“Incredibly disappointed” Simon Goodwin reviews last minute loss to Lions.

Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin expressed his deep disappointment over conceding a last-minute goal to the Brisbane Lions, resulting in a five-point loss.

“It’s devastating to lose the game like that. We came here determined, despite many doubting us,” Goodwin said.

“We’re proud of the boys’ performance but incredibly disappointed with the outcome. The game was there for the taking, and we walk away defeated. We felt things were turning in our favor with our contest game and defense, but their midfield dominated in the last quarter. We played it a bit safe, which is something we need to address.”

Goodwin praised midfielder Clayton Oliver’s comeback performance after a quiet month.

“He’s worked incredibly hard and faced a lot of criticism, but he showed tonight why he’s crucial. He’s highly skilled, and we’re thrilled to see him back to his best.

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan revealed that he used a motivational tactic at halftime, displaying the stats of key midfielders Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale, and Josh Dunkley.

“I put their stats on the board alongside the opposition’s and told them, ‘boys, we need to lift.’ They responded brilliantly in the second half, showing their great character,” Fagan said.

He described the game as unpredictable and noted that his team might have been a bit sluggish after a big win against Port Adelaide the previous week.

“It was a rollercoaster game with many opportunities, but we found a way to win. Sometimes, big wins are followed by performances like this,” he concluded.