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Adam Goodes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Personal Info | |
|---|---|
| Birth | January 8, 1980, |
| Recruited from | Horsham, North Ballarat U18 |
| Height/Weight | 193 cm, 97 kg |
| Playing Career¹ | |
| Debut | Round 1, March 28, 1999, Sydney Swans vs. Port Adelaide Power, at Sydney Cricket Ground |
| Team(s) | Sydney Swans (1999-)
185 Games, 190 Goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of PF, 2006 season | |
| Career Highlights | |
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Adam Goodes (born January 8, 1980) is an Australian rules football player and dual Brownlow Medal winner.
He began with the North Ballarat Rebels in the Victorian Football League, but was drafted into the Australian Football League by the Sydney Swans in 1997, as the No. 43 pick. Goodes spent the 1998 season in the reserves competition, but broke into the first team the following year, and went on to win the league's Rising Star Award.
During 2000 and 2001, Goodes played in a variety of positions, developing his game but lacking consistency at times. He played every game during this period. In early 2002, however, his form had slumped and it had been suggested that he may be dropped. However, coach Rodney Eade resigned mid-season, and under interim (now permanent) coach Paul Roos, Goodes found himself playing more in the midfield. In the second half of that season, his form improved drastically, resulting in some of the best football of his career.
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In 2003, Goodes returned to the ruck position for significant parts of the year, in what was to become his best season so far. He played a critical role in the Swans revival and eventual Preliminary Final spot that year. In particular, his efforts were crucial in the Swans' win against Port Adelaide in the qualifying final.
At the end of the season, Goodes won the club's best and fairest award (the Bob Skilton Medal) and All-Australian selection for the first time. However, his greatest achievement was winning the league's highest honour, the Brownlow Medal, along with Collingwood's Nathan Buckley and Adelaide's Mark Ricciuto. Adam Goodes attributes his great success to his long time mentor John Winter who has had a great effect on him.
Goodes suffered an indifferent 2004, just like his team the Swans, who only managed the Semi-Final stage of the Finals series. He didn't repeat his heroic efforts of 2003, mainly due to niggling knee injuries, yet he still managed to play every game. Those knee injuries were due to an awkward fall during the season while playing in the ruck against the West Coast Eagles. Many expected Goodes to have suffered the dreaded posterior or anterior knee ligament damage, but he battled on. After this injury coach Roos announced that Goodes' rucking days were over, and that he would be used in other positions. Goodes played in the backline for the remainder of 2004.
Goodes returned to stellar form in 2005, as did his team-mates, who won Sydney's first premiership since they won as South Melbourne in 1933. Goodes was used all around the ground, but mainly in the midfield. His great year was highlighted with a near match-winning 33 disposals in round 18 against Adelaide. Goodes caused headaches for many a coach, mainly due to his amazing mobility and skill for a man for his size. Goodes kicked a goal in the 2005 Grand Final, which was another great game for him.
In Round 7 2006 Goodes played his 150th consecutive match, an amazing effort for the injuries he endured in his 2004 year. He has now played 167 consecutive matches[1]. Goodes returned to the Ruckman position in 2005 and 2006, but only occasionally around the ground, and not in the centre bounce where his knee injury occurred.
In 2006 Goodes had another extraordinary year and once again won the Brownlow Medal. He came into the count as a heavy favourite and he became only the twelfth player to have won two or more Brownlow Medals, the first Aboriginal to win two and the first player to win two with a non-Victorian club[2]. Goodes said of his performance, "I'd like to think with another couple of years in the midfield I could improve again."[3]. Goodes had a poor performance in the first half of the 2006 Grand Final versus the West Coast Eagles in a repeat match of 2005. Goodes turned on the style in the second half with his team coming agonisingly close (losing by one point). A pivotal moment came in the game at the 28 minute mark where Goodes chose to kick early into the 50-metre arc, a decision which may haunt him. If Goodes had run at least another 30 metres (which was possible) then he would have had an opportunity to score and tie the game or perhaps have put the Swans in front. It is unclear why Goodes did not run the extra few metres to consolidate the chance. Nevertheless Goodes had an outstanding season in 2006.
Goodes is of Aboriginal descent, and is active in the Sydney indigenous community. He has spent time working with troubled indigenous youth, including those in youth detention centres, along with his cousin and teammate Michael O'Loughlin. His mother Lisa May is also involved in community work, working in a nursing home (Goodes took his mother to the Brownlow Medal count in 2003).
- ^ As at the preliminary finals, 2006
- ^ Michael Cowley. "It's all Goodes: Swan takes the Brownlow", Sydney Morning Herald, 2006-09-26.
- ^ Mark Robinson. "Second Brownlow all Goodes", Fox Sports (Australia), 2006-09-26.
| Preceded by Byron Pickett |
AFL Rising Star 1999 |
Succeeded by Paul Hasleby |
| Preceded by Simon Black |
Brownlow Medalist 2003 (tied) |
Succeeded by Chris Judd |
| Preceded by Ben Cousins |
Brownlow Medalist 2006 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Paul Williams |
Sydney Swans Best and Fairest 2003 |
Succeeded by Barry Hall |
| Preceded by Brett Kirk |
Sydney Swans Best and Fairest 2006 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |