Does Simon Goodwin still have what it takes?

SEN’s Kane Cornes and Luke Hodge have questioned Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin and his ability to adapt his game plan to opposition teams.

It follows the Demons 46-85 loss to Geelong on Friday at Kardinia Park which leaves them 17th on the ladder.

Geelong controlled both contested and uncontested possessions allowing them to dictate what tempo they played with as Melbourne could only react.

Speaking on SEN’s Fireball, Cornes believes that Goodwin needs to be introspective about his coaching ability and to consider whether he has a game plan capable of competing against the best sides in modern-day footy.

"As a player sometimes the moment hits you that you don’t really have it anymore," Cornes said.

"I think Simon Goodwin should be questioning him and his coaching staff to ask, ‘do we still have it’? And if they’re not after that performance then I think something is wrong. They were never winning that game.

"I don’t know what the game plan would have been to let Geelong take 145 uncontested marks, to have not looked like being able to score again. For four years we’ve been talking about the inability to move the football at Melbourne. That hasn’t been solved.

"Their midfield is not the weapon it was. Why is it just players that ask if they’ve still got it?

"I’m not saying he (Goodwin) puts his hands up and walks away but I think in the back of his mind somewhere he will be going ‘four years I haven’t been able to solve this problem and we just gone to Geelong and been embarrassed tactically, do I still have it anymore?'

"There's no shame in it. The game moves quickly. Do I still have it is a question worth asking in the coaches box"

Three-time premiership captain Luke Hodge echoed Cornes' view on Saturday Crunch Time and was surprised that Melbourne didn't use the example of Brisbane last week to prevent Geelong from getting the ball.

“It’s also the defensive side of things as well," Hodge said.

“If you look at how the Lions shut down the Cats last week, it was to take away the control from them.

“The Lions last week had 61 uncontested marks in the second half to the Cats’ four.

“So, they didn’t give them a chance to play the way they wanted to.

“Last night, Geelong had 165 (uncontested) marks, their average is 108.

“So, (Melbourne) gave them the ball and said, 'Hey, you’re a pretty experienced team; you’ve got some good skills; do want you want with it'.”

The Demons will face a litmus test against Essendon next Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.