SMASHING a phone on the table in the coaches’ box just isn’t Simon Goodwin’s style.
The Demons coach, who has copped his fair share of criticism this season, takes a more measured approach – one that isn’t always to the delight of Melbourne fans.
But for Goodwin, keeping his emotion in check is a key aspect of his coaching, and one that he doesn’t plan on changing.
“Whether we’re winning or we’re losing, it’s important for me, in my role, to remain calm, to be really clear and bring clarity to the group,” Goodwin said on Episode 4 of The Talking Points.
“Not only [for the players], but [I need to] bring clarity to the coaching group.
“The box is an environment where you want things to be calm, to make good decisions, and that’s the key thing.
“If you’re emotional, it’s really just a self-indulgence thing and it takes you away from what’s really important.”
Goodwin lends his calm and collected manner to being able to view the game for what it is, assessing what’s happening in the moment and adapting accordingly.
And while his behaviour in the box has raised some eyebrows, it certainly shouldn’t be confused for his passion.
“Emotion is done at a different time,” Goodwin said.
“It can be done in the rooms, it can be done before (the game), it can be done after (the game).
“In the moment, clarity and the consistency of message, and the calmness to make good decisions, is critical. I don’t shy away from that.
“I’m an emotional person, I just don’t show it at the times people would like to see it.”
Meanwhile, Goodwin and his playing group have continued to embrace the whirlwind that is the 2020 season.
Following the AFL’s announcement of a ‘Big Bash’ style of football, the group is now preparing to attack another unprecedented phased, which will see the Demons play four games in three weeks.
“It’s actually a really exciting fixture for us,” Goodwin said.
“To play so many games in such a short period – we’re looking at that as a positive.
“We’re in some good form and it’s a great chance for us now to build some momentum.”
And having planned for some quick turnarounds throughout this period, the travel and shorter breaks aren’t phasing the coach.
“We’ve prepared our players the whole season that this may be the case,” Goodwin said.
“When the first part of our season got halted after Round 1, we put our players in a training phase which was on a four-day cycle for this very moment.
“We wanted to prepare them for this part of the season when it came, and it’s come.
“We feel like we’re well placed to handle it.”
Goodwin shares more on the Demons’ hub, travel plans and on-field performances in Episode 4 of The Talking Points below.
