Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says the AFL club has thrown its arms around Michael Hibberd at a difficult time for the player and his family.

Hibberd’s older brother Geoff, 33, and Jason De Silva, 20, disappeared while fishing off Victoria’s coast this week.

Their tinny washed ashore the south coast of Phillip Island on Monday.

Hibberd on Tuesday posted several photos of himself and brother Geoff on Instagram, with the words “come home now please, brother”.

“It’s without question a really tragic situation for Michael and his family,” Goodwin told reporters on Thursday.

“They’re clearly doing it really tough at the moment.

“I’ve been in contact with Michael numerous times every day and he’s holding up OK.

“Clearly he’s got a lot of mixed emotions and is just coming to terms with the whole situation.

“The club have put a great support network around him and we’re working really closely with the family.

“The players have certainly rallied behind him through messages and we’ll do anything we can to support the family.

“It’s obviously a really difficult time for them.”

Goodwin said the situation had been difficult for Melbourne players and coaches to work through while social distancing restrictions are in place during the coronavirus pandemic.

“You just want to go and see him and give him a hug,” Goodwin said.

“It’s one thing that you do miss at the moment; that social interaction and connection with people.

“You just want to be there for him and we can’t at the moment.

“But I can call him, I can contact him and I can show care in other ways, and that’s what I’m doing.”

Hibberd played in Melbourne’s round one defeat to West Coast on March 22 before the AFL went into shutdown.