Matt Goodwin
Q: Where and when did you start playing football?
My first game of footy was when I was 8 for Wayback under 10’s. I still remember my first kick – easy to remember it was my only one for the day… It dribbled along the ground and went straight to the opposition – a few people might say not much changed.
Q: How many games did you play and who did you play for?
From memory 236 A Grade games for Waybacks. One season for Waratahs in the NTFL in 06/07 and half season at Cove Cobras in 2002 and a very unsuccessful stint with Port Adelaide under 19’s. My Wayback B Grade tally is slowly increasing depending on how well I can screen Dave Gray’s (Waybacks Reserves coach) calls on a Thursday night.
Q: Did you play representative football? If so, when and which teams?
Was lucky enough to play in nine Mortlock Shields for Lincoln City / Port Lincoln between 2003 – 2013 and to represent Eyre Peninsula six times (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010).
Q: What is your most memorable game(s) as a player / Coach?
Really good question – the easy answer is playing in the four A Grade Grand Final wins for Waybacks (2003, 2005, 2008 & 2017) but to be honest they are all a bit of a blurr – a big build up and maybe the 3 days that follows doesn’t help with the memory either.
One game that sticks in my mind outside of those was the 2017 2nd Semi Final against Mallee Park. Mallee Park were top all year and we had basically come from bottom after Round 2. It was a pretty even first half and we managed to open up a 19 point lead at the main break. We started the 3rd quarter really well and 10 minutes into the 3rd James Flint kicked a goal from 50m in front of the wind sock that put us 37 points up. I remember thinking to myself ‘We are into the Grand Final!’… 20 minutes later we went in at three quarter time 9 points down!… Mallee Park just did what Mallee Park do and we couldn’t stop them….
To the players credit we managed to re-group. The lead changed a few times in the last quarter then a late goal to James Blewit levelled the score and then a long range point from Jonty Seal got us over the line 105 to 104. A few supporters said to me after the game it was the best game of country footy they had ever seen. A fortnight later we got over Marble Range in a very tight Grand Final in very different conditions with a typical 40 knot gale blowing to the Flinders Theatre all day. 6.10 to 4.8.
Q: Best player(s) you played with?
At Waybacks from 2009, Matt Keatley and Shaun Maxfield won 11 of the next 12 Best & Fairests between them so hard to go past those two (Seth Meyers in 2017 won the other). Keats was just on another level, made everything look so easy – always got tagged but would still end up with 30+ possessions per game and never wasted the ball – finished with 5 Mail Medals (2 in Spencer Gulf FL, 2 in PLFL and 1 in Great Flinders). Shaun was an absolute contested beast yet so smooth on the outside. He would win so many games for Waybacks off his own boot through his ability to will himself into contests and win the ball.
Murray Kelsh was such a privelidge to play alongside. Amazing skills and uncanny goal sense. 500+ Wayback goals as a small forward / onballer is an amazing achievement. I was incredibly lucky to play just about my entire senior career alongside Murray, not just at Waybacks but also Mortlocks and EP trips but was also great to share our passion for the Wayback Footy Club along the journey. So many great players I got to play with at Waybacks – Jonty Seal, Ben Sampson, Rory Hunt, Ian Jericho, Jason Perkins & Seth Meyers recently but also Tom George, Dom Romeo, Stephen Orchard, Adam Kayser, Darren Gregory, Shannon Horgan and Josh Hollit from earlier on. Duncan Moore and Joe Cragg-Sapsford were always good players to have on your team. I better also mention Tristan Koewenhoven and Mark Blight for tapping the ball down my throat for 5+ years! I could list so many more and apologies for all that I haven’t mentioned.
Q: Best player(s) you played against?
David McPharlin (Marble Range)
Was phenomenal player at Marble Range from 2002 – 2004. His fitness, speed, aggression and competitiveness made him a very tough opponent. Bampton Medalist in 2003 and won the 2004 PLFL Mail Medal by a record margin. Was lucky enough to work with Macca at Waybacks in 2017 and 2018 and he had an amazing footy brain. Unfortunately, his left foot still hadn’t improved much by then though (sorry Macca).
Malcolm Miller (Mallee Park) Incredible player whether through the mid-filed or deep forward. He could win a game off his own boot and would do it often. Not sure if we will see another player like him. Mercurial skills. Paul White (Lincoln South) Won an incredible 11 Best & Fairests for Lincoln South. Very courageous centerman. PLFL Mail Medalist and Bampton Medalist 2004 and 2012. Best on Ground in 2002 Grand Final. I actually think the best I saw him play was the 2004 Mortlock Shield carnival. Was very enjoyable being on his team that weekend.
Q: What got you to start coaching?
I always had a bit of a desire to coach…
At the end of the 2016 Season Matt Keatley and Stephen Orchard decided they didn’t want to go on as coaches after their 2 seasons and I was put on the sub-committee to find a new coach for 2017. After advertising and getting no applicants for the coaching job and getting continued rejections I said to my wife Michelle, “Bugger this, I have had enough of this job of finding a coach, it would be easier if I just did the coaching myself!”….
Famous last words….
Q: What advice would you give to the next generation of coaches?
