No mental Demons for ladder leaders, says Goodwin
MELBOURNE coach Simon Goodwin could only laugh as he defended the toughness of one player and the form of another – and then reminded everyone that the Demons had to be mentally strong to sit on top of the AFL ladder.
A midweek chip at leading goalkicker Bailey Fritsch, from Hawthorn champion Dermott Brereton, for being a fake tough guy was just “something to talk about”, according to Goodwin.
Finding statistical ways to suggest star defender Christian Salem was underperforming didn’t tell the proper story about his recent efforts either.
And questioning the mental strength of the Demons, who have only lost games to teams outside the eight and drew with Hawthorn last week, was swatted away by the coach as thee team prepares for a topof-the table clash with the Western Bulldogs.
“Belief has not taken a knock one bit. We have enormous belief in how we play,” Goodwin said on Wednesday.
“We know it has stacked up against some really good teams, and that’s what we want to prove again.
“You don’t sit on the top of the ladder having a mental problem. I look at how we play from week to week and what we are continuing to build.
“I am not too fussed about who we play, I am focused on how we play. We are building our game to play finals footy.”
Goodwin rubbished suggestions Fritsch was becoming a dirty player after a bump in a marking contest last Saturday left Hawthorn defender Denver Grainger-Barras nursing a sore shoulder and drew the ire of Brereton.
“Bailey is one of the cleanest and fairest players in the league. He’s doing everything right,” Goodwin said.
People have also questioned the form of Salem.
Goodwin conceded an injury “six or seven weeks ago” had forced a training reshape for the key distributor but wouldn’t entertain any talk of poor form.
“His form is still pretty strong, Goodwin said.