After taking a two week sabbatical from the rigours of AFL football, Sydney’s Adam Goodes is set to make his return to the Big League.
Shaky early season form and an unwillingness to play as a substitute saw the big Swan lose his spot after Round 2, but a couple of strong showings in the NEAFL over the past two weeks has been enough to convince the selectors that it is time to bring him back.
But just how beneficial will Goodes’ break away from first class football turn out to be? Especially as it was a break that Goodes basically requested himself, preferring to play a full game at a lower level rather than face the limited game time that usually befalls the AFL substitute.
Fitness wise there has to be a plus, confidence as well perhaps, but as far as intensity is concerned, does being a big fish in the small NEAFL pond provide adequate preparation?
With no disrespect to the NEAFL, it is hardly among the stronger of the feeder competitions, and for a fading AFL star who has shown signs of struggling to keep up with the tempo of the game, will a full game at a lesser level be any more beneficial than the quarter or so of elite level competition he would have experienced as a sub?
At least as a sub, he would have still been subjected to the force and speed of football being played at its very best. In the NEAFL he wasn’t, and lot of former AFL stars will tell you that the game can seemingly change overnight.
One moment you’re floating along nicely with the ebb and flow of the game, while the next you’re being dunked and splashed, drowning in the chaos as your younger teammates take over your position and cruise off over the horizon.
Goodes is a proud player. He has been a champion in the true sense of the word, but his decision to surrender his spot in the team to chase form in the reserves was a brave one.
Any fringe player will tell you that a spot in the seniors is a spot to cherish, to hang onto at all costs. Not many are given the luxury of being able to have their spot kept warm for them while they go off to find confidence or form elsewhere.
Perhaps Goodes hasn’t had to fight hard enough for his position to realise this. Champions rarely do. Their spots in the side are always assured. Goodes is now facing up to the reality that haunts hundreds of league footballers everyday – uncertainty.
And that changes everything.
Now that his spot in the team is not assured, he has to work damn hard to retain it. He is going to have to accept that for him to continue to be a part of a successful Swans outfit he must bow to the demands of his team. If that means games where he plays as a sub, well, so be it.
If it is determined that his value to the team is to come on late in the game as a burst or impact player, then that is the role he must play.
Age wearies everyone and sadly, champions of the game are no exception. To survive into their twilight years as players they need to adapt to the meet the needs of the team and accept the harsh reality that the team is no longer built around them.
Geelong’s Stevie Johnson may not have been happy about starting in the green vest last weekend, but at least he did. He didn’t sulk or throw his toys out of the cot – although he was displeased – and when he was finally called upon to take the field, he was serviceable, fulfilling his role by kicking a couple of goals and probably doing enough to ensure that he is back in the team proper for this Saturday’s clash against Richmond.
But even if he wasn’t, I doubt very much if he’d ask to be dropped back to the reserves. Having had his own troubles early in his career he is well aware of the sanctity of his place in the senior team.
He knows that it could all disappear in a heartbeat, that to drop out voluntarily in the vague hope of resurrecting past form could just be the excuse the club is looking for to move you along.
So how will Goodesy go this weekend?
I hope that he goes well. His brilliant best is behind him but his value now is in his experience and footy nouse. That alone should ensure that he more than holds his own.
But there will be days as we go deeper and deeper into the season that will see him struggling and there will be days when his value to the team will be as the substitute, coming on late and fresh, to weave some of the magic that we know he can.
We all accept this. It is time that Adam Goodes did as well.
Jrod
Guest
He was to slow today - suspect straight omission. Perhaps they give him 1 more but his career looks over.
Sean Lee
Expert
Totally agree Jakarta Fan. Well said.
Sean Lee
Expert
Yes, that is a good point.
Sean Lee
Expert
Hi Natalie, thanks for replying. The 'cracker' is more about not having really been a fringe player with a career balancing on his weekly performance. The fact is that Goodesy has been a walk up start for much of his career, and hasn't known what it is like to really have to scrap and fight for a senior berth. This is not a criticism, it is how it is for most of the league's true champions. What I am suggesting is that he is in a position that he has not really been in before and that perhaps keeping his hand in as a sub would have been more beneficial than dropping back to the seconds - if of course it was entirely his decision.
Sean Lee
Expert
Hi Wayne. I love Adam Goodes and I also love the way that the Swans go about their business. Please read my answers to the above comments for further explanation of my views. That grandfinal with Goodesy on one leg will go down in footy folklore. It doesn't get much better than that!
Sean Lee
Expert
No, I don't think Goodes was selfish or lacking motivation. In fact it was probably the opposite. I just think that being exposed to the pressure of top level footy, even as the sub, would be more beneficial than dropping back to the NEAFL. As far as cherishing his spot, see my reply to Winston above. You're right, there are overblown egos everywhere, (probably even at the Swans!), but Goodes is not one of them. He may need to accept that he is going to get less game time this year though and that no amount of form in the NEAFL is going to change that.
Sean Lee
Expert
Hi Winston, thanks for taking the time to reply. With regard to my comment about cherishing your spot in the senior team, my point is that the absolute elite (of which Goodes is certainly one)have never had to worry about being selected each week. It is never an issue for them. An expectation may develop (subconsciously or otherwise) that a senior spot is open to them at anytime. But sometimes that spot can evaporate, so why give a sucker an even chance by readily agreeing to drop out of the team, especially if there was an option to stay in it even if as the sub? I take your point about the Goodes of pre 2003, but that was a long time and a couple of Brownlows ago.
