AFL 2024: Simon Goodwin says Melbourne won’t mix it up despite finals miss

With their finals hopes snuffed out, the Demons’ coach had strong thoughts on how they would approach their final two games.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says the Demons will go “full bore” in their last two games despite effectively being ruled out of finals contention. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin wants his side to go “fullbore” in its last two games despite the Demons resigning themselves to missing finals for the first time in five years.

Saturday’s two-point loss to Port Adelaide will leave the Demons at least two games out of the top eight, but Goodwin said his focus would not yet shift to preparing for a swift rebound next season.

Goodwin, who is contracted to the end of 2026, said the defeat to the Power would not change his approach to team selection in two dead-rubber fixtures against Gold Coast and Collingwood.

“Not at all. I’ve spoken to our players a lot – this isn’t something you turn on and off, regardless of where you sit in a season,” he said.

“You’ve got to play a certain way and be a certain team, and that’s part of being part of building a culture that is high-performing.

Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett enjoyed one of the best nights of his career with 21 disposals and four goals in the two-point loss to Port Adelaide. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

“We won’t be backing off one bit in terms of how we go about our footy … we’ll be going fullbore right to the end of the year.”

Goodwin said the effort of his players had been “first-class” in an unusual low-scoring, low-stoppage game in pristine conditions at the MCG.

He said Kysaiah Pickett’s commanding four-goal performance was unlikely to have been influenced by criticism he had copped from corners of the media following the loss to the Bulldogs.

“He’s an outstanding player, Kossie, and I know there’s commentary out there around his consistency,” Goodwin said.

“Look, there’s times where that could be a little bit better, but if you go back through the history of his career so far and what he’s delivering year on year … he’s tracking into a fantastic player, and tonight it was there for everyone to see.

“High impact around the ball, high impact on the scoreboard and I thought his pressure was outstanding.”

The Melbourne coach said the club would review its approach to close finishes after suffering a third loss decided by less than a kick in seven games.

Clayton Oliver was floored by a shove to the sternum from Port Adelaide ruckman Jordon Sweet which could attract a fine from the MRO. Picture: Josh Chadwick / Getty Images

“It’s difficult, I think it’s four for the year, and they’re the small margins you talk about between sitting where we sit, and playing finals footy,” Goodwin said.

“When you’re losing close games the way that we are, three in the last seven weeks, you put yourself under enormous pressure.

“We’ll go away and look at that in terms of the method that sits within it – are we giving ourselves a chance?”

Asked about a lacklustre performance from Clayton Oliver, Goodwin said “it wasn’t his best night” but repeated that the star midfielder would return to his best and have a “massive impact” for the club going forward.

He said Oliver’s rotation through halfback had been orchestrated to give impressive young defender Judd McVee his first taste of midfield action, which he suggested could continue in the final two rounds.

“We think he’s got some real ability to give us some drive in there, so it’s just a part of sharing the load a little bit,” Goodwin said.

“Just trying to really add some depth and some rotation to our middle of the ground, and tonight I thought for patches it worked pretty well for us.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Simon Goodwin says Melbourne won’t mix it up despite finals miss