DARREN MONCRIEFF
Thursday 15 September, 2011
ADAM GOODES' place in the pantheon of champion footballers past and present is assured.
The Swans utility will play his 300th game in tomorrow night's semi-final against Hawthorn at the MCG.
It's an incredible achievement by the 31-year-old -- playing one of the world's most physically demanding sports tests the most durable of physiques but blessed with solid genes and a serious work ethic, Goodes has played it 300 times at the elite level.
And he's done it with style.
Goodes (pictured) is in some of the best form of his decorated career. He is often likened to his team's 'barometer' -- that figurative implement used to measure a whole range of key performance indicators.
While the Swans' rise from likely September sightseers to genuine finals threats can be attributed to several factors, Goodes is often at the forefront of his team's successes.
But as ever, whether it's Brownlow Medals, Indigenous Team of the Century selection, club fairest-and-bests, gaining All-Australian honours, or a Rising Star award, Goodes would rather shift the focus to something else, like the Swans' chances against the Hawks.
"To me it's just another game of football and it's on one of the biggest stages, the MCG," he said this week.
"Another elimination final for us and it's just great to be taking some confidence and good form in as a team and individually."
In an environment that tolerates only a select few in their 30s, Goodes said his age was just a number.
"I'm 31 and I feel as fit and healthy as some of our 19-, 20-year-old kids running around," he said.
"Physically, I know what to do with my body and I've been able to listen to it for many years and give it rest when I need to and then I train harder when I'm feeling good."
Goodes' AFL career straddles three decades.
His debut came in 1999, two years after being selected as the 43rd pick (overall) in the 1997 national draft.
The ultimate, a club premiership, came in 2005 and another came close the following year.
"When you get drafted to an AFL football club, it's a boys dream," Goodes said.
"But for me it probably wasn't a dream, it was just a progression for me in finishing high school and playing some good footy that year and not knowing what I was going to do that year.
"Luckily for me the day I got drafted was the day I finished my last English exam. So it just seemed to fit and really flowed on.
"I'm a big believer that everything happens for a reason and here I am 299 games later.
"It's been a fantastic journey and a journey that still has a long way to go."
Such are his qualities, as a person as much as a footballer, Adam Goodes could carve up your team tomorrow and, after the initial disappointment, you'd probably want to see the replay just to watch him play.
Adam Goodes
Age: 31
Height: 194cm. Weight: 99kg
AFL debut: 1999
Career games: 299
Career goals: 349
Achievements
Premiership team: 2005
Brownlow Medallist: 2003 (equal), 2006
All-Australian: 2003, 2006, 2009
Best and Fairest: 2003, 2006
Rising Star: 1999
Indigenous Team of the Century
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 15/09/2011 23:57