Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has made the shock revelation that he has been too “angry and frustrated” to speak to provisionally suspended player Joel Smith. Smith recorded a positive test for cocaine during the AFL season and is facing an anti-doping ban. Even if he takes advantage of a recent rule change to cut his time out to as little as one month, the 27-year-old is facing further punishment from the club itself.
News of the positive result emerged just weeks after the Demons threw a cloud over Clayton Oliver’s future over his professionalism and off-field conduct. Both developments renewed the focus on Goodwin himself, too, with unfounded allegations of drug use again criticised by the coach and his club. But internal frustrations with his players left him reeling.