COACH Simon Goodwin says he’s pleased with his side’s progress this year, despite losing the past three matches.

Goodwin said the fact that Melbourne was still in the top eight and right in the finals hunt meant that the team was still in a good place – even if there had been a dip in form in recent weeks.

“We’re pretty positive with where we sit. We’re still in the eight and we’re seventh on the ladder – we’re eight [wins] and six [losses],” he said at a media conference at AAMI Park on Wednesday.

“We’ve got a springboard into the back-half of our year, so we’re looking at what’s important to us right now.

“I don’t buy into that [talk] that we get ahead of ourselves – we’re got a really committed group. We train hard and we work really hard on our game and we continue to find ways to improve – that’s all we’re trying to do.”

Goodwin said there would be “a couple of changes” for Saturday’s match against Fremantle at TIO Stadium, which he added was “normal for week to week”.

But he said he wouldn’t be taking Fremantle lightly, even though it will be missing superstar duo Aaron Sandilands and Nat Fyfe through injury.  

“The last time they didn’t have Sandilands and Fyfe, they beat Adelaide, so, we’re certainly not falling for that one,” he said.

“They’re a side that came off the bye last week and didn’t perform to the level that they would’ve liked, but they have improved over a period of time.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge this week.”

Goodwin said yet-to-debut dashing half-back/winger Oskar Baker was “certainly in the selection mix”, along with Bernie Vince, went back to Casey last week “with a great attitude”. He reiterated that four-time premiership player Jordan Lewis “was someone we really value” in the back half.

And Goodwin was delighted with the fact that Aaron vandenBerg (ankle) and Pat McKenna (hamstring) were set to return for Casey this weekend, after more than a year on the sidelines.

“It’s fantastic. It’s been 18 months on the sidelines for both of those guys and they’re really pivotal to our playing group and they have a great impact,” he said.

“They’ve really grown in the [past] 18 months, so it’s going to be exciting for our club and our playing group to get to see them playing again.

“It’s terrific for the VFL [team].”

Meanwhile, Simon Goodwin praised the career of Hawthorn great Cyril Rioli, who announced his retirement as a player on Wednesday.

“He’s an incredible player and it’s sad for the game that he’s not going to be part of our game anymore,” he said.

“He’s one of my favourite players that I went and watched as a coach. To watch the opposition, you’d go along and watch Hawthorn games and see Cyril on the highlights reel, so he’ll be sorely missed in the industry.

“He was simply sensational in his ability to impact the game in such a way with minimal possession rate – with his knock-ons and his ability to win those critical contests … he was first class.”