Fast forward six weeks and the former Dogs Player Wellbeing Manager will swap his desk for a locker at the Whitten Oval as he continues his football journey as a mature-age rookie at the Western Bulldogs.
When given the option to train with the team in the lead up to the AFL Pre-Season and Rookie Draft, Goodes jumped at the chance, accepting the worst case scenario would see him fighting fit in round one for Williamstown in the VFL.
Instead the 28-year-old has found his fairy tale ending.
“We had a few training sessions there and I trained with the boys then and Mac… said when we get back to Melbourne, have a think about it, if you want to train with the boys the option is there,” Goodes said.
“Day one of pre-season I… said look mate, if the boys are happy for me to train and the coaches are, it’s a win win situation for me, I was going to get fit regardless and if I ended up at Willy being pretty fit it is a win win for me.
“I was pretty excited when he even asked.”
Competitive and unrelenting in both life and in football, Goodes is eager to give this opportunity his all.
“For it to come this late, obviously it’s exciting for me - a bit of a shock that… I was given the opportunity to train with the boys and have a crack,” he said.
“[I’ll] take it with both hands and run with it as hard and as fast as I can.”
While familiar with the surrounds of Whitten Oval through his role as Player Wellbeing Manager, the versatile defender has also been given a first-hand look at the dedication and focus required to succeed in an on field capacity, training with the team in recent weeks.
“It was a lot more than I was used to but my body has held up pretty well and I’ve been able to trim right down,” he said.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed all the training and am looking forward to many more sessions.”
