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Revered Sydney veteran Adam Goodes has the chance to become the Swans’ first three-time AFL premiership winner, after supplying some team-lifting inspiration in their 71-point preliminary final thumping of North Melbourne.
The win at ANZ Stadium on Friday night advanced Sydney to their fourth grand final in ten years, giving Goodes the chance to enjoy a fairytale finish if his 16th senior season turns out to be his last.
Goodes marked his 350th game with three goals and 17 possessions and provided the spark after North kicked the first goal in each of the first two quarters.
Goodes doesn’t touch the ball as often as he once did but his eight first-half touches delivered two goals and set up another one.
“He’s still got it,” Swans coach John Longmire said of Goodes’ explosive pace.
The Kangaroos kicked the first goal of the game and looked lively until Goodes produced a momentum-changing major, skilfully swivelling onto his left foot and splitting the sticks.
That was the first of four straight goals for Sydney that set up their 21-point quarter-time lead.
It was a similar story in the second quarter, as North looked to mount a comeback and kicked the opening goal of the term.
Once again, Goodes stepped up, bounding away and kicking his 26th goal of the season and 435th of a career liberally sprinkled with individual and team accolades.
But perhaps the best moment of his milestone game came right at the end of the quarter, as he touched the ball twice and combined with Lance Franklin to set up Kurt Tippett for a goal.
“He’s looking sharper than he has all year … I thought he was done,” former Essendon forward Matthew Lloyd said on radio station 3AW.
Goodes wasn’t as influential in the second half, but he didn’t need to be.
As has been the case for most of the year, the dual Brownlow Medallist was content to do his bit and play his role and leave the likes of Franklin, Josh Kennedy, Kieren Jack and Luke Parker to run the show.
There was still time in the final quarter for Goodes to mark and kick a third goal from close range.
He had a chance to equal his season-best haul of four, but kicked a behind from a set shot after Franklin unselfishly gave the ball up.
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