The first step would be that if you have any aspirations to coach then put your hand up and do it – there is never going to be the perfect time to do it. Do what you can to make sure the players are having fun. When I first got the job at Waybacks I remember reading Alastair Clarkson’s coaching philosophy. It was all about making sure the players are enjoying themselves so they want to come back next year – I thought well if it is good enough for him….
Surround yourself with good people as support staff and mentors. At Waybacks, I was lucky enough to work alongside David McPharlin, Murray Kelsh, Lou & Toby Rawson, Tyson Arthur, Dylan Lindschau and Stephen Glacken and they all made my job a lot easier. Scott Clark was also never far away to provide advice and guidance as a mentor.
Q: Are there any game rules you would like to see changed?
The AFL should bring in the last possession out of bounds rule. We have it in every league in SA and it seems to work well so not sure why the AFL doesn’t have it. For more so PLFL / country leagues rather than AFL – Make modifications to the 6/6/6 rule. The concept is good but having 12 players starting in the forward 50m arc is too congested for the forwards. I would look at making a change to allow the forwards to move up further to say in line with edge of the centre square. This should give more space for the remaining forwards.
Q: What do you think the Port Lincoln Football League will look like in ten years?
Very good question…. I will leave that to people a lot smarter than me.
Q: What are your fondest memories of the Mortlock Shield
My first memories of the Mortlock Shield were from when I was about 5. Mum and Dad would get to Centenary at about 8am to get their car in. I would literally spend the next hour kicking the due off. Would have kicked 20 goals before the first game. I was going to say it was that long ago that Chris Prime was playing for Eastern Eyre….. But Primey was back playing at Ports last year.
Played in my first Mortlock in 2003 and I was horrible and Lincoln City lost both games. Was pretty determined for that not to happen the following year.
In 2004 under Richard Horgan everything just clicked for Lincoln City. Paul White was outstanding in the middle and Darren Bryant marked everything and didn’t miss. We beat Mid West reasonably easy in the end on the Monday and ended up winning the Shield on percentage (much to Lincoln Districts disgust who also won both their games). For the record Lincoln City beat Lincoln Districts by 10 goals in the late Saturday game the following year (2005) to hopefully put any arguments to rest.
Was great to be involved in Port Lincoln winning three Mortlock Shields in a row from 2009 – 2011. Glyn Owen did a great job as coach getting everyone on board and wanting to play for Port Lincoln. Was a rare opportunity to represent Port Lincoln as a League and play alongside so many good players from each team.
Brett Watherston
Q: Where and when did you start playing football?
Boston FC 1982
Q: How many games did you play and who did you play for?
Played at a few clubs in my football journey – Boston FC Senior games is just over 100 games.
I also played at North Adelaide (SANFL), Peel Thunder (WAFL), Mandurah Mustangs (Peel FL), North Albany & Marble Range
Q: Did you play representative football? If so, when and which teams?
Loved my junior representative teams in the PLFL. Mortlock, EP & SA State Country
Q: What is your most memorable game(s) as a player?
I have 2, My second League game at North Adelaide v West Adelaide – played CHB and played well above myself! Winning the State Country Championship with EP Team in 1994 with an amazingly talented bunch of lads seems like yesterday.
Q: Best player(s) you played with?
Michael Fowler & Jeff Castle locally, Rod Tregenza (google this guys record, freak!), Josh Francou & Troy Hull
Q: Best player(s) you played against?
I’ve been fortunate to have played against many great players at different levels – locally Robert Jackamara & Roger Johncock come to mind. One that I didn’t play against but watched locally as a kid was Butch Pedler, he always looked above the competition.
Q: What advice would you give to the next generation of footballers?
Learn to run, most important part of the game even at local level & obviously skills, value your possessions & make them count. Listen, watch & learn from the good players.
Q: Where and when did you start coaching?
Boston FC U17’s 2007
Q: What got you to start coaching?
Wanted to give back to a club that had given me opportunities and support growing up not just with football but in life. Clubs can have a positive influence in the person your become.
Q: What is your most memorable game(s) as a coach?
To be honest I have never been that successful as a coach in regard to wins/losses but one game that comes to mind was beating Lincoln Souths in the A’grade in the last minor round game of the season with a bunch of kids and a gameplan who worked hard all year to implement and execute for 4 quarters. Souths played in the GF that year and we celebrated like we won one!
Q: What advice would you give to the next generation of coaches?
Get a taste of coaching while you are playing. I believe you look at the game differently as a coach and if you can take that into your own game you will be better for it.
Try to also enjoy the coaching journey, some of us were way to intense in our expectations on our team and ourselves!
Q: Are there any game rules you would like to see changed?
Do not even start me – Ive always had a simplistic view of ensuring protecting the player who has the ball and is making the play. I see to much holding the ball to keep the crowd happy.
Q: What do you think the Port Lincoln Football League will look like in ten years?
Interesting conversation but what I will say is self interest has created the situation we are in now. Facts don’t lie and the headwinds the league now finds itself in were forecast, there has been no suprises.
I do feel for the juniors that have above average talent and the pathways to continue to develop that talent regionally. Limited numbers to train with and limited quaility games/competition limits the development. That’s the opportunity I see is how we acknowledge the situation we are in but how we instigate the right talent programs. This is why I am a massive advocate of association football, I have seen so many lads thrive at the opportunity at the next level and hopefully continue on their football journey to bigger and better.
