AFL
3 months ago
Why Kane Cornes believes pressure is mounting on Demons coach Simon Goodwin
By Nic Negrepontis
Kane Cornes has put Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin in the spotlight, urging him to find new ways to win.
It’s been a tough 2024 season for the Demons who have dealt with key injuries and are now looking more likely than not to miss the eight.
Cornes believes the Dees’ one-wood of contest and defence is no longer good enough to win big games.
“This is where I think the pressure for Simon Goodwin will come. Can they play a different way?” Cornes told SEN’s Sportsday.
“All I hear from Goodwin is ‘contest and defence’ and when that works, it works well.
“But when you start getting exposed in those two areas like Fremantle have done to them and like the Bulldogs did to them on Friday – that game was done in three minutes, you could tell. They had no answers.
“How can he adapt his game style with the tools that he has got?
“Yes, they’ve had some injuries this year, so he’ll get another run at it next year, but he won’t get many more runs at coming up with a different game style that is not boring, that is not just centred around contest and defence, that can put sides away in a 15-minute burst like other teams can.
“I think that’s where the criticism is around the coach and they’ve had a few poor list management decisions as well that haven’t helped.”
Melbourne hosts Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday night in hopes of keeping their finals hopes alive.
