.”

Originally published as Simon Goodwin and Melbourne ‘devastated’ after heartbreaking loss to St KIlda