Goodwin on defensive as critics let fly
MELBOURNE coach Simon Goodwin has implored his side to “rise to the occasion” against Richmond tonight as he was forced to defend his players and staff amid a wave of criticism.
Goodwin yesterday leapt to the defence of veteran Jordan Lewis and assistant coach Brendan Mccartney, while also batting away comments made by former mentor Paul Roos that the Demons were playing like a “genuine bottom-four team”.
The under-fire Melbourne sits 1-4 heading into its traditional Anzac Eve clash with Richmond, the club’s demise having been the talk of the football world after the Demons had made a preliminary final last year. Port Adelaide premiership player Kane Cornes said on the weekend Lewis’ career was “at the crossroads” and Melbourne “couldn’t hide him anywhere” in his first game of the year against St Kilda on Saturday.
However, Goodwin said Lewis had been “ready to go” and criticism of the four-time premiership Hawk should be carefully considered.
“He didn’t perform at the level and he’s been criticised for that,” Goodwin said.
“But what I will defend our people around is what Jordan’s given to this footy club and also to Hawthorn and the game. I think we need to respect that and some of those comments that are quite insulting to our people, I will defend them strongly.”
Goodwin said reports of tension between senior players and assistant coach Mccartney were “another one of those myths out there”, adding the Demons were a “united club”.
The coach would not buy into comments from Roos that they were performing like a “genuine bottom-four team”. “There’s lot of theories out there, there’s lots of comments out there,” Goodwin said.
“We’re a united club, we’re in it together, our players are right behind each other and we’re working really hard to fix it and I think that’s what our supporters and members need to know.
“But we’re not going to go and respond to comments because we know they’re out there and we know that because of our performances that’s what we’re going to receive.”