The Coon Dog
09-09-2008, 08:38 PM
Sockeye Salmon sent me this earlier to post:
http://lvillage.education.vic.gov.au/lv/diec/hp.nsf/Files/laurenbroccoli/$File/__Adam_Goodes_001.jpg
Player Profile – Adam Goodes
Player Profile from Sydneyswans.com.au
Height: 194
Weight: 98
DOB: 8-1-80
Games: 229
Goals: 228
The best on ground for North Ballarat in the 1997 Under-18's grand final was Sydney's third pick - number 43 overall - in the 1997 AFL National Draft. After spending his first year in the reserves, he burst onto the scene in 1999 when filling in for injured ruckman Greg Stafford and won the season's Norwich Rising Star award despite missing three games with a knee injury. He proved extremely reliable playing every game since the second last round in 1999 (168 consecutive matches to the end of 2006) and versatile by playing in the ruck, on a flank or at either end because of his height, mobility, tremendous leap and good hands.
He won an Australian guernsey in the 2001 International Rules Series, came third in the Club's best and fairest in 2002, but it was the following season when he realised his enormous potential.
Paul Roos utilised his athleticism in the ruck and he became one of the hardest players to match up on in the AFL. He made an impact in nearly every game to win the Brownlow Medal (with Nathan Buckley and Mark Ricciuto), Sydney's best and fairest and first ruck selection in the All-Australian side. In 2004 he started well but injured a knee at the opening bounce against West Coast in round eight, and although he played out the season - mainly at centre half-back given Roos' reluctance to play him in the ruck - his movement was restricted.
Although still impressive at times, an injury to his other knee later in the season further dented his confidence to excel to the heights of the previous season. He played strongly in the 2005 Grand Final (20 touches and one goal) after a season that saw him captain the Club for two games (wins against Geelong and Melbourne) - including his 150th AFL game to earn Swans life membership. Was back to his devastating brilliant best last year, once again proving a nightmare to match-up on, and took home his second Brownlow, best and fairest and All-Australian honours after inspiring his teammates, along with Brett Kirk, to a near miracle comeback in the September decider.
2008
Has averaged 11.1 kicks, 4.6 marks and 6.3 handballs and 1.4 goals a game. Ho hum.
His 62 tackles for the year is reasonable (not great) but he doesn’t appear amongst the club leaders in any stat category (4th in goals).
His 8 goals from 12 possessions against Freo has been his standout game for the year. He had a decent 6 week run in June/July but Sydney would be bitterly disappointed with his output this year overall.
Sockeye’s Stuff
Goodes has struggled for most of the year with various injuries (predominately his knee) and is still too hampered to be able to move up the ground. He hasn’t had a 20 possession game since round 15.
Goodes is clearly not fit enough to be the midfield/pushing forward threat that he was when he won his two Brownlows, but he is big and talented and playing deep forward alongside Hall is a potentially massive threat.
We all know how we are stretched in the backline, but with Lake needed to stand Hall, the job on Goodes will inevitably fall to ‘The Glove”. Undersized again, but he still remains our only serious option. If Goodes gets hold of Morris early, our boys will be in the pub on Monday.
If Goodes really looks hampered in his running, I’d love to try someone with a bit more flair than Morris to try to run him up the ground and see how his knee copes. Hargrave is probably the only one we could try and I would be a little reluctant considering how good he’s been on smaller opponents and how bad he’s been on bigger guys. I’d also consider using Griffen to play the role Hodge did last week on Minson, although we will need Griffen in the midfield more than Hawthorn needed Hodge.
The Unknown
It will also be interesting to see where Goodes’ head is this week. His cousin, to whom he was apparently very close, died last week. He has gone to Adelaide for the funeral and to visit family and won’t be returning to Sydney until Wednesday or possibly even Thursday. Some people respond to something like this by having shockers, some play blinders, time will tell.
http://lvillage.education.vic.gov.au/lv/diec/hp.nsf/Files/laurenbroccoli/$File/__Adam_Goodes_001.jpg
Player Profile – Adam Goodes
Player Profile from Sydneyswans.com.au
Height: 194
Weight: 98
DOB: 8-1-80
Games: 229
Goals: 228
The best on ground for North Ballarat in the 1997 Under-18's grand final was Sydney's third pick - number 43 overall - in the 1997 AFL National Draft. After spending his first year in the reserves, he burst onto the scene in 1999 when filling in for injured ruckman Greg Stafford and won the season's Norwich Rising Star award despite missing three games with a knee injury. He proved extremely reliable playing every game since the second last round in 1999 (168 consecutive matches to the end of 2006) and versatile by playing in the ruck, on a flank or at either end because of his height, mobility, tremendous leap and good hands.
He won an Australian guernsey in the 2001 International Rules Series, came third in the Club's best and fairest in 2002, but it was the following season when he realised his enormous potential.
Paul Roos utilised his athleticism in the ruck and he became one of the hardest players to match up on in the AFL. He made an impact in nearly every game to win the Brownlow Medal (with Nathan Buckley and Mark Ricciuto), Sydney's best and fairest and first ruck selection in the All-Australian side. In 2004 he started well but injured a knee at the opening bounce against West Coast in round eight, and although he played out the season - mainly at centre half-back given Roos' reluctance to play him in the ruck - his movement was restricted.
Although still impressive at times, an injury to his other knee later in the season further dented his confidence to excel to the heights of the previous season. He played strongly in the 2005 Grand Final (20 touches and one goal) after a season that saw him captain the Club for two games (wins against Geelong and Melbourne) - including his 150th AFL game to earn Swans life membership. Was back to his devastating brilliant best last year, once again proving a nightmare to match-up on, and took home his second Brownlow, best and fairest and All-Australian honours after inspiring his teammates, along with Brett Kirk, to a near miracle comeback in the September decider.
2008
Has averaged 11.1 kicks, 4.6 marks and 6.3 handballs and 1.4 goals a game. Ho hum.
His 62 tackles for the year is reasonable (not great) but he doesn’t appear amongst the club leaders in any stat category (4th in goals).
His 8 goals from 12 possessions against Freo has been his standout game for the year. He had a decent 6 week run in June/July but Sydney would be bitterly disappointed with his output this year overall.
Sockeye’s Stuff
Goodes has struggled for most of the year with various injuries (predominately his knee) and is still too hampered to be able to move up the ground. He hasn’t had a 20 possession game since round 15.
Goodes is clearly not fit enough to be the midfield/pushing forward threat that he was when he won his two Brownlows, but he is big and talented and playing deep forward alongside Hall is a potentially massive threat.
We all know how we are stretched in the backline, but with Lake needed to stand Hall, the job on Goodes will inevitably fall to ‘The Glove”. Undersized again, but he still remains our only serious option. If Goodes gets hold of Morris early, our boys will be in the pub on Monday.
If Goodes really looks hampered in his running, I’d love to try someone with a bit more flair than Morris to try to run him up the ground and see how his knee copes. Hargrave is probably the only one we could try and I would be a little reluctant considering how good he’s been on smaller opponents and how bad he’s been on bigger guys. I’d also consider using Griffen to play the role Hodge did last week on Minson, although we will need Griffen in the midfield more than Hawthorn needed Hodge.
The Unknown
It will also be interesting to see where Goodes’ head is this week. His cousin, to whom he was apparently very close, died last week. He has gone to Adelaide for the funeral and to visit family and won’t be returning to Sydney until Wednesday or possibly even Thursday. Some people respond to something like this by having shockers, some play blinders, time will tell.