Former Melbourne coach and current Swans mentor Simon Goodwin shares his views on coaching ambitions for the future.

Former Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin anticipates that the “urge” to return to a senior coaching role will resurface as he acclimatises to his new position at Sydney.

Goodwin joined the Swans this season as the director of coaching and performance after his departure from Melbourne.

His exit, part of a major overhaul at the club, coincided with the departures of key players like Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca.

During his tenure, Goodwin had to navigate turbulent changes in the board and administration, as well as concerns surrounding a troubled club culture.

In a conversation with The Sydney Morning Herald, Goodwin candidly discussed his new position and his motivations for taking it.

“For me, it was about remaining in coaching,” he stated.

“Coaching is my passion. I thrive on high performance, the competitive element, and the challenge of striving for success in a challenging environment. I didn’t want to miss out on that.”

“However, I also aimed to ensure I was in a setting that was distinct and different. Sydney certainly offers that; the lifestyle and the unique culture of the club were incredibly appealing to be part of.”

Goodwin acknowledged that “at some point,” he anticipates the desire to lead again will return.

“At present, I’m enjoying taking a step back to view coaching from a broader perspective and working with a younger head coach, Coxy (Dean Cox). I genuinely love that aspect—but I’m confident that urge will emerge again in due course,” he remarked.

“For now, it’s not my primary focus. I want to improve myself and continue to enjoy my role here. I’m devoted to the Swans and aspiring to achieve something truly unique and special here first.”

At 49 years old, Goodwin reflected on the challenges he faced during his time at Melbourne, where expectations soared following their premiership triumph.

He ultimately fell victim to the pressure surrounding the role and admitted, “the hardest aspect” was how it affected his family.

“You inevitably bring it home to some extent, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he added.

“There is an intensity in our industry that is remarkably high, and that’s not going away. It’s a big part of what we cherish about our game. When things are going well, there’s much praise, but when they aren’t, there’s an abundance of criticism.”