Sean Lee
Expert
Hi Andy, I'm not suggesting that Goodes threw a tantrum, rather that it would be more beneficial for him to play as a sub and still be subjected to the game at elite level. I love Goodesy, he is one of my favourite players to watch.
Jakarta Fan
Roar Rookie
I admire Adam Goodes the footballer. Hate him playing against my team as he has messed us up too many times. In the 2 games he played this season so far, he may not have been his best, but many others likewise are still building. He still looked damaging and I dare say that he will cause some pain against opposition teams this year. It will probably be his last season and he'll be just fine in the finals. Adam Goodes I salute your football skills. Get stuck into it this year and then take your leave as a great champion of the game.
Mark
Guest
I'm happy for him to come back but when both he and Towers and Mitchell are coming in for McGlynn, Cunningham and Heeney on a wet track, you've got to wonder what they're thinking. Going with the extra height and less speed (Mitchell isn't the quickest), I hope they play to the conditions tomorrow.
Don Freo
Guest
Sometimes we forget that footballers love playing footy. If that's in the ressies, it's still a game of footy...something Goodsey obviously loves. You don't always have to be top dog.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
I believe Goodes is playing on because with the removal of COLA the Swans need to absorb a good portion of his salary (yes I know he is on the Vets list) to ease some of the back end pain of the back ended Tippet and Buddy deals. The longer they can draw him out the better. Just a thought. It's not always about the player. Much could also be said about why O'Keefe went on one season longer. And why Malceski wasn't offered a deal.
Barry Round shouldabeen a Western singer
Guest
Spot On, Dougie
Natalie Swansfan
Guest
Wow, you really went there. "Sulk and throw his toys out of the cot". I probably wouldn't compare a two time Brownlow Medailst to Stevie J and I certainly wouldn't try and compare the work ethic. And this cracker "Perhaps Goodes hasn’t had to fight hard enough for his position to realise this" Paul Roos once wrote about Michael O'Loughlin and Adam Goodes in his book "Sport is Life, Life is Sport. He spoke about how naturally gifted O'Loughlin was, how he didn't have to work that hard at all. Goodes on the other hand, was not naturally gifted, he had to work for everything. I challenge you to investigate your theory further. I would find it very hard to believe that Adam felt he was a walk up start. The very fact that he chose to play seconds shows me how disappointed he was with his own performance, pushing himself to perform better, to meet the expectations of the team.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
I admire Goodes' career enormously. But he should have retired last year or been forced to. By playing-on, it suggests to me he is selfish and ego-driven, self-delusional. Ryan O'Keefe had a much better chance of contributing last year than Goodes does this year, and yet he couldn't get a game. Goodes last year turned on some cameo, vintage performances but they were punctuated with a litany of too many mediocre performances. When he's down these days, his team carries him (and they're good enough to). He should have quit last year with dignity intact.
Wayne Stringer
Guest
Both Goodes and the club agreed to his playing NEAFL and that should be all there needs to be said. He is a champion and possibly works harder than most at his fitness and craft. The article is insulting to Goodes, Longmire and the club as they are the ones who know all of the circumstances and reasons why Goodes is not considered in the best 22 at the moment. Let us not forget that the Swans have a number of talls in the forward six and are still trying to get the mix right. Goodes is certainly not as quick as he once was and we know he has knee problems but who will ever forget his value to the Swans' last premiership win despite being on one leg and unable to run.
Andy_Roo
Roar Guru
Sean, Goodes did not throw a tantrum when he was selected as the substitute. You should show him a little more respect than to imply that he did. By going back to the reserves to play a full game and rebuild his form and fitness he is doing exactly the 'damn hard work' that is required to win back his spot in the team. Goodes has always been the ultimate professional and team player for his entire career. He will play whatever role the team needs him to play. Goodes deserves far more respect that you have shown to him in this very poor article.
Gruffalo
Guest
What a ridiculous article. Goodes dropped himself to get more game time. yet your article insinuates some selfish motivation or lack of "cherishing" his spot. I can see that happening at most Victorian cubs - with the overblown egos that abound there. But not the Swans and not Goodes.
Winston
Guest
Sean I think you've missed the point. I agree with your central theme which is that Goodes needs to accept he needs to play whatever role for the team. But I don't think that was ever a problem. And that he had to work hard to retain his place in the team and cherish it, I don't think that's the issue either. It seems you are putting a bit too much weight on Goodes "dropping himself" to the NEAFL. It can't be that simple. It's not like he just rocks up one day and says I'm not playing this weekend. In fact, if he had that sort of attitude, he'd be suspended altogether and won't even play in the reserves (think Motlop after the Hawks game). Instead, I take it as him making the suggestion to Horse and they together (and probably others as well) form the collective view that he's right. At the end of the day there's no definite right or wrong anyway, and since it's early in the season, they might as well try it. As to the idea that he doesn't have to cherish his spot because he's a champion, that's bullocks. If you think back to pre 2003/2004 days, Goodes was a bits player, very inconsistent, and Rocket didn't even know where to put him because he would show glimipses of brilliance in every spot but then not really cement it either. He might take 4 contested marks a game but not kick a goal; he might run 150m but then slip over at the end and not get the ball; he might chase someone down from behind and end up pushing in the back, etc. Instead, I would say dropping himself to reserves is him not letting his ego get in the way of what's best for the team and to improve his form and fitness. I don't think it shows him undervaluing his spot at all.