AFL 2025: Melbourne interim coach Troy Chaplin won’t pursue the senior position next season

Melbourne caretaker coach Troy Chaplin will not pursue the Demons’ vacant coaching position despite having strong aspirations to be a senior coach.

Chaplin has worked as an assistant coach at Melbourne since 2016 and will steer the Demons’ final three games after they sacked Simon Goodwin on Monday.

The former Port Adelaide and Richmond player wants to one day lead a club and sees the upcoming three games as a great opportunity to pitch his case.

But Chaplin has already spoken with Melbourne’s powerbrokers about next season and they have mutually agreed he would not apply for the position.

“I have spoken to the club and I won’t be pursuing the role but I certainly have aspirations to be a senior coach one day,” Chaplin said.

“To be able to lead a program with Richo (general manager of football Alan Richardson) over the next three weeks is a great opportunity, I am looking forward to it.

“We’ve got three really good games at the home of footy as well, at the MCG, where our fans can come out and support us.

“It was both, I went and spoke to them (the club) – history says caretaker coaches don’t get that role.

“But they know I’m an aspiring head coach as well, so they gave me the opportunity to lead the program for the next three weeks.

“To also understand that they are looking for a new voice as well, it’s exciting for the football club and the playing group as well that in the next five or six weeks they’re going to have a new coach to drive this club forward.”

Chaplin is certain the Demons are still locked in for the remainder of the season and is excited by the “finals like” match-ups ahead.

Melbourne has the opportunity to end or put a dent in the finals hopes of the Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn and Collingwood.

Chaplin said the Demons would tackle each of those sides with a similar style to Goodwin, but he was open to potentially throwing the magnets around.

“It’s certainly something we discussed, about who are the younger guys playing really good football at VFL that can get an opportunity this next few weeks,” he said.

“We’ll probably maybe throw the magnets around a little bit, but in terms of game style, with three weeks to go, it’s very hard to change anything.

“You do want to keep some consistency in that and, to be fair, the boys have been playing some really good football, especially since the break.

“A lot of our numbers suggest we’ve started to improve and see some change; consistency will be there, but there might be some personnel adjustments.”

Chaplin won the AFL assistant coach of the year award in 2022, a year after he assisted the Demons to their drought-breaking premiership.

He couldn’t categorically confirm his future at Melbourne, saying those conversations will take place after the club appoints its next senior coach.

“That will be something I will sit down with the club, obviously they’ve got to try and find a new coach,” Chaplin said.

“I’ll sit down with them and work through that at the end of next year. At the moment my focus is the next three weeks and in particular this week.

“It’s a great opportunity for me and the guys to finish off the season, and hopefully our supporters see a team that’s committed and really putting their best foot forward.

“Whoever that new coach is, we’ll sit down and have those conversations. I love working at this football club, love working with this playing group.

“I’ve built some really strong relationships, there’s great people at this football club – where that lies we’ll find out in the future.

“Whoever that new coach is, if they want me here, I’m really supportive and will be here, and myself and the club will work that out towards the end of the year.”