Second-fastest player to reach 250thSYDNEY champion Adam Goodes (pictured) played his 250th AFL match at the weekend, and his record-setting cousin reckons he could play 100 more and even win a third Brownlow Medal.
Goodes' longevity in the game is becoming apparent after the Swans' dual Brownlow Medal winner (2003, 2006) became the second-fastest player at AFL level to reach 250 games.
Goodes' personal milestone comes a week after his cousin and team-mate Michael O'Loughlin played his 300th for the club. Such is Goodes' durability, some in the Swans camp say the utility could go on and add many more games at the elite level. The 29-year-old will be at the club for at least the next two years.
O'Loughlin last week said Goodes could well overtake his mark.
"I think he will play 350 and I told him he's kidding if he doesn't," O'Loughlin said. "He's just a super athlete and the way he prepares and looks after himself, he's right up there with the best of them so there's no reason why he can't play 350. But I don't want to put too much pressure on him; he's done all right so far."
It's a rare figure in football with just 10 VFL/AFL players to have played 350 games, including Goodes' coach, Paul Roos. Goodes, though, was circumspect about the number; just keen to put more in for the Swans.
"I don't know about 350 but if the body holds up and I keep managing my body well I'd definitely love to play as many games as I can for this great football club," Goodes said. "The only real reason I've been thinking about it is if Mick was to miss one game in the last 10 weeks we could've shared the 300 and 250 (milestones) and that would've been a fantastic celebration and I would have loved to have shared it with him.
"It's a nice little milestone (250). I see myself playing for a couple more years yet so hopefully I've got a few more games left in me."
Such has been Goodes' good form of late, bookmakers are bracing themselves as punters look to lay down their hard-earned for a player who polls well. Last year wasn't his best by his lofty standards, yet Goodes finished three votes behind Brownlow Medal winner Adam Cooney. This, despite Goodes finishing outside the top 10 in the Swans' fairest-and-best. But this season Goodes is at the top, or thereabouts, of his game. And since his move forward, where he's sparkled, a third Brownlow could well be within reach.
"He won a Brownlow in the ruck and won a Brownlow playing on the ball (so) who knows, he might win one up forward," O'Loughlin said.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Monday, August 17, 2009
Last Modified on 17/08/2009 22:44