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The Guardian
12 minutes ago
- The Guardian
AFL premiership coach Simon Goodwin sacked by Melbourne Demons
Simon Goodwin, Melbourne's only premiership coach in the past 60 years, has been sacked by the Demons. The former Adelaide champion, who led the club to the drought-breaking 2021 flag, has been let go by the Demons following just seven wins this season. Taking over from Paul Roos in a succession plan for the 2017 season, Goodwin led Melbourne to their first premiership in 57 years. But off-field turmoil and dwindling performances on the field placed the 48-year-old's job in jeopardy. Sign up to From the Pocket: AFL Weekly Jonathan Horn brings expert analysis on the week's biggest AFL stories after newsletter promotion More to follow.
Daily Mail
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Liverpool's new £79m striker Hugo Ekitike reveals why he joined the Premier League champions and issues warning to their title rivals after impressive Anfield debut
Hugo Ekitike has opened up on his decision to join Liverpool in a £79million deal and issued a warning to their Premier League title rivals after impressing in his first appearance at Anfield. The Frenchman was part of the Reds squad that contested the second of two matches against LaLiga side Athletic Bilbao on Monday, assisting the side's opener in a 3-2 win, following a 4-1 victory for the less experienced roster hours earlier. Ekitike was one of five new signings to feature for Arne Slot 's free-spending side, who were playing in their first home match since the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota, as the Premier League champions put the finishing touches on their preparations for the new campaign. Liverpool saw off competition from the likes of Newcastle and Manchester United to secure the 23-year-old's signature and after making a great first impression in front of the home support, Ekitike claimed that made the switch from Eintracht Frankfurt 'to win'. 'We have a group of competitors,' he told LFCTV. 'We want to win everything. We are going to give 100 per cent. I am going to give 100 per cent. I am here to win.' The young forward linked up well with his new team-mates despite Monday's clash being only the second time he has turned out alongside them. The France Under 21 international hailed his new colleagues, adding: 'I enjoy playing with them. 'Outside of the pitch they are good guys. We have some little things to fix, on the ball. I have things I can do better. I am going to enjoy playing with them for the season.' Ekitike's acquisition is the most recent by Liverpool this summer but it is unlikely to be their last piece of business before the window closes at the start of next month. Darwin Nunez, who scored in the first match at Anfield, has been heavily linked with a move away this summer and is attracting interest from AC Milan and Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. Meanwhile, the Reds are eyeing an audacious move for Newcastle United star Alexander Isak and saw an opening £110m bid rejected on Friday. The Reds are next in action in the Community Shield, where they will face FA Cup winners Crystal Palace at Wembley. They begin the defence of their Premier League title at home against Bournemouth on August 15.
Daily Mail
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
AFL coach Simon Goodwin is sensationally SACKED by the Melbourne Demons after a string of controversies and losses
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has been sacked, with the board losing faith in the team's direction. The 48‑year‑old was reportedly told on Monday night after the club's win over the West Coast Eagles. Goodwin's future had been in doubt after opening the season with five straight losses, followed by another five‑game losing streak that crushed their finals chances. He will receive a payout of nearly $1million for next season despite being contracted through 2026. Goodwin has spent much of the past few years navigating a string of controversies that have repeatedly threatened to overshadow his premiership success. In early 2022, reports surfaced that the club board had considered standing him down over allegations of bullying, gambling with players and an incident at the Sorrento Hotel, but a review cleared him to continue. Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin (pictured with wife Kris) has been sacked by the club after a season of poor results and ongoing controversies The Demons had just notched up a big win against the West Coast Eagles before the decision to cut ties with Goodwin Court documents lodged by former president Glen Bartlett and his partner later claimed Goodwin had used illicit drugs and behaved poorly after the 2019 grand final, accusations the coach and the club strongly rejected as unsubstantiated. Goodwin has consistently denied all drug rumours, saying they have damaged his reputation and hurt his family, while CEO Gary Pert has maintained the allegations are false and that the coach retains full board support. In mid‑2025, his handling of player welfare came under scrutiny when he publicly mentioned captain Max Gawn's private struggles, a revelation that reportedly blindsided Gawn and raised questions about internal trust. That came on the heels of a disastrous collapse against St Kilda, when Melbourne blew a 46‑point final‑quarter lead. Around the same time, a threatening social media post about Goodwin was reported to the AFL and police, although it was later revealed to be a hoax. The announcement still came with a degree of shock for Demons fans, after the club notched up a relieving 83-point win over the West Coast Eagles. 'I've said it all along, it's not about me,' Goodwin said after the win. 'It's about the footy team and the footy club and we think we've been building something throughout the year without outcome and sometimes that can be really tough for our supporters and it can be tough for people internally. 'But I'm really clear about what we're building and what we're trying to build and what we're trying to transition into and I can see it unfolding. 'But we need to learn how we turn the process into outcome and today was a part of that, but we've still got work to do.' The Melbourne Demons are 13th on the AFL ladder with a 7-13 record and three rounds left of the regular season. MORE TO FOLLOW
