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Goodwin primed for big year
11:26:23 AM Fri 14 January, 2005
Matthew Robran
afc.com.au/Sportal
After two injury-plagued years, gun Adelaide midfielder Simon Goodwin cannot wait for the start of the home-and-away season.
Having missed 12 matches with a chronic groin injury last year, Goodwin has impressed over the pre-season and says his body feels stronger than ever.
The 2000 club champion has endured two frustrating years. A collision with the fence at the MCG in 2003 forced Goodwin to miss five matches with a broken wrist, while last year's groin injury restricted him to 10 appearances.
But Goodwin says he is ready for a big year in 2005.
"The last two years have been pretty lean because of injury," he said.
"I am looking to make the most of pre-season, getting through it and getting as fit as possible for round one.
"As I didn’t play much last year, I was pretty fresh at the end of last season. I did a fair bit of work over the off-season and I had a good break over Christmas."
"The body feels stronger than ever and I'm aiming for a good year."
Goodwin, who will play his 150th match in round four, believes the greatest improvement this year will come from within the playing group.
"The feedback the players give to each other at the end of each drill and training has been excellent," he said.
"Learning off each other is a great way to improve our individual and team performance. I think we have all improved over the pre season."
Speaking at the end of the club’s two-and-a-half-hour football session on Thursday, the 28-year-old left-footer, an All-Australian in 2000 and 2001, explained the reasons behind the Crows' third two-hour-plus session this week.
"We are doing only one running session per week, so Neil (Craig) has increased the length of our football sessions to maintain our fitness," he said.
"I admit they are hard sessions but, at the same time, they are game specific and we know we will improve our game with this sort of training."
With Adelaide's opening Wizard Cup match against Port Adelaide to be played on Sunday, February 20, Goodwin said coach Craig had recently introduced many game-simulated drills in order to rehearse the Crows' style of play.
"It really is the only time where you can spend a fair amount of time on the track working on your game," Goodwin said.
"Once the season starts, you have only the one main training session each week.
"This is the perfect time for us to hone our skills and strategies and make sure we are as best prepared as possible for round one."
A critical component of Crows' engine room, the dual premiership player has challenged many of the younger players to take their games to another level in season 2005.
"I don’t think you will see much improvement out of (Andrew) McLeod and (Mark) Ricciuto and these types of players because they are already elite footballers. They are at their peak all season," he said.
"It is important the backbone group (30-70 games) of players stand up this year and really improve their games. That is where we will see the improvement - from these players and our youngsters."
11:26:23 AM Fri 14 January, 2005
Matthew Robran
afc.com.au/Sportal
After two injury-plagued years, gun Adelaide midfielder Simon Goodwin cannot wait for the start of the home-and-away season.
Having missed 12 matches with a chronic groin injury last year, Goodwin has impressed over the pre-season and says his body feels stronger than ever.
The 2000 club champion has endured two frustrating years. A collision with the fence at the MCG in 2003 forced Goodwin to miss five matches with a broken wrist, while last year's groin injury restricted him to 10 appearances.
But Goodwin says he is ready for a big year in 2005.
"The last two years have been pretty lean because of injury," he said.
"I am looking to make the most of pre-season, getting through it and getting as fit as possible for round one.
"As I didn’t play much last year, I was pretty fresh at the end of last season. I did a fair bit of work over the off-season and I had a good break over Christmas."
"The body feels stronger than ever and I'm aiming for a good year."
Goodwin, who will play his 150th match in round four, believes the greatest improvement this year will come from within the playing group.
"The feedback the players give to each other at the end of each drill and training has been excellent," he said.
"Learning off each other is a great way to improve our individual and team performance. I think we have all improved over the pre season."
Speaking at the end of the club’s two-and-a-half-hour football session on Thursday, the 28-year-old left-footer, an All-Australian in 2000 and 2001, explained the reasons behind the Crows' third two-hour-plus session this week.
"We are doing only one running session per week, so Neil (Craig) has increased the length of our football sessions to maintain our fitness," he said.
"I admit they are hard sessions but, at the same time, they are game specific and we know we will improve our game with this sort of training."
With Adelaide's opening Wizard Cup match against Port Adelaide to be played on Sunday, February 20, Goodwin said coach Craig had recently introduced many game-simulated drills in order to rehearse the Crows' style of play.
"It really is the only time where you can spend a fair amount of time on the track working on your game," Goodwin said.
"Once the season starts, you have only the one main training session each week.
"This is the perfect time for us to hone our skills and strategies and make sure we are as best prepared as possible for round one."
A critical component of Crows' engine room, the dual premiership player has challenged many of the younger players to take their games to another level in season 2005.
"I don’t think you will see much improvement out of (Andrew) McLeod and (Mark) Ricciuto and these types of players because they are already elite footballers. They are at their peak all season," he said.
"It is important the backbone group (30-70 games) of players stand up this year and really improve their games. That is where we will see the improvement - from these players and our youngsters."
You can almost work out in advance which days to buy the Ragvertiser.
I might be in big trouble if it's possible! 
