Goodes gets ready for 250th AFL match

(AAP) - A dog named Goodesy won by seven lengths in a trial at Bulli on Wednesday night.

Not the biggest sports story of the year, but an appropriate metaphor for his
namesake on the eve of his 250th game.
With two Brownlow Medals, a premiership and - as of Saturday - 250 games under his
belt, it's frightening to think that Adam Goodes is hungry for more success.
When Goodes runs out against Geelong on Saturday night, it will add another notch to
an impressive belt, which also includes a Rising Star Award.
And the dual All-Australian is out for more, saying he plans to play at least
another two years.
"I know that I'm contracted for another two years after this one," he told reporters
in Sydney on Thursday.
"The way the body's feeling at the moment, I'll be playing out those two years and
we'll see how we go after that."
His 250th game comes exactly 10 years and 140 days after his debut and is the second
fastest in AFL history behind North Melbourne legend Wayne Schimmelbusch.
Goodes now sits fourth on the Swans' games record list behind good mate Michael
O'Loughlin, who on Sunday became the first to play 300 games in the red and white.
But Goodes said he didn't expect the team to play for him this week.
"For me this week and the footy club, I think it's more a momentum thing," he said.
"It's great, I'm really looking forward to it but I'm more looking forward to
continuing the momentum that we've built up."
Ever the family man - he brought his mum with him to the Brownlow when he won the
medal in 2003 - Goodes says having family and friends around for his 250th match
meant the world to him.
"I'm really looking forward to getting my mum and my brother and his girlfriend up
here," he said.
"It's just great to have family and friends around for certain milestones like this."
The Swans sit a game outside the eight with three left to play, but Goodes said
finals were not an impossibility.
"The guys are really excited by the way we're playing at the moment," he said.
"We've got some great teams to play against, and who knows where we might finish and
what might happen?
"A lot of crazy things can happen, and you might see for the first time a team might
make the finals with 10 wins."
The powerful utility could threaten for his third Brownlow this year, especially
given his stats from this season compared to last, when he polled 20 votes.
Not that he's talking up his chances.
"I think my mates are pretty good at keeping me level-headed, letting me know what
odds are going on," he said.
"Having been there before, there are things you can't let play on your mind and we
haven't had the best season as a footy club."
He has more kicks, more marks and more goals from less games, and he has also
avoided being reported, which marred his 2008 season.
Last Sunday against Richmond, he had 25 touches, 12 marks and booted four goals in a
best on ground performance.
There's every chance the Brownlow vote could mirror the results of the trial at Bulli.