Melbourne’s Simon Goodwin has been named AFL coach of the year for 2021 as he prepares to lead his side into the grand final.
After entering the AFL season under extreme pressure to keep his job, Melbourne’s Simon Goodwin has been crowned coach of the year.
The 44-year-old has spearheaded the Demons’ remarkable rise, steering them to within one win of breaking a 57-year premiership drought.
They take on the Western Bulldogs in the grand final at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
It comes after the Demons endured a horror five-win campaign two years ago and another disappointing season last year when they finished ninth.
Goodwin, who took over from Paul Roos in 2017, admits there was a period of time when the game consumed him.
But he said a series of changes implemented after the 2019 disaster, which followed a preliminary final appearance in 2018, had paid off.
“It was a year that was really disappointing and there was a lot of pressure building on the footy club from an expectation perspective,” Goodwin said on Fox Footy.
“I needed to make a change personally, and I could sense in my own mind and my own coaching that the game was starting to get hold of me.
“We live in a really brutal industry where the spotlight’s always on you and I engaged in some mentors away from the game that really showed me a different way of looking at things and created a different energy.
“Coming into this year, it was really about making sure that I did it the way that I wanted to do it and being true to myself and true to our footy club.”
Goodwin won the AFL Coaches Association award – named in honour of AFL/VFL great Allan Jeans – with 258 votes ahead of grand-final opponent Luke Beveridge (193) and GWS mentor Leon Cameron (84).
The coaching accolade completed an AFLCA double for Melbourne, with hard-nosed midfielder Clayton Oliver recently named the association’s champion player of the year for 2021.
“I had enormous belief in our playing group and the foundations and the people that I’m working with,” Goodwin said.
“In the end, I sit here today as a reflection of a lot of people’s work and the club’s work that has been done over a long, long period of time.”
More than 120 coaches voted on the awards announced on Tuesday night.
Carlton development coach Luke Power was named assistant coach of the year and West Coast stalwart Ian Miller won the AFLCA lifetime achievement award, named in honour of Neale Daniher.
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
The bloke the award was named after famously said, "I never wanted to be the best coach, I just wanted to coach the best team." I'm sure Simon Goodwin would agree.
XI
Roar Guru
Honestly if Beveridge had lost to the Giants in the prelim he probably wouldn't have lasted this long.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Hey Elephant brain won’t forgive like the 100 tackles Hawks inflicted on the Dogs in 16’ final without a single free :laughing:
CloudRunner
Roar Rookie
I’m pretty sure if you asked anyone playing and coaching they’d tell you only one accolade matters: a premiership medal. Goodwin, as a premiership player himself would know this and probably won’t be too concerned by the accolade knowing it won’t mean much if he’s not standing on that dais come Saturday evening.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
More glaringly was Clarkson becoming the Dud of the Year. A coach losing their mojo is more startling than a coach finding it!!!
Micko
Roar Rookie
In the modern era of salary caps, drafts, priority picks, free agency etc, I don’t think we should be too harsh on, or quick to sack coaches (Teague the most recent ridiculous example! :thumbdown: ). I’m not surprised Melbourne went off the boil for a couple of years after a great 2018, and I’m not surprised they bounced back with a bang in 2021. Same deal for WB, who (let’s face it!) haven’t achieved much since their shock 2016 premiership, yet they’re back there again in 2021 at the GF with Luke Beveridge still as the coach. Damien Hardwick showed at Richmond it might take a playing group 5 years plus for everything to click. And going back further…Mark Thompson was given a long time with that playing group at Geelong to turn the ship around and try to achieve results.
Power
Guest
Any coach missing? Ablett, Carey, Riewoldt, Pavlich never won a brownlow so what do these awards even mean? Cooney and Hinkley :laughing: AFLCA Coach of the Year winners 2003: Paul Roos (Sydney) 2004: Mark Williams (Port Adelaide) 2005: Neil Craig (Adelaide) 2006: John Worsfold (West Coast) 2007: Mark Thompson (Geelong) 2008: Mark Thompson (Geelong) 2009: Ross Lyon (St Kilda) 2010: Mick Malthouse (Collingwood) 2011: John Worsfold (West Coast) 2012: John Longmire (Sydney) 2013: Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide) 2014: John Longmire (Sydney) 2015: Luke Beveridge (Western Bulldogs) 2016: Luke Beveridge (Western Bulldogs) 2017: Damien Hardwick (Richmond) 2018: Nathan Buckley (Collingwood) 2019: Chris Fagan (Brisbane Lions) 2020: Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide) 2021: Simon Goodwin (Melbourne)
Power
Guest
Choco Williams and Yze came in to prop up a coach who was favorite to be the 1st coach fired this year and he wins the coach of the year :laughing: Goodwin the last 2 seasons was pathetic. Quality additions on and off the field and a dream run with injuries and this team now looks unbeatable. Goodwin had a stupid grin then and a stupid grin now. Melbourne by 5 goals. If anyone at Carlton has half a brain Choco Williams will be appointed straight after the grand final. Voss is a decent coach but not regarded as anything too terrific.