Garry Lyon in disbelief over timing of Simon Goodwin axing as fans upset over farewell move

Melbourne Demons great Garry Lyon has been left shocked at the timing of Simon Goodwin's axing with three games left to go in the season with the veteran not coaching a farewell game. On Tuesday morning it emerged the Melbourne Demons had sacked Goodwin following a convincing 83-point win over West Coast.

There were suggestions Goodwin would be let go if Melbourne lost to West Coast on the weekend. The demolition of the lowly Eagles seemed to quell the noise momentarily with a decision to be made at the end of the season.

Melbourne Demons great Garry Lyon (pictured middle) has been left shocked at the timing of Simon Goodwin's (pictured left) axing. (Images: Getty Images)

Although the win didn't save Goodwin from the axe with the timing of the move leaving supporters in shock. Goodwin coached Melbourne to their first premiership in 57 years years back in 2021 having taken over from Paul Roos.

But Goodwin had only managed to coach the Demons to seven wins in 2025 and performances across the last few years had prompted calls for change. And Lyon admitted he was struggling to get his head around the decision to pull the trigger with three games left to go.

Simon Goodwin (pictured left) helped deliver the first premiership to the Melbourne Demons in 57 years.

Speaking on SEN Radio as the news dropped, Lyon felt stunned the flag-winning coach wouldn't see out the season and thought a review would take place before a move was made. “I’m stunned, shocked, totally shocked,” Lyon said on SEN Radio.

“I had no heads up on this whatsoever. Absolutely just shocked, I can’t get my head around it. He won’t be coaching a farewell game, that’s something I can promise you.” And fans have echoed Lyon's confusion to why the decision happened now.

Stand-in president Brad Green claimed they offered Goodwin the opportunity to coach for the remaining three games, but he turned it down. When asked about why he didn't want to take on the final three games, Goodwin said he needed to leave immediately to allow the players to start fresh. 

"It’s to give the players the clear air. I always talk about the team mentality, and no one is bigger than the team. I didn’t want it to be about me. It’s about them and the progress they have had," he said.

"I would love to coach again. I love coaching and the game. I’ve been 30 straight years in this game. I’ll get away and spend some time with the family. I’ve got five kids, and they ride every bump with you. They have been on the whole journey."

Many feel the Demons had left the decision so late the decision should have been made after the season. it was only right to let Goodwin see out the season and have a farewell. Supporters will not be given an opportunity to get behind their premiership-winning coach one last time.

Green said he told Goodwin about the club's decision on Monday night. "When we made the decision last night (Monday) I got straight on the phone to him," Green said. "I said ’mate the board has come to a decision I need to come over and have a chat’.

"This has been a process it wasn’t a decision made in just a few days. It’s been going on for four or five weeks. After the decision (was made) I got straight into the car to go and see him. Once I got over there I had a chat with Simon and delivered the news. That’s how it played out. This is not about Simon's coaching career, he can coach, we believe the club needs a new voice and coach to take this forward.

"It’s nothing against Simon, we think he is a terrific coach, he has been in our program 11 years. It’s about timing and to go forward we need a new voice."

Goodwin admitted he was disappointed by the news and spoke to captain Max Gawn on Tuesday morning about the decision. The former coach said he was looking forward to catching up with the players.

"I spoke to Gawny at 7:30 this morning," he said. "He rang and we had a really long chat about his sadness for me not being here. There’s a lot of sadness from me as well. We will sit down and have a beer and debrief what has been an incredible nine years.

Simon Goodwin (pictured) has been axed as the Melbourne Demons coach.

After Melbourne capitulated in round 20, Goodwin shut down outside noise and said he was fully committed to the job at hand. "I feel incredibly supported by the board, I have for nine years," Goodwin said last Thursday. "We've been able to go through these challenges before with clarity and strength and stability to create success."

Goodwin won the 2021 flag with one of the youngest teams of the modern era and started their 2022 title defence in solid form. However, Goodwin couldn't get past the early stages of the finals since the flag having exited in straight sets in 2022 and 2023. Last year, Melbourne finished in 14th and they currently sit in 12th and are out of finals contention.

The Demons hierarchy may have called time on Goodwin's Melbourne career with three games to go in the season in a bid to get ahead of their rivals in the search for a new head coach. There are suggestions a number of teams could be looking at change for the 2026 season and the Demons have made the first move.

Only last week, AFL great Matthew Lloyd claimed he didn't think a win against the Eagles would ease the pressure on Goodwin's tenure as coach. "I don't think so, no," Lloyd said when asked on Nine's Today Show. "Moreso if they lost that game, that could spell the end for Simon Goodwin you would think, if they were to lose to West Coast who have won one game for the season. They have been off for a couple of years now, there is something not quite right."

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/garry-lyon-in-disbelief-over-timing-of-simon-goodwin-axing-as-fans-blast-melbourne-for-farewell-snub-004556875.html

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