Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin believes he is the man to lead the club out of its horror start to the 2025 campaign after Saturday night's loss to Essendon saw the Demons slump to 0-5.
Melbourne are now just one of two clubs yet to see a win this season, with Carlton's triumph over West Coast handing the Eagles their own fifth-straight defeat.
The appalling start to the year has come as a brutal reality check for the Demons who were anticipated by some to bounce back after 2024's poor season, with a healthy Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver looking back to their best in the pre-season.
However, the Demons were unable to capitalise on inside 50s yet again on Saturday, begging the question about whether Simon Goodwin's gameplan is holding its weight.
Queried post-game on how he sees his future at the club, Goodwin firmly believed he is the coach that will lead the Demons out of their tumultuous start to the season.
"I'm incredibly confident," Goodwin said.
"It's not about me, it's about the club. It's about the team. It's about these players.
"We've had a lot of challenges as a club, and I said this during the week, a lot of challenges through my time at the footy club, and I've been pretty well serviced to see the club through that, and I feel pretty well credentialed to do that, and we're in a challenging spot right now.
"We acknowledge that, but my focus is just doing my job to the best of my ability.
"I believe we've got the credentials to do it. We've got a team that I think can continue to move forward, and that's the way we're going to go about doing it."
Goodwin assured that there are no off-field issues or differing opinions impacting the performances to start the season, with the Demons coach hoping the group's connection and belief off-field will begin to flow into their on-field performances.
"Off-field if you come in every day, there's enormous belief in the playing group. They are connected off the field. It's just bringing that on-field and connecting on-field," Goodwin said.
"And as I said, we've got work to do on that. We acknowledge we're not where we want to be right now."
Goodwin challenged his "proud" senior players to step up in Melbourne's upcoming matches to give the Demons their best chance at winning.
With considerable improvement from their star troops, Goodwin maintained that the Demons are just a patch of action away from turning their season around.
"We've got some proud players, and I said this during the week, they probably aren't playing their best footy right now and combine that with some youth that are learning how to play the game," Goodwin said.
"We need to get our most senior players playing their best footy. That'll give us our best chance.
"...It can turn very quickly. As people say all the time, it's never as bad, it's never as good (as it looks). And right now it feels bad.
"It can turn quick. Players can come into form quick... This club will be back up and away.
"Probably one quarter, one half, three quarters, a win (away from form turning).
"It'll turn and we'll be away."
Melbourne's next month consists of games against Fremantle, Richmond, West Coast and Hawthorn, in what will be a series of must-win matches for the Demons, especially if Goodwin is to shake off external pressures about his future at the helm of the Melbourne football club.
