ADAPTABILITY has been the key to success across the past two AFL seasons, and Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is expecting no different in 2022.

With COVID-19 still prevalent, coupled with expectation on the Demons to reach their lofty heights set last year, it’s going to be important for the club to embrace everything thrown its way.

“We spoke about that a lot last year, around what expectation is, and it’s obviously a privilege to have that sort of expectation,” Goodwin said at The Members’ Brief.

“But we also know we have to go and earn things in the game and respect the game for what it is, so the first thing we’ve really needed to focus on is our preparation.

“Being as physically and mentally prepared for what the challenges ahead are going to be and then make sure our game is in really good shape to play to a level that resembles what we think we’re capable of.

“We’re going to embrace, but we’re also going to have a lot of respect for the competition.”

Goodwin, who has been in the AFL system since debuting with Adelaide in 1997, has plenty of experiences to reflect on when preparing for Melbourne’s flag defence.

And he has learned that a positive approach to each obstacle is crucial when dealing with conflict on the run.

“I think you tap into all your experiences and what you know when there’s challenges,” he said.

“You’ve got to use every situation as an opportunity and I’m sure throughout this season coming up there’ll be things that are presented to us that are challenging in a whole range of different areas and we’ll look at all those things as opportunities to get better.

“It may be through personnel, it may be through selection in terms of players not available, it may be through just a dip in form in various stages throughout the season.

“So we’ll welcome those challenges and we’ll look forward to growing from them.”

To hear more from Goodwin, watch The Members’ Brief below: