Adam Goodes

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Adam Goodes : biography

8 January 1980 –

Goodes returned to form in 2005, playing mainly in the midfield. His year was highlighted with a near match-winning 33 disposals in round 18 against the Adelaide Crows. Goodes played well in the 2005 Grand Final, kicked a goal and gathering 20 possessions as the Swans won their first premiership since 1933. (25 September 2005) He was also awarded life membership of the Swans after playing his 150th game during the year.Michael Cowley and AAP (1 October 2005)

2006: Second Brownlow Medal

In Round 7 2006 Goodes played his 150th consecutive match, an amazing effort for the injuries he endured in his 2004 year. By the end of the 2007 season, he had played 191 consecutive matches. 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 is 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. Goodes said of his performance, "I’d like to think with another couple of years in the midfield I could improve again.". 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. However, he turned on the heat in the second half with his team coming agonisingly close (losing by one point).

At the end of the year he was once again selected in the All-Australian team.

2007–11

Seasons 2007–2008 saw Goodes drop off in form which was inevitable due to the high standards set during 2006 but was still instrumental in Sydney’s finals campaigns in 2007 and 2008. He was hit with Brownlow Medal-threatening suspensions and charges during both years, and 2008 saw Goodes miss games through suspension and/or injury for the first time since 2000. His 2007 season ended incredibly strongly for him as he received 16 of a possible 18 votes in the last six games of the year.

Goodes played his 250th game in 2009, against Geelong. Adam was arguably one of the best players throughout the 2009 season, having to help out in the forward line because of Barry Hall’s mid season departure. He finished the season with 38 goals and averaged 21 disposals. From 2006–09 Goodes amassed 84 Brownlow votes which equated to 21 per season, easily a winning tally in years gone by considering he had drawn 22 votes during 2003’s success. Interestingly 2009 was between 2007–2009 Goodes played career best football in the eyes of some critics and perhaps even better than 2003 or 2006 as evidenced by a career high 8 goal haul against Fremantle in 2008 and more accurate goal kicking when thrust into the forward 50. Goodes played some breathtaking football in 2009 in what was a relatively disappointing season in which the Swans finished 12th and failed to make the finals for the first time in 6 years. He also polled three Brownlow Medal votes in the round 7 match against Geelong which Sydney lost by 51 points.

His mark against Hawthorn in round 2 2009, running goal directly from a centre square bounce against Richmond in 2008 and incredible snap goal against Collingwood in round 21 2009 has led to some believing he was more worthy a recipient of the Brownlow medal in 2008 or 2009 in particular than in 2003 or possibly even 2006.

In 2010, Goodes averaged about 20 disposals and 2 goals a game having been at the forefront at Sydney’s revival. They finished the season in 5th position. Having started the season at CHF and providing a good target inside 50 for much of the year, Goodes was shifted into the midfield to great success. Goodes finished 6th in the Bob Skilton Medal and was named in the initial 40 man All-Australian squad but not in the final side. He was also named captain of the International Rules squad to play in Ireland in October.

After a stellar 2009 season and an occasional move to half forward, Goodes was selected last but managed to sneak into the 2009 All-Australian team on the interchange bench.