West Coast Eagles coach Andrew McQualter says his side are not tough enough after Melbourne thumping
'We're not tough enough at all as a football club, as a football team at the moment,' McQualter said.
'That's got nothing to do with age. That's something that we just can't accept.'
The Eagles officially claimed their third wooden spoon in a game where the Demons won contested possession 145-103.
McQualter said he might have to revert to an old-school, physical approach to training with games coming up against top-of-the-table Adelaide, a rampaging Western Bulldogs and Sydney to finish of the season.
'It's a good question. We might have to (go old school), because at the moment, when you get performances like that, you have to improve them by training,' he said.
'That might be what we have to do. It's intent, it's desire. We've got to put the right plans in place and put the people in the right places, but there's too many times where it's not at the level required.'
Melbourne kicked 10 goals in the third term, but McQualter said the loss wasn't just about one quarter.
'Disappointing game, not the way we wanted to play today,' he said.
'I think it was a bit more than that (one quarter) today, clearly at the moment the gap between our best and our worst is far too great and we can't handle it.
'Teams have momentum against us, and the scoreboard just flows too easily. We have to find ways to do it better.'
The Demons had 58 forward entries and McQualter said the back six did not handle the pressure.
'I thought we were beaten in that area of the ground today.
'I thought we gave way too many free kicks and I thought they scored a little bit too easily at times. But that's not just on the backs. That's on the whole team, but I don't think we had many winners on the ground today.
'It was pretty broad today, I think first half clearly ... we couldn't compete in the air, it was a pretty big thing in the game in the first half.
'We adjusted that a bit, took the game away from that space a little bit, but we got beaten by 40-somethig (42) contests, you can't compete in AFL football with that.'
Liam Ryan finished the game with staples in his head, but passed an HIA test during the game, while forward Archer Reid left the ground late with what appearad to be sore ribs.
'Hopefully it's not too serious, but I haven't really got an update on it yet. He's a bit sore at the moment.'
The Eagles coach said the team needed to get something out of the final three rounds.
'We have to be better than we were today, because we've got three tough opponents coming up.
'We have to challenge our team, our coaches, our staff, our club, that we still need to improve clearly, and the next three weeks is more opportunity to do that, so we'll just review this game the same way as we do, we'll get really clear on what we're going after.
'But we need to close the gap on our best and our worst. That's a big thing we're going to focus on the next three weeks.'
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The Advertiser
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It was the 10-word punchline that said everything. As a shocked Simon Goodwin articulated his sacking as Melbourne coach, he delivered a cheeky parting shot that broke the ice of a serious press conference. "Probably what I won't miss is driving down to Casey," Goodwin said when referencing the Demons' outer-suburban training facility. But Melbourne's lack of a permanent, singular home is no laughing matter. "Without a doubt it's a challenge," Goodwin said. "(Ex-Demons player and current scout) Kelly O'Donnell is probably the longest serving person here and he's been waiting since 1979. "Hopefully Caulfield will get up and running soon and everyone will be under one roof." Melbourne's football and administrative operations are split like no other club in the AFL. The Demons share their training between Casey Fields in Cranbourne East, about 53km from Melbourne's CBD, and Gosch's Paddock in the Olympic Park precinct. Melbourne's administrative staff operate out of AAMI Park, and some still out of offices at their long-time home ground of the MCG nearby. The Demons were based out of the Junction Oval in St Kilda from from 1986 until 2009, but moved because they were forced to train elsewhere in the off-season to accommodate cricket. Melbourne want to build a new home at the Caulfield Racecourse, but that is not guaranteed to be approved, nor is there any timeline on when it may happen. The Demons were able to end their 57-year premiership drought in 2021 when the whole competition was disrupted and unsettled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Melbourne president Brad Green was adamant the club had given Goodwin the best chance to achieve sustained success. "These last five or six years, Simon has been resilient through that period," Green said. "He's a leader. He's a great coach. "It's never easy when there's change. We don't shy away from that as a board." Goodwin's successor will deal with the same challenges, like trying to recruit star players without a secure and comfortable headquarters. Premiership coaches Adam Simpson and John Longmire, who exited their respective clubs West Coast and Sydney last year following long stints, are certain to be on Melbourne's wish list. Simpson and Longmire, former teammates at North Melbourne, will appear in their regular Wednesday night slot on Fox Footy's AFL 360 program. It was the 10-word punchline that said everything. As a shocked Simon Goodwin articulated his sacking as Melbourne coach, he delivered a cheeky parting shot that broke the ice of a serious press conference. "Probably what I won't miss is driving down to Casey," Goodwin said when referencing the Demons' outer-suburban training facility. But Melbourne's lack of a permanent, singular home is no laughing matter. "Without a doubt it's a challenge," Goodwin said. "(Ex-Demons player and current scout) Kelly O'Donnell is probably the longest serving person here and he's been waiting since 1979. "Hopefully Caulfield will get up and running soon and everyone will be under one roof." Melbourne's football and administrative operations are split like no other club in the AFL. The Demons share their training between Casey Fields in Cranbourne East, about 53km from Melbourne's