Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is steadfast that his club can turn around its goalkicking woes after a wretched output in Round 12 against St Kilda.
The Demons, who had seven more scores, failed to capitalise in front of goal at TIO Trager Park, kicking 7.21, and going down by 28 points.
According toย statistician WheeloRatings, Goodwin's men were expected to win the contest. Simulations tipped the Demons to score 83.8 points; instead, they were left by a measly 63.
Goalkicking traditionally hasn't been a strong suit of Melbourne, sitting under 50 per cent each year since 2018. However, season 2025 has reached an all-time low (41.4) during that span.
Melbourne's hot run of form has come to a crashing halt at the hands of St Kilda in Alice Springs. https://t.co/5zYfOfFT4D @TimHipsley #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/aHCkb4kRIe
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) June 1, 2025
"It's complex," Goodwin said on Thursday.
"It's something we've identified for a while now that we need to get better at. We've done a power of work in it. It's something we spend a lot of time doing, and we certainly believe, in time, we'll get the results.
"But we know that if we're consistent, and we stick to what we're doing, and we believe we've done the work, and we believe the process, we'll be able to kick our goals.
"We've made change, we're just not seeing the results that we need to see right now."
Melbourne will get a chance to redeem itself in the annual King's Birthday clash on Monday against Collingwood.
Aidan Johnson is the only confirmed absence from the side after he was suspended for two matches following his bump on Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
Emerging forwards Matthew Jefferson and Jacob van Rooyen have been in strong form at VFL level, and Goodwin discusses their recall chances.
"With Aidan Johnson being suspended, that presents an opportunity," Goodwin said.
"It's going to be a tough decision because Matthew Jefferson and Jacob van Rooyen are both playing outstanding footy.
"Obviously, everyone looks at Matty Jefferson kicking 10 goals over two weeks, I think van Rooyen has kicked six or seven.
"They're both playing outstanding footy, we've got some decisions to make later in the week around who comes in.
"What we do know is the two guys who have gone back to get into form, they're in really good form. We're excited by that."
Vice-captain Jack Viney can't win a trick after the Demons confirmed he was sent in for surgery on a fractured hand.
Viney was attempting to return from concussion, and during a training session in Alice Springs, he "slipped over and, unfortunately, follow-up imaging showed that he had sustained a fracture to one of the bones in his hand".
Goodwin said the surgery went well, and is "hopeful" the 31-year-old will be available to play next week.
