Adam Goodes

This was the second time in the history of the medal that the award was shared between three players (the first time was in 1930).

Goodes attributed his success to his longtime mentor John Winter.

Adam Roy Goodes (born 8 January 1980) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Goodes holds an elite place in VFL/AFL history as a dual Brownlow Medallist, dual premiership player, four-time All-Australian, member of the Indigenous Team of the Century and representative of Australia in the International Rules Series.

While at Merbein, he attended primary school at Merbein West Primary School in 1986 and it was there that he began to play Australian rules football as there was no soccer club for him to join.

He moved with his family to Horsham, Victoria, where he played football at high school and represented at under-16 and under-18 levels.

At age 16, he began playing with the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup.

Goodes played in a winning premiership side with the Rebels, where he was scouted by the Sydney Swans.

Goodes was drafted by Sydney into the Australian Football League as the 43rd pick in the 1997 AFL Draft, Sydney's third round draft pick.

He spent the 1998 season in the reserves competition, but broke into the first team the following year and went on to win the league's Rising Star Award.

During 2000 and 2001, Goodes played in a variety of positions, developing his game but lacking consistency at times.

He played every game during this period.

In early 2002, however, his form had slumped and it had been suggested that he may be dropped.

However, coach Rodney Eade resigned mid-season and under interim (later permanent) coach Paul Roos, Goodes found himself playing more in the ruck.

In the second half of that season his form improved immensely.

After injuring his knee twice in the ruck, he moved to play on the wing and went on to win two Brownlow Medals.

Goodes took his mother to the Brownlow Medal ceremony in 2003.

In 2003, Goodes returned to the ruck position for significant parts of the year in what became his best season to that point.

He played a critical role in the Swans' revival and eventual preliminary final game that year.

In particular, his efforts were crucial in the Swans' win against Port Adelaide in the qualifying finals.

At the end of the season, Goodes won the club's best and fairest award (the Bob Skilton Medal) and received All-Australian selection for the first time.

However, his greatest achievement was winning the league's highest personal honour, the Brownlow Medal, alongside Collingwood's Nathan Buckley and Adelaide's Mark Ricciuto.

He did not repeat his efforts of 2003, mainly due to knee injuries, yet he still managed to play every game.

The knee injuries were due to an awkward fall during the season while playing in the ruck against the West Coast Eagles.

Many expected Goodes to have suffered a posterior or anterior knee ligament damage, but he battled on.

After this injury, coach Roos announced that Goodes' rucking days were over and that he would be used in other positions.

Goodes had an indifferent 2004, much like his team, who only managed the semi-finals stage of the finals series.

He played in the backline for the remainder of 2004.

Goodes returned to form in 2005, playing mainly in the midfield.

His year was highlighted with a near match-winning 33 disposals in round 18 against the Adelaide Crows.

From 2013, his outspokenness on racial issues contributed to his being the target of a sustained booing campaign from opposition fans, causing him to take indefinite leave from the AFL and eventually retire from the game at the end of the 2015 season.

Brett, who is 4 years younger than Adam, played 22 AFL games for the Western Bulldogs between 2013 and 2015.

In addition, he has held the record for the most VFL/AFL games played by an Indigenous player, surpassing Andrew McLeod's record of 340 during the 2014 AFL season before having his own record surpassed by Shaun Burgoyne during the 2019 AFL season.

Known for his community work and anti-racism advocacy, Goodes was named the Australian of the Year in 2014.

The "booing saga" sparked a national debate about racism in Australia and became the subject of two documentary films, both released in 2019.

That year, the AFL formally apologised to Goodes for not taking greater action to defend him against fan abuse.

Goodes was born in Wallaroo, South Australia to Lisa May and Graham Goodes, with siblings Jake and Brett.

Goodes' father is of English, Irish and Scottish ancestry; his mother is an Aboriginal Australian (Adnyamathanha and Narungga), and is one of the Stolen Generation.

Goodes' parents were separated when he was four; his father moved to Mackay, Queensland while Goodes moved between Wallaroo and Adelaide (in South Australia) and Merbein (in Victoria) with his mother.

Goodes preferred soccer as a boy, playing in South Australia.