Simon Goodwin knows Melbourne fans are hurting after the Demons’ winless start to the AFL season continued against undermanned Essendon.
And the third-year coach shares their pain, with his misfiring team capable of dizzying highs and frustrating lows in a 20.10 (130) to 18.4 (112) defeat at the MCG on Friday night.
With both sides, each touted as premiership contenders this season, winless after two rounds the pressure at the ground was palpable.
After a sluggish start, Melbourne kicked into gear to lead at halftime only to concede seven-goals-to-two in the pivotal third quarter.
“I’m hurting as a coach for where we sit at 0-3, our players are hurting, our staff are hurting and I know our supporters are hurting,” Goodwin said.
“My message is we’re just going to keep going and keep improving. There are 19 games to go.
“We’ve got to try to find ourselves in some really good form … it’s as simple as that.
“Nothing will turn it around but hard work and continually looking at how we can get better … that’s me as a coach, the players, everyone.
“It’s pretty simple.”
The damage is not fatal just yet, but Melbourne desperately need to get their season rolling with a win against Sydney at the SCG on Thursday.
The Demons have assembled a talented squad that is capable of doing just that to go on and challenge for the flag, but that’s what makes their poor early-season form so galling for fans.
The Bombers, who lost Kobe Mutch to a hamstring injury in the first five minutes, opened up Melbourne with their pace and all too often exposed a defensive unit that appeared disorganised.
“There are parts of our game that are unacceptable at the moment,” Goodwin conceded.
“We’re just getting scored against way too easily.
“… (But) we’re getting beaten at each end of the ground and if you do that you’re going to be easy to score against.
“So we’ve got some work to do in that phase of the game because we’re nowhere near the level that’s required.”
Angus Brayshaw (34 possessions), Clayton Oliver (29) and Max Gawn (18 disposals and 43 hitouts) battled hard at the contest, while James Harmes and Jayden Hunt booted three goals each.
RT
Roar Rookie
the first 3 or any 3?
Lroy
Guest
Two rules I never understood were ''tunneling'' and ''below the knees'' .... the first one results when a forward misjudges his leap goes too early and the defender just stands his ground...The second one punishes the guy who goes in harder for the ball. AFL need to pull their heads in... I stopped watching rugby Union because the laws became too complicated... the same will happen to Aussie Rules if they keep this up. Footy is a simple game, theres FOUR frees only.......In the back,holding the ball, too high and a trip thats it!!. Kicking in danger never gets paid these days but technically its on the books so you that would bump it up to five.... You pay a Relayed free if a guy gets hit late like Shuey did... Everything else is nonsense. Off the ball stuff is the preserve of the MRC or whatever it is Michael Christian is called.
Lroy
Guest
Early days, but anyone sitting on 0-3 can start planning their trip to Bali. Seriously, quick rule of thumb is teams that lose 3 in a row don't play finals.
Knoxy
Guest
Jack Watts must be glad he got out of that place
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Don't think Weidemenn and McDonald are in Hogans class.
Maurice
Guest
Thats a given , but saying that if i was a Melbourne or Bombers supporter I would be wondering why with the lists they have why things are not changing . Other Teams seem to get a run on the play , for too long before either of these coaches work out how too change things . Its all attack and no defense . Maybe anther predigee of Alistor Clarkson could change things. I will renege on Pyke needing replacing his list is just overrated
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
As I've said before the AFL is run by Gomer Pyle.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
The Dees looked like they could win but could not quite give enough effort. The Dons looked like they had the effort, even excited enthusiasm but their skills... I feel for both fans. I am just not sure it is sorrow or pity or just glad it’s not my team.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
If they want to perfect the art of tanking, they should sign Tomic & Kyrgios.
Aligee
Roar Rookie
I think both Worsfold and Goodwin are pretty good coaches, i think they are both better than Lyon for example.
Maurice
Guest
2 ordinary sides making each other look better than what they both are. 1 team maybe making up the numbers for the 8. Time for a bit of coach culling this year Woosha Goodwin Lyons Pyke. 4 under achieving coaches. Melbourne should ask Roos for their money back as well
fractal pixie
Guest
Melbourne are prepping for a nuclear winter. The parking lots at the ski resorts will be full of Range Rovers with little Melbourne stickers on them.
Kaniel Outis
Guest
Karma has bitten these cheats on the backside. They are a bunch of false alarmists. Long may they rot for their dishonesty.
Wayne Kerr
Guest
Melbourne are: Putrid Apathetic Turgid Horrendous Excruciating Tragic Insidious Caustic Ship these clowns off to Tasmania. They can become the Tasmanian Tankers.
Aligee
Roar Rookie
Clayton Oliver is a very good footballer.
Aligee
Roar Rookie
I am not hurting, i backed the Bombers at quite juicy odds, my thinking was that 3 losses in a row would hurt Essendon more as a club than 3 in a row would hurt Melbourne, we sort of expect losses from Melbourne, more pressure was thrown on Essendon and they threw themselves into the contest from the start with a better attitude.
IAP
Guest
I’m sure he feels it a lot more than the fans...anywho, it’s just footy, win or lose life goes on.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
As a Crow, I hope you're right Rowd. The Dees can have Pyke - he cannot coach pigs to be muddy !
Brendan
Guest
Is Goodwin a good coach? From the outside he appears distant wonder if the players play for him .North and Port have made prelims and not gone on with it fear dees on the same page.
Rissole
Roar Rookie
I've only been able to watch a handful of quarters this year but if that is the umpiring standard, god save us. The Gawn and Zaharakis frees were soft but technically correct. Don't forget Essendon were robbed of goals in the last quarter too. Where was Stringer's free for holding the ball on Frost who simply dropped it. It was a one on one contest so the umpire's vision could not be obscured. Again, I've been able to watch limited footy this year but has there been a change in interpretation to "prior opportunity" and "illegal disposal? I saw at least 20 times that players from both teams should have been done.