Adam Goodes 2008 so far

[Maddhew]

I think (first few rounds aside) that Adam Goodes has improved in a number of areas this year. He has been nowhere as prolific in terms of disposals but you need to look deeper into the stats to realise how good he is really going.

Lets take Saturdays game for example. He had 21 touches from which you could suggest he had an ok game. But if you consider 14 of those were contested, from which 6 were from contested marks you start to realise how huge his game was. The other big stat was that he had 7 1%'rs, None better than his fist through to malceski to get that goal in the final quarter. (turning point IMO). And all these came despite him going missing in the 2nd quarter. Coupled with with his 4 tackles, again none better than his inspiring chase and barrell of the WCE player over the boundary in the final quarter, he is inspiring the team in the same regard as Kirk and showing better than ever leadership skills.

The rest of his season has been similar, he is working his ass off and the ball he is winning is telling. Id rather him be getting these sorts of numbers rather than 30 uncontested touches standing on the wing all day. He is making it to all the stopages and looking for the hard ball all day.

He will only get better and will be unstoppable in a few weeks time. He will probably get a couple of weeks rest, but lets look at his positives whilst everyone else is looking at the negatives.

 

[CAS79]

Well written Matt.

Some people obsess purely over numbers when looking at the best players rather than substantive. If that were the way to decide the best player a guy called Adrian Fletcher would have been the best in the AFL for five years running in the 90s.

Goodes strength is how he gets the ball, he wins his own on the ground, contested in packs, a very underrated contested mark and can run to support teammates as an option as well. Uses the ball in the midfield superbly. A weaker point to his game was kicking at goal, but while not perfect this too has improved. Demonstrating how hard he works at his game as well. All this whille being tagged, sometimes with below the belt tactics, which from time to time he reacts to.

has been playing pretty well recently.

 

[FM0226]

Thought he really stood out with those contested marks, and they are geniune paack marks under pressure too. I always thought that up numbers in possession doesn't mean anything, it's how you get them and what you do with them. Thought he and Kirk really kept us in the game all along.

 

[bedford]

The one stat i like is 1st possession at a stoppage,Kirk is no.1 and Goodes is no.2 they are also 1 and 2 in clearences.
Great observations in your post Matt 83

 

[liz]

His overhead marking is the thing that stands out as his big improvement this year. He's always been capable of taking them but seems to be using his vertical leap really well at the moment.

His "holiday", assuming he gets one, is a bit of a bummer because I reckon he works himself into form and then tends to stay there for extended periods. I'm worried that a break, rather than freshening him up, will halt his momentum somewhat.

 

[Bonz]

Apparently according to the main boards......HHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEE got a reprimand woooo_hooo

 

[MiniKirk]

Totally agree with Matt, however I have noticed in the past few games he seems to be playing for the free kick all the time. He is a great player but if it was pretty much any other player I would was say Roos should drop him, but it's Goodes.

 

[Maddhew]

Totally agree with Matt, however I have noticed in the past few games he seems to be playing for the free kick all the time. He is a great player but if it was pretty much any other player I would was say Roos should drop him, but it's Goodes.

Drop him for diving??

Im not a big fan of it either but everyones doing it, look at why everitt got off for his bump on cox this week. Cox admited to diving to win a free kick. Goodes in hardly in Lloyd territory here either.

Bit harsh there mate

 

[MiniKirk]

I just believe that Sydney are better than that. I know everybody is doing it but we should be above that and we seem to be apart from him. It is a part of his game that I would like him to get rid of. Maybe I just notice him more because it's Goodes but even one of the commentators on Saturday night said that he seemed to be playing for the free kick.

 

[magic.merkin]

i agree with all above.

though i think his disposal effectivness has dropped off.

also i cringe at his dives/arm raisings. i know everyone else is doing it to get noticed. but i wish he just went at the ball and let his actions speak more often (he is tough dont get me wrong), more Kelly like.

bring on stkilda lets break this hoodoo!

 

[Hooley McBoob]

also i cringe at his dives/arm raisings. i know everyone else is doing it to get noticed. but i wish he just went at the ball and let his actions speak more often (he is tough dont get me wrong), more Kelly like.

Hmmm yes I totally agree with this point. I don't like how he always plays innocent and appeals to the umpire when he thinks he's hard done by Grrr. If it's there the ump will pay it, whether or not he begs for it.

In general however, his form has improved massively this year. His first few games were shit and everybody knew it, but he has really lifted his game, which proves that he is a real champ

 

[Hooley McBoob]

Do you think not getting the captaincy affected him at the beginning of the season?

 

[bedford]

Hooley i brought that up early in the year and copped it,but it would have to grate

 

[Hooley McBoob]

Hooley i brought that up early in the year and copped it,but it would have to grate

Shit yeah, how pissed would you be not to get the captaincy at 28 and with 2 Brownlows after 10 years at the club? I think it would have had an impact!

 

[Dudley]

Would it make his bum bigger ?

seems that is his only problem !!!!

 

[Hooley McBoob]

Would it make his bum bigger ?

seems that is his only problem !!!!

Haha.

Why are the Swans so much more interesting than my law assignment? Why can I not just have a career involving football? Maybe in 10 years I can be the club doctor Move over Nathan Gibbs.

 

[Dudley]

Haha.

Why are the Swans so much more interesting than my law assignment? Why can I not just have a career involving football? Maybe in 10 years I can be the club doctor Move over Nathan Gibbs.

Drop law and take med then, we dont need any more litigation !

 

[Hooley McBoob]

Drop law and take med then, we dont need any more litigation !

This law subject is compulsary for the last year of my undergrad degree. I'm applying for med next year In the meantime...I'm suffering!

 

[Penguin Too]

Hooley, stick with Law! It Rocks!
Goodes has been great - one of the true crowd pleasers. Needs to keep it going and the more he is hated by other teams is just a sign that he is doing his job well. Shame about his Brownlow prospects this year but...

 

[Hooley McBoob]

Hooley, stick with Law! It Rocks!

Thanks for the hot tip, but nooooo. IT'S SO BORING. Except for the criminal stuff.