Melbourne president Kate Roffey has backed coach Simon Goodwin after a report suggested the premiership coach was close to being stood down over behavioural issues.
The Herald Sun report stated the Demons and AFL boss Gillon McLachlan had discussions about Goodwin's future at the start of 2021.
It alleges there was bullying within the Melbourne football club by Goodwin and that there was also concerns around his lifestyle.
Despite the alleged tension, Melbourne went on to win their first AFL premiership since 1964 last season.
While Roffey didn't address the allegation that Melbourne were considering sacking Goodwin, the president threw her support behind the coach and his development as the club's leader.
"On behalf of the current board, I would like to make it incredibly clear that Simon Goodwin, as the current reigning premiership coach and AFL coach of the year, is an exceptional leader of our Football Club," Roffey said via a statement delivered to Melbourne's members.
"Simon along with other club leaders Gary Pert and Alan Richardson have driven a high-performance culture that has led to a premiership and made my board and all Melbourne supporters proud of this club.
"I want to make this very clear, I look forward to Simon continuing to evolve as a coach and leader at the Melbourne Football Club for many more years to come.
"As has been widely publicised, at the conclusion at the 2020 home and away season the Melbourne Football Club Board commissioned a review of the Football Program which was conducted by CEO Gary Pert.
"The review was thorough and professional and resulted in many important personnel and program changes which set our club up for a record-breaking performance including our 13th premiership in 2021.
"As part of the review Gary spoke to over 40 people both internal and external to the club including players, coaches, and staff. All feedback and conversations were taken incredibly seriously and followed through using the club’s standard governance processes.
"At the completion of the review process, the resulting recommendations were presented to the board at the time, and which were unanimously signed off and endorsed.
"The recommendations resulted in the club implementing many personnel and program changes across the Football Department including the coaching, high performance, and medical areas.
"As previously communicated to Melbourne supporters, the review reaffirmed Simon Goodwin as the right man to lead our club, and ultimately to drive us to premiership success.
"As expected from any review, the final recommendations outlined areas for improvement for several key staff within the football program, that feedback was given and welcomed by Simon and others as a way of improving our young leaders who are driving the cultural change.
"Simon, like many others within the department, was given this feedback and embraced the opportunity it provided to evolve and improve as a coach.
"During these feedback discussions, Simon totally rejected any accusations of bullying behaviour and as the Club President, I totally support Simon rejecting those accusations.
"Simon is an inclusive leader who is loved by the players, coaches and staff and goes out of his way to build genuine relationships throughout the football department and broader club.
"Following the review, Simon, Alan Richardson, Max Gawn and the club’s leadership group led the charge in ensuring all areas for improvement outlined in the review were acted upon.
"They embedded the club’s values of trust, respect, unity and excellence within our football department and they continue to do so.
"The character and strength of our people saw us achieve great things in season 2021 and we are excited to see what we can do in 2022 and beyond."
