Sydney Swans great Adam Goodes has joined his former SCG teammates as part of the AFL’s 10-year premiership celebrations.
Key points:
- The SCG crowd applauded Goodes
- He retired from the AFL at the end of the 2015 season
- Goodes has previously turned down invitations to attend AFL functions
Goodes and much of the team that beat Hawthorn in the 2012 Grand Final began the official Premier’s meeting with a lap of honor at the SCG while watching the Swans game against the Gold Coast Suns.
Brownlow’s two-time medalist has distanced himself from AFL events, but not the Swans since retiring at the end of 2015 after playing 372 senior games.
Much of Goodes’ final AFL season was marred by crowds booing him during games.
Goodes did not join the motorcade of retired players at the Grand Final in 2015 and has since turned down invitations to attend Brownlow Medal events or be inducted into the Australian Rules Football Hall of Fame.
A large crowd arrived at the SCG in time to watch the lap of honor but the Sydney faithful saved their biggest applause for Goodes, who was pressured to recall the events of the second of his first two AFL terms .
“It’s a bit of a blur to be honest, but I was reliving it a bit last night with the boys,” Goodes said.
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Despite the loss to the Suns, Swans coach John Longmire – who was in charge in 2012 – was delighted Goodes had joined his former teammates for the reunion.
“It was great. Obviously it means a lot to him to be around his teammates from that period,” Longmire said after the game.
“It was great to see him in the game and great to see him with his mates, it’s as simple as that.
“It’s great to see him with his friends.”
Almost the entire Sydney team that beat the Hawks by 10 points in the 2012 Grand Final joined in the pre-game celebrations, including captain Jarrad McVeigh.
Norm Smith 2012 medalist Ryan O’Keefe was unable to attend, while Rhyce Shaw was there in his role as development coach for Gold Coast.
Current Sydney players Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Sam Reid were also at SCG, but were preparing for the clash with the Suns.
The 2012 premiership players formed a guard of honor for the current squad as they rushed to the game.
AAP/ABC
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