Demons skipper Max Gawn meets with incoming Melbourne president Steven Smith

The pressure is well and truly on at Melbourne, and before heading overseas, incoming Demons president Steven Smith has met with the face of his club to discuss the disaster at the Dees.

Melbourne captain Max Gawn met with incoming president Steve Smith after sinking to a disastrous 0-5 start to the season.

Gawn and Smith caught up in Adelaide the day after the Demons’ went down to Essendon by 39 points at Adelaide Oval which intensified public pressure on contracted premiership coach Simon Goodwin.

But the club was at pains to clarify the pair did not meet to discuss the current coaching situation or Goodwin’s methods.

Instead, the club said Smith arranged the meeting so the pair could speak for the first time and get to know each other better.

Incoming Melbourne president Steven Smith. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Smith made clear his strong support for Gawn and his leadership in light of the extraordinary burden he has shouldered in recent years which has included a searing spotlight on the club.

Goodwin continues to have the unwavering support of the Demons’ captain and his playing group despite their scoring woes.

The club’s next president, who is one of the most respected sports administrators in the country after a long stint as Melbourne Cricket Club chairman, asked Gawn in the meeting if there was anything else he could do to support his and the team’s endeavours after a shocking start to 2025.

Smith, who looms as the most important decision-maker at the club this year, will be away for several months over winter as part of the deal he struck with Green.

He will help the club select its next chief executive over the next fortnight before he departs.

AFL Coaches’ Association boss and former Demon Alistair Nicholson remains in the mix for the top job.

Simon Goodwin remains under pressure. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Melbourne has averaged 61 points a game ranked second second-last, as the club continues to integrate a new game plan.

Smith was voted on to the board earlier this year and will take over as president from Brad Green after Smith returns from an overseas holiday at season’s end.

The Herald Sun revealed on Sunday night Green told members “we have a determined group of players and coaches who will drive the team’s response.”

There is a cloud over gun defender Steven May for Saturday’s clash against Fremantle at the MCG because of a plantar fasciitis problem which hampered May on Saturday night.

Star goal kicker Kysaiah Pickett also hurt his ankle at training on Tuesday but is expected to take on the Dockers.

Gawn said the club had gone to work on its problems this week.

“Monday is all about reviewing the game and trying to make sense of what is happening out on the ground,” Gawn said on Triple M.

“Goody is very good at that, he is very good at being able to show the exact reason why we are losing or winning games and that was captured on Monday,

“And it’s all about trying to stay in the best spirit you can to be able to take on Freo.

“It is pretty easy to get the boys up when you are 0-5 to be honest because everyone just wants to win a game.”

Originally published as Demons skipper Max Gawn meets with incoming Melbourne president Steven Smith