On gameday, he’s the first name on the team sheet. After the full-time whistle, he’s the last man in the building.
It’s the duality of Craig Goodwin: his vital role on the pitch as Adelaide United’s most influential player, and his equally important role off it as the face of a club that identifies so strongly with its city of origin.
He’s a World Cup Socceroo who played a key role in Australia’s unforgettable campaign in Qatar – and ever since, he’s been busy putting together one of the all-time great individual Isuzu UTE A-League campaigns at his hometown club.
On Friday night, he scored the only two goals of a 2-0 Elimination Final win over Wellington Phoenix at Coopers Stadium. They were his 13th and 14th goals of the campaign. The Adelaide crowd was enamoured with their captain’s match-winning display.
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Long after the final whistle blew, Goodwin was the last player to head down the tunnel and to the change rooms, kept busy signing autographs for the adoring fans – young and old – who he’s helped to get through the gates en route to a what seems a near-certain Johnny Warren Medal to cap off a season for the ages.
Adelaide head coach Carl Veart says Goodwin’s journey to becoming the leader he is today has been a long one; it’s resulted in him becoming a player to look up to – and one of vital importance to an Adelaide squad brimming with gifted young players seeing first-hand what it takes to be come an Isuzu UTE A-League great.
“I think Goody will say himself that maybe when he was a little bit younger he was a bit more selfish,” Veart told reporters after his side’s 2-0 win over Wellington.
“Now, as the captain he’s a real leader. He’s very onto making sure he includes everyone, and that everyone is doing the right things.
“He leads by example, and he’s setting a great example for our playing group, and especially our younger players. Going to a World Cup is a great privilege, and it’s important he gives back to the players that are coming through, to show what it takes to get to that level.”
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Goodwin’s goals came against Wellington on either side of half-time on Friday night – and the first of which was a was a brutal example of a tried and tested rule in cut-throat finals moments: there are no second chances.
Phoenix right-back Callan Elliot was playing with fire early in the first half; his failure to deal with a cross from Ben Halloran off the right flank led to an early opportunity to Goodwin at the back post, which Elliot did well to block away from danger.
But only minutes later he repeated the act, fluffing a clearance off Louis D’Arrigo’s hopeful ball off the right wing and conceding possession to Goodwin who made no mistake at the second time of asking, cutting onto his right foot and bending his shot into the back of the net.
In the second half, it was the double act of Goodwin and Nestory Irankunda doing the damage for the Reds. The latter had come off the bench just minutes prior to making his mark, showing strength and pace to shrug off a challenge from Lucas Mauragis in midfield to spark a counter attack which ended at the feet of Goodwin in the box. As he cut onto his right foot, Elliot took the bait in the box, and the Reds earned a penalty that would ultimately seal the result.
Goodwin lifted his spot kick over Phoenix keeper Oli Sail, and the Coopers Stadium crowd reacted obligingly.
Here’s another age-old finals adage: they’re decided in moments.
The two decisive moments of Friday night’s knockout belonged to the Reds captain.
After the game, Veart harkened back to the message he delivered to his team before the Finals Series began, which encapsulated Goodwin’s brilliance and importance to the Reds’ post-season hopes.
“Finals games are tough,” Veart said. “They don’t come around that often, and I said to the playing group: ‘Players can make a name for themselves in finals’, and Goody again tonight showed the quality he is.
“He’s by far been the best player in the whole league this season, and he showed that again tonight.”