CBD, and Gosch's Paddock in the Olympic Park precinct. Melbourne's administrative staff operate out of AAMI Park, and some still out of offices at their long-time home ground of the MCG nearby. The Demons were based out of the Junction Oval in St Kilda from from 1986 until 2009, but moved because they were forced to train elsewhere in the off-season to accommodate cricket. Melbourne want to build a new home at the Caulfield Racecourse, but that is not guaranteed to be approved, nor is there any timeline on when it may happen. The Demons were able to end their 57-year premiership drought in 2021 when the whole competition was disrupted and unsettled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Melbourne president Brad Green was adamant the club had given Goodwin the best chance to achieve sustained success. "These last five or six years, Simon has been resilient through that period," Green said. "He's a leader. He's a great coach. "It's never easy when there's change. We don't shy away from that as a board." Goodwin's successor will deal with the same challenges, like trying to recruit star players without a secure and comfortable headquarters. Premiership coaches Adam Simpson and John Longmire, who exited their respective clubs West Coast and Sydney last year following long stints, are certain to be on Melbourne's wish list. Simpson and Longmire, former teammates at North Melbourne, will appear in their regular Wednesday night slot on Fox Footy's AFL 360 program. It was the 10-word punchline that said everything. As a shocked Simon Goodwin articulated his sacking as Melbourne coach, he delivered a cheeky parting shot that broke the ice of a serious press conference. "Probably what I won't miss is driving down to Casey," Goodwin said when referencing the Demons' outer-suburban training facility. But Melbourne's lack of a permanent, singular home is no laughing matter. "Without a doubt it's a challenge," Goodwin said. "(Ex-Demons player and current scout) Kelly O'Donnell is probably the longest serving person here and he's been waiting since 1979. "Hopefully Caulfield will get up and running soon and everyone will be under one roof." Melbourne's football and administrative operations are split like no other club in the AFL. The Demons share their training between Casey Fields in Cranbourne East, about 53km from Melbourne's CBD, and Gosch's Paddock in the Olympic Park precinct. Melbourne's administrative staff operate out of AAMI Park, and some still out of offices at their long-time home ground of the MCG nearby. The Demons were based out of the Junction Oval in St Kilda from from 1986 until 2009, but moved because they were forced to train elsewhere in the off-season to accommodate cricket. Melbourne want to build a new home at the Caulfield Racecourse, but that is not guaranteed to be approved, nor is there any timeline on when it may happen. The Demons were able to end their 57-year premiership drought in 2021 when the whole competition was disrupted and unsettled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Melbourne president Brad Green was adamant the club had given Goodwin the best chance to achieve sustained success. "These last five or six years, Simon has been resilient through that period," Green said. "He's a leader. He's a great coach. "It's never easy when there's change. We don't shy away from that as a board." Goodwin's successor will deal with the same challenges, like trying to recruit star players without a secure and comfortable headquarters. Premiership coaches Adam Simpson and John Longmire, who exited their respective clubs West Coast and Sydney last year following long stints, are certain to be on Melbourne's wish list. Simpson and Longmire, former teammates at North Melbourne, will appear in their regular Wednesday night slot on Fox Footy's AFL 360 program.
Perth Now
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'Won't miss it': Demons remain without permanent home
It was the 10-word punchline that said everything. As a shocked Simon Goodwin articulated his sacking as Melbourne coach, he delivered a cheeky parting shot that broke the ice of a serious press conference. "Probably what I won't miss is driving down to Casey," Goodwin said when referencing the Demons' outer-suburban training facility. But Melbourne's lack of a permanent, singular home is no laughing matter. "Without a doubt it's a challenge," Goodwin said. "(Ex-Demons player and current scout) Kelly O'Donnell is probably the longest serving person here and he's been waiting since 1979. "Hopefully Caulfield will get up and running soon and everyone will be under one roof." Melbourne's football and administrative operations are split like no other club in the AFL. The Demons share their training between Casey Fields in Cranbourne East, about 53km from Melbourne's CBD, and Gosch's Paddock in the Olympic Park precinct. Melbourne's administrative staff operate out of AAMI Park, and some still out of offices at their long-time home ground of the MCG nearby. The Demons were based out of the Junction Oval in St Kilda from from 1986 until 2009, but moved because they were forced to train elsewhere in the off-season to accommodate cricket. Melbourne want to build a new home at the Caulfield Racecourse, but that is not guaranteed to be approved, nor is there any timeline on when it may happen. The Demons were able to end their 57-year premiership drought in 2021 when the whole competition was disrupted and unsettled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Melbourne president Brad Green was adamant the club had given Goodwin the best chance to achieve sustained success. "These last five or six years, Simon has been resilient through that period," Green said. "He's a leader. He's a great coach. "It's never easy when there's change. We don't shy away from that as a board." Goodwin's successor will deal with the same challenges, like trying to recruit star players without a secure and comfortable headquarters. Premiership coaches Adam Simpson and John Longmire, who exited their respective clubs West Coast and Sydney last year following long stints, are certain to be on Melbourne's wish list. Simpson and Longmire, former teammates at North Melbourne, will appear in their regular Wednesday night slot on Fox Footy's AFL 360 program.
