MELBOURNE will resume its 2025 AFL season this Saturday, returning from its bye week energised to take on Gold Coast at Peoples First Stadium.
Senior coach Simon Goodwin joined media on Thursday to discuss the team’s break and the focus heading into the back half of their fixture.
Post-bye energy
“I think the first thing you look for is energy in the building, and they've come back in with a lot of energy and a lot of purpose for getting better,” Goodwin said.
“That's been our primary focus - to go away, get some recovery, 14 weeks is a big block of footy, and so it’s about coming back refreshed, energised, and with a great purpose on what we're trying to go about.”
First-half review
“We've gone about a process of change and we changed it with some difficulties early. It was obviously a really slow start to the season, but we were able to build some momentum,” Goodwin said.
“Then the last few weeks we haven't quite got the results, but we're still playing in a way that's going to enable us to get results. That's what we're focused on.
“A big part of that is celebrating some of the actions and the things that we've been able to work on, but also being really clear and identifying the things that are going to take us to the next level, both from a game plan perspective, but also from a dynamics perspective.”
Conversion focus
“If you look across a bigger period, whether that be three, four or five years, our ability to convert is actually sitting okay. This year, it’s not to that level," Goodwin said.
“It’s one of those things, the more you talk about goalkicking, the worse you get. If you focus on something that's a real outcome-based skill, sometimes you get worse.
“We're going to take all that pressure away. The only thing that I really care about in terms of our goalkicking is, are we doing the work? And are we sticking to process?
“We've done a hell of a lot of work, and if we do stick to process, the outcome will come with some belief and confidence when the ball goes through the big sticks.”
Forward selection
“[Jacob van Rooyen] has certainly improved in some of the aspects of his game, he's still got a lot of work to do and we're still working with a young key forward that's developing his game," Goodwin said.
“It's competitive for spots, you look at Matthew Jefferson, who's playing some really strong footy at the VFL level and he's certainly pressing his claims to come in.
“So, we've got some developing key forwards and they take time. They're going on their own journey with their development.”