Claims early last year of drinking, gambling and workplace bullying against Demons coach Simon Goodwin have emerged, with Melbourne understood to have considered sacking the eventual premiership coach on the eve of their drought-breaking campaign.
In a report by The Herald Sun's Mick Warner, the Demons' board had investigated allegations into Goodwin's behaviour, with the AFL roped into "crisis talks".
It is understood that Goodwin's alleged alarming behaviour was brought to Melbourne CEO Gary Pert by former president Glen Bartlett and ex-head doctor Zeeshan Arain, with the latter having placed a dismissal claim against the club in October of 2020 after being stood down that month.
Leaked documents revealed that Arain had “encountered unreasonable and repeated behaviour by Mr Goodwin”, who used “aggressive language and tone” toward injured players.
A Melbourne board memo also revealed that Arain noted to the Demons that “one staff (member) and one player directly spoke to me that they know first hand” of Goodwin's behaviour.
Arain's claim was the first the Demons were aware of reported bullying by Goodwin at the club, with similar allegations having been raised to the AFL about Goodwin in both Adelaide and Sydney.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan and commissioner Richard Goyder held discussions with Bartlett early last year, who had also been made aware of allegations of drinking and gambling by Goodwin at the Sorrento Hotel.
“I know for a fact your coach is out drinking with players at the Sorrento pub – are you crazy? That doesn't work,” McLachlan said, per News Corp.
“Hanging out with his players, drinking and betting – just the wrong behaviour. There has to be enough distance. You need to respect him and like him, don't have to love him, but respect him. You can't be doing that s--t. You have to make tough decisions. It doesn't work.”
Last February Bartlett and Pert noted the allegations to Goodwin, who denied any suggestion of worrying behaviour.
McLachlan is understood to have encouraged Bartlett to sack Goodwin just a month out from the opening round of the 2021 season.
Goodwin would remain at the helm and take the Demons to premiership glory, while Bartlett was forced out of the club in a board coup early last year.
