MELBOURNE senior coach Simon Goodwin says the club has moved forward with clarity and care, reaffirming the support and confidence in skipper Max Gawn ahead of this week’s clash with Gold Coast.

Gawn, who remains a key figure at the heart of the club’s culture and on-field leadership, is in a great space according to Goodwin, who acknowledged his own protective instincts in addressing Gawn’s situation.

United Behind Our Leader

“I was pretty clear that I got it wrong, and I needed to put a sock in it,” Goodwin said.

“I was obviously quite protective of the big fella. If that’s something we can all learn from—absolutely.

“The key thing is Max is actually fine. He’s going as well as anyone. He’s clear, he’s in a good place, and we’ve all moved forward.”

“He’s the leader of our footy club, and we love him for everything he brings to this team—on and off the field,” Goodwin said.

“We just want to let him do what he does best, and that’s lead, play footy, and inspire those around him.”

A Proud Competitor

“Max is a proud man,” Goodwin said.

“He knows he was beaten last week—Tristan Xerri played an outstanding game.

“Now he looks ahead to a great contest with Jarrod Witts. Max thrives on these challenges, and we’re excited to see him respond.”

Return to Identity

“We’ve gone back to what we’ve trained all summer,” Goodwin said.

“We said we’d explore a new way of playing—but it only works with the right intensity and pressure. Last week, we didn’t bring that.

“This week’s about getting back to what we can control, and we’re confident you’ll see that on Saturday.”

Key Leaders Return

“Steven May will be available, Jake Melksham will be available, and Jake Lever’s ankle looks good,” Goodwin confirmed.

“Steven’s not just important for his role—he brings leadership and competitiveness. It’s great to have him tracking well.”

“This might be the first time this year we’ve had Steven, Jake, and Harrison Petty back together,” Goodwin said.

“We’re excited about that. That trio works really well together and gives us a solid foundation.”

Forward Focus

“I’ve spoken about the disconnect up forward—and we own that,” Goodwin said.

“In the third quarter last week, we had 20 inside 50s for just one goal. But there were also moments of real improvement.

“We’ll keep training it and keep working. We’re confident you’ll see change, but we know we’ve got to deliver that consistently.”

Nurturing Talent

“Harvey Langford is a highly talented young player,” Goodwin said.

“He’ll certainly help our club—but we need to prepare him the right way.

“He’s tracking really well, but we can’t keep putting high, unrealistic expectations on young players.

“He’ll help us in a number of ways in time—but we’re preparing him the right way. He’s still learning, and we want to set him up for long-term success.

“If you ask me, is he playing this week? We’ll finalise that at selection.”

Focus Inward and Respect for the Opposition

“It’s simple: block out the noise, and focus on what you can control,” Goodwin said.

“We’ve got a strong group, and we’re ready to show up and respond this week.”

“Every week starts with getting ourselves right first,” Goodwin said.

“Gold Coast are a talented side. They’re quick, competitive, and well coached—but we know our best footy challenges anyone.”

Chandler’s Impact Recognised

“Kade Chandler was outstanding last week,” Goodwin said.

“He was a standout in terms of performance and intensity. He was pretty disappointed with his Round 1 performance, but his response was brilliant.

“The way he attacked the game—his intensity—he was a great example for the group.”