Simon Goodwin
Encyclopedia
Simon Goodwin is a former Australian rules football
er, who is a dual premiership player with the Adelaide Football Club and is now an assistant coach at the Essendon Football Club
.
in the SANFL with pick No. 18 in the 1996 Preseason Draft, Goodwin made his debut in Round 1, 1997, however his day was marred by a severe quadriceps injury which kept him out for months.
Goodwin returned to the side in Round 14 to face West Coast, holding his position until he was omitted following the Round 18 victory over Carlton at Football Park
. Goodwin earned a recall prior to the beginning of the 1997 finals series, returning solid performances in all four of Adelaide's wins, including 19 possessions and a goal in the victorious Grand Final.
After a poor start to 1998 Goodwin blossomed in the second half of the season, showing glimpses of the prolific ballwinner he would become in later years and once again playing a solid role in all four finals on the way to Adelaide's second Premiership win in as many years, and had become an awesome player for the Adelaide Crows
1999 was to be a year of disappointment however, as Goodwin's performances mirrored that of his club. Despite featuring in 19 of Adelaide's 22 games, Goodwin's progress was marred by inconsistency as Adelaide finished a lowly 13th in what was and still remains the club's worst ever finish to a season.
Another All-Australian selection followed in 2001 with consistently good performances alongside fellow star midfielders Mark Ricciuto
, Andrew McLeod
and Tyson Edwards pushing Adelaide back into the Premiership reckoning for 2002 after three seasons where the club had finished no higher than eighth.
In 2002 Goodwin struggled for consistency, in part due to the extra attention he was receiving from opposition taggers. Highly prolific games such as his 39 possession/1 goal game against Collingwood in Round 14 were contrasted by his 17 possession game against Fremantle
in Round 7. After suffering an injury in Round 19 against Essendon, Goodwin returned to the team in time for the finals, where despite high expectations the Crows were defeated at the Preliminary Final stage.
A member of Adelaide's preseason Premiership winning team, Goodwin's highly promising 2003 was marred by a broken arm suffered early in the Round 11 clash with Hawthorn
at the MCG
when he collided with the boundary fence following a contest. Upon his return to the side in Round 17 Goodwin looked to be far from his best, able only to provide a series of steady displays as the Crows, despite being one of the hot Premiership favourites, were knocked out at the Semi Final stage.
As with 1999, Goodwin endured another horror year to mirror that of Adelaide's in 2004. Sidelined with a adductor injury between Rounds 4 and 16, by the time Goodwin returned Gary Ayres
had resigned and been replaced by Neil Craig
as the Crows languished near the lower end of the ladder. To further rub salt into the wound Goodwin was cited for tripping Roger James
and suspended for one week in Adelaide's 25 point loss to eventual Premier Port Adelaide
in Round 22.
for best afield in Adelaide's preseason Grand Final loss to Geelong
(the only player thus far to do so in a loss), before again performing brilliantly in the season proper, winning his fourth All-Australian selection and third Gold Jacket.
In early December 2007, Goodwin was named the captain for Adelaide for the 2008 football season. This coincided with a move into the forward line to allow the club's young midfielders to gain experience and bolster a struggling attack. The move paid dividends with Goodwin enjoying a seven-goal haul in Adelaide's crushing victory over the West Coast Eagles
, and ever since Goodwin has rotated between the forward and back half, increasingly the latter in order to allow young forwards to stake their claims for a permanent spot.
In Round 15, 2009, Goodwin played his 250th game. The Adelaide Crows celebrated by defeating Fremantle by 117 points, 19.16 (130) to 1.7 (13), shattering a number of records in doing so.
newspaper while at a private function. Goodwin has since apologised for his threat to the photographer that he would "punch your lights out".
On 1 March 2007, Goodwin was fined a record $40,000 and ordered to undertake compulsory counselling for placing four bets involving AFL matches totalling $16,024.58. Goodwin, along with three other players, became the first players in AFL history to be caught for betting on AFL matches.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, who is a dual premiership player with the Adelaide Football Club and is now an assistant coach at the Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
Early career (1997–1999)
Prior to embarking on his successful AFL career, Goodwin was an accomplished junior cricketer, co-captaining the South Australian Under-19 cricket team. Recruited from South AdelaideSouth Adelaide Football Club
South Adelaide Football Club competes in the South Australian National Football League . Known as the Panthers, their home ground is Hickinbotham Oval , located in Noarlunga Downs in the southern suburbs of Adelaide....
in the SANFL with pick No. 18 in the 1996 Preseason Draft, Goodwin made his debut in Round 1, 1997, however his day was marred by a severe quadriceps injury which kept him out for months.
Goodwin returned to the side in Round 14 to face West Coast, holding his position until he was omitted following the Round 18 victory over Carlton at Football Park
AAMI Stadium
Football Park is an Australian rules football stadium located in West Lakes, a western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia...
. Goodwin earned a recall prior to the beginning of the 1997 finals series, returning solid performances in all four of Adelaide's wins, including 19 possessions and a goal in the victorious Grand Final.
After a poor start to 1998 Goodwin blossomed in the second half of the season, showing glimpses of the prolific ballwinner he would become in later years and once again playing a solid role in all four finals on the way to Adelaide's second Premiership win in as many years, and had become an awesome player for the Adelaide Crows
1999 was to be a year of disappointment however, as Goodwin's performances mirrored that of his club. Despite featuring in 19 of Adelaide's 22 games, Goodwin's progress was marred by inconsistency as Adelaide finished a lowly 13th in what was and still remains the club's worst ever finish to a season.
