STAR midfielder Ben Goodall deserves a place alongside the Hampden league’s greats, according to Koroit coach Adam Dowie.
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Goodall was awarded the Ron Hoy Medal for his best-on-ground performance in Koroit’s 16-point victory over Warrnambool after amassing 45 possessions: 41 kicks and four handballs, plus four marks and a goal in a memorable performance.
“I don’t know where he sits in terms of Hampden league players but I think he’s put himself into the stratosphere with that performance and his record,” Dowie said.
Former coach and great mate Chris McLaren, who was part of yesterday’s side, was in awe of Goodall’s impact.
“He’s the best Koroit player I’ve ever seen,” he said.
It’s the second time Goodall has received a best-on-ground medal in a winning grand final, having achieved it in 2009.
Goodall’s involvement with a fourth Koroit premiership almost didn’t happen, having not played a match until round 14.
“I guess I just made a decision. I wasn’t burnt out. I just got a bit sick of it. I thought I needed a bit of time away,” Goodall said of his delayed start to the season.
“I never said I was going to retire or never play again. I had other interests and wanted to get away from it a bit.”
A phone call from Dowie mid-season stirred his unbreakable loyalty to the Saints.
“Mid-year I was pretty content with my decision. There was still no thought of playing. Wiggsy (Dowie) rang me. I was pretty reluctant to come back into a team that was still reasonably successful. I think at the time they were sitting second on the ladder and he explained to me they were really light on and we had lost a lot of players from last year and our depth was really tested.
“I went and watched a game and saw there were six or eight under 18 players having to play under 18s and then ressies. Basically it was just to come back and help out. It definitely wasn’t for any personal gain. The motivation wasn’t I wanted to play again. It was basically to try and help a young group have some success.
“It’s worked out well.”
Despite being a Maskell Medal winner, interleague representative and now a four-time premiership player with Koroit, Goodall said football wasn’t his passion.
“I like playing footy but I have never actually loved the game itself. I would rather go for a hit of golf or do something like that. But you can’t replace being part of a team. That’s the part I love — being in an environment three or four times a week with 60 of your best mates. You never replace that and that’s a part of the game I love and why I play footy.”
The 30-year-old kicked six goals in his first game of the season against North Warrnambool Eagles playing in attack.
“I played forward a lot because I didn’t want to interrupt the progress of the young guys in the midfield,” Goodall said.
“It was the day at Port Fairy two weeks ago where we realised that Warrnambool have a lot of players who can go through there and I could be another number who played in the midfield. That’s where I have played my best footy. It was a matter of time before I went in there.”
Goodall said he was excited to join his good mate Chris McLaren as four-time premiership players.
“It’s a great feeling. They are all great for different reasons,” Goodall said.
“I didn’t really come back for a premiership. I’m so happy to say I have played in four but we have 16 guys in our side that this will be their first one so I probably will get more enjoyment out of seeing how much it means to them than I have played in four.
“After the game you could see all the excitement and the hard work has paid off. Hopefully a bit of success can breed more success. Now these boys have done this, they will want to do it all the time.”
Goodall said he had not made any decisions about next season. “I will just see how things go. Even if I don’t play next year, being 30, it means hopefully I can play in the future. I will just wait and see.”