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Another said it was 'embarrassing'. Captain Max Gawn looked forlorn. Melbourne blinked this week because it didn't want the heat that would come next year with a coach out of contract in the same way Western Bulldogs stared directly into the fire and delayed a call on Luke Beveridge's future this year. At the start of this season, Goodwin was given the imprimatur to make considerable changes to the game plan and team mix. 'A new way', Goodwin declared at the annual general meeting in December. And the coach thought he had another season in 2026, as per his contract, to complete the work. For all the team's disappointing performances this year, they still beat Fremantle at the MCG in round 6, knocked off Brisbane at the Gabba by 11 points, hammered Sydney Swans and fell one point short of Collingwood. Clearly, the team was in transition, and few experts had Melbourne in their top-eights at the start of the season. Simply, Melbourne knew themselves the team was not a quick fix this year after blowing its chances in back-to-back top-four finishes in 2022-23 and sinking down the ladder last year without Petracca, who played on with life-threatening injuries on King's Birthday and was taken to the wrong hospital. What a stuff-up, but there's a long list. The game had sped past the Demons since the 2021 premiership and the inability to convert in the forward half has been maddening for the coaches and players this season. But this is also a team with 33-year-old veteran Jake Melksham playing at centre half forward this season. But if the Demons had underperformed on the field, just as many mistakes have come off it at a club which former coach Paul Roos once said was surrounded by a 'veil of negativity'. At senior level, it had been a disastrous couple of seasons including the diabolical handling of Oliver who was put up for trade and then clawed back, Petracca's life-threatening injuries, Joel Smith's drugs charge, the facility disaster, Kate Roffey's radio interview downfall and the Glen Bartlett boardroom brawl. 'There has been a real heaviness and it seeps into your footy club,' Goodwin told the Herald Sun in February. So if Melbourne's on-field performance since the flag had disappointed the board, a quick glance in the mirror would have revealed an abysmal scorecard for the directors as well. And Goodwin pointedly said on repeat in the press conference on Tuesday teams needed off-field stability to flourish. And that is exactly what he has lacked. It was a classy exit from a man who has had four separate presidents (including Steve Smith from Tuscany) and three CEOs. The off-field leaders at Melbourne have made the most wobbly-looking Jenga towers look more stable than their own setup in recent times. And it was in Adelaide that Melbourne's Jenga tower came crashing down less than two months after Green's February love letter to his coach. But by the time the Demons had lost in Gather Round, they had done the biggest six week backflip. They'd sunk to a 0-5 start with a terrible loss to Essendon in Adelaide which prompted incoming new president Smith, (the fourth one, remember) to meet with captain Max Gawn the next morning. Alarm bells. At the same time, Melbourne issued a statement about the poor performance but made no mention of the coach or its support or otherwise for him. That is when the writing first appeared on the wall for Goodwin and he felt it. Instead of publicly backing Goodwin, they put him on the clock in mid-April just six weeks after Green's declaration of support. Even though they knew the path would be rocky given the midfield issues and lack of forward targets, and the question marks on the futures of Oliver and Petracca remained a distraction, the Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera cyclone at Marvel Stadium was the last straw for the club last week. Who knows why they waited until the 83-point win over West Coast on Saturday to pull the pin on the coach. The dysfunction at this club at the highest level has been a shambles and captain Max Gawn knows it because he has been the one to clean up every new mess in his Triple M radio interviews every week. How he has bit his tongue at times remains a mystery, but Gawn knows how jumpy his club can get. In April, the club appointed a new CEO, Paul Guerra, who couldn't start work at the club until next month, leaving the keys to Chippindall (we think) who was disappointed to be overlooked himself. Goodwin would not have known where to turn for discussions, advice or support as he attempted to fast-track a mini-rebuild of sorts with a team which was in the process of pivoting to a new style and way of playing. Instead of having a strong backing, the man who led the Demons from being a basket case to premiership team (along with Roos) was left looking over his shoulder all year. Where Melbourne heads next is anyone's guess. Clearly, clubs are targeting Petracca and the club may have to pay up to half of Oliver's salary to seal his move one year after the club should have traded him to Geelong. The deal was done by his management, and his papers were stamped to the Cattery. But the board blinked, again. Green was asked what he wanted in a new coach on Tuesday and he said the club wasn't sure yet. Hopefully, they can work it out. But there are no guarantees. The reason Goodwin simply had to go Jay Clark is a leading AFL reporter for News Corp and CODE Sports, based in Melbourne. For almost 20 years, he has helped set the football agenda with his breaking news, deep-dive feature writing and issues-based reporting. He is a trusted voice on the biggest stories in the AFL. AFL Simon Goodwin is set for a monster payout after his brutal sacking as Melbourne coach. All the details and what the $1.2 million dollar figure means for the Dees' soft cap heading into 2026. AFL The AFL's final round is set to feature a finals shaping, double header Sunday, forcing the top eight standings down to the wire. Plus, a prime time farewell is in store for Port Adelaide's long time servers.