Rising career (2000–2004)
Following his disappointing 1999, Goodwin emerged as a star in his own right in the 2000 season with a string of assured midfield displays earning both his first All-Australian guernsey and Gold Jacket as Adelaide Club Champion. Goodwin capped this watershed year with selection to the Adelaide Football Club Team Of The Decade.Another All-Australian selection followed in 2001 with consistently good performances alongside fellow star midfielders Mark Ricciuto
Mark Ricciuto
Mark Anthony Ricciuto is a former Australian rules football player, who played for the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League...
, Andrew McLeod
Andrew McLeod
Andrew Luke McLeod is a former Australian rules footballer for the Adelaide Football Club. He is the games record holder for Adelaide, having played 340 games....
and Tyson Edwards pushing Adelaide back into the Premiership reckoning for 2002 after three seasons where the club had finished no higher than eighth.
In 2002 Goodwin struggled for consistency, in part due to the extra attention he was receiving from opposition taggers. Highly prolific games such as his 39 possession/1 goal game against Collingwood in Round 14 were contrasted by his 17 possession game against Fremantle
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
in Round 7. After suffering an injury in Round 19 against Essendon, Goodwin returned to the team in time for the finals, where despite high expectations the Crows were defeated at the Preliminary Final stage.
A member of Adelaide's preseason Premiership winning team, Goodwin's highly promising 2003 was marred by a broken arm suffered early in the Round 11 clash with Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
at the MCG
McG
Joseph McGinty Nichol , better known as McG, is an American director and producer of film and television, as well as a former record producer....
when he collided with the boundary fence following a contest. Upon his return to the side in Round 17 Goodwin looked to be far from his best, able only to provide a series of steady displays as the Crows, despite being one of the hot Premiership favourites, were knocked out at the Semi Final stage.
As with 1999, Goodwin endured another horror year to mirror that of Adelaide's in 2004. Sidelined with a adductor injury between Rounds 4 and 16, by the time Goodwin returned Gary Ayres
Gary Ayres
Gary Ayres is a former Australian rules footballer for the Hawthorn Football Club and currently the senior coach for the Port Melbourne Football Club in the Victoria Football League.-Playing career:...
had resigned and been replaced by Neil Craig
Neil Craig
Neil P. Craig is a former Australian rules footballer, fitness adviser and former coach of the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League . As of 2012, he will be based in a new role as the Director of Sports Performance at the Melbourne Football Club...
as the Crows languished near the lower end of the ladder. To further rub salt into the wound Goodwin was cited for tripping Roger James
Roger James
Roger James is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.James debuted during Port Adelaide's inauguaral season in the AFL and made a name for himself as a tough midfielder...
and suspended for one week in Adelaide's 25 point loss to eventual Premier Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
in Round 22.
Career high (2005–2007)
Goodwin and Adelaide's fortunes turned around completely in 2005 as the side unexpectedly won the Minor Premiership despite being tipped by many for the wooden spoon. Individually Goodwin capped a superb return to top form, winning his third All-Australian guernsey and capturing his second Club Champion award. His stellar form continued in 2006, first winning the Michael Tuck MedalMichael Tuck Medal
Since 1992, the Michael Tuck Medal has been awarded to the best-and-fairest player in the AFL Pre-season Cup Final. It is named after Michael Tuck, the current AFL games record holder who played 426 senior matches for the Hawthorn Hawks between 1972 and 1991....
for best afield in Adelaide's preseason Grand Final loss to Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
(the only player thus far to do so in a loss), before again performing brilliantly in the season proper, winning his fourth All-Australian selection and third Gold Jacket.
Captaincy (2008–2009)
In Round 2 2008, Goodwin kicked a career best seven goals in Adelaide's big win over West Coast. The Crows destroyed them by 76 points after their shattering Bulldog loss in Round 1. Score: 21.7 133 to 8.9 57.In early December 2007, Goodwin was named the captain for Adelaide for the 2008 football season. This coincided with a move into the forward line to allow the club's young midfielders to gain experience and bolster a struggling attack. The move paid dividends with Goodwin enjoying a seven-goal haul in Adelaide's crushing victory over the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
, and ever since Goodwin has rotated between the forward and back half, increasingly the latter in order to allow young forwards to stake their claims for a permanent spot.
In Round 15, 2009, Goodwin played his 250th game. The Adelaide Crows celebrated by defeating Fremantle by 117 points, 19.16 (130) to 1.7 (13), shattering a number of records in doing so.
Retirement (2010)
On 25 May 2010, Goodwin announced he would retire at the conclusion of the 2010 AFL season.Coaching (2010)
On 30 September 2010, Goodwin announced his appointment as assistant coach at Essendon Football Club for two years in Melbourne.Controversy
On the early hours of 22 December 2005, Goodwin was involved in an incident with a photographer from The AdvertiserThe Advertiser (Australia)
The Advertiser is a daily tabloid-format newspaper published in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. First published as a broadsheet named "The South Australian Advertiser" on 12 July 1858, it is currently printed daily from Monday to Saturday. A Sunday edition exists under the name of the Sunday...
newspaper while at a private function. Goodwin has since apologised for his threat to the photographer that he would "punch your lights out".
On 1 March 2007, Goodwin was fined a record $40,000 and ordered to undertake compulsory counselling for placing four bets involving AFL matches totalling $16,024.58. Goodwin, along with three other players, became the first players in AFL history to be caught for betting on AFL matches.