Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has hit the reset button on the Demons’ disastrous AFL season.
Beset by injuries and poor form, one of the top pre-season fancies for this year’s premiership limped into their bye with their finals hopes in tatters with a 3-9 record.
Sweeping changes were made to Goodwin’s coaching panel and the club’s high-performance staff during the break.
The players haven’t been spared either, Goodwin demanding improved on-field performances, starting with Saturday’s clash with Fremantle at the MCG.
“The talk has been about the coaching restructure and the high-performance restructure but the players are no different,” Goodwin said on Friday.
“We asked our players … to take responsibility and look at the opportunities.
“We’re 3-9, we’re not happy with where we sit, and we want to make sure we maximise the next 10 weeks to get better.
“We’re not wasting time, we’re not going to wait until the end of the year to reset and get better.”
The Demons’ wretched run with injury has continued, however, with Jake Lever sidelined with a fresh knee problem.
Collingwood’s Travis Varcoe fell across Lever’s reconstructed knee early in his first game back after 12 months out, but scans have cleared him of significant damage.
“He’ll hopefully only miss one (game),” Goodwin said.
“It’s not his ACL so that’s a real positive for us. It’s a bone bruising and it could be one week or two or three.
“He’s obviously disappointed, but at the same time he’s got some perspective.
“It’s a long journey for him, it’s been 12 months, and he’s had one game and an innocuous injury but he’ll be back soon.”
Michael Walters and the sixth-placed Dockers (7-5) can do no wrong of late, with the focus on Saturday to be the return of one-time fan favourite Jesse Hogan.
The spearhead will play his first game against the Demons since his off-season trade, with Goodwin setting Steven May to do the job on him.
“They’re two really good players and I think it’s going to be a great match-up for our supporters to watch,” the coach said.
“I think (Hogan’s) had a strong year, he’s worked his way into some good form.
“But I thought Steven May’s game against Collingwood was outstanding.”