AFTER a promising debut season in the yellow and black, Glenelg‘s Sarah Goodwin has elevated her game to another level in 2022. The talented premiership player managed nine games in her first League season of 2021, and has played each of the four games thus far in 2022. A State Academy member, the slick, athletic talent has tracked similar to Bays teammate now Crows-listed gun Brooke Tonon who went from showing signs in year one, to being a key player across the competition in year two.

>> SARAH GOODWIN FEATURE

On first glance it is not hard to see why Goodwin is a member of the State Academy. Aside from already having League experience in a side that won the premiership, the outside runner has plenty of draftable qualities. Her athletic and skill combination, particularly her composure when under pressure makes her a perfect utility for wherever she is needed. Though more than capable of playing on a wing, Goodwin has been utilised as a half-back in 2022, and due to Glenelg’s success, has often held a high line, and collected plenty of ball on the wing to kick it inside 50.

Though not overly tall or strong, Goodwin can hold her own overhead with safe, strong hands. She is electric with her sidestep, and judges her runs through congestion well. Though she is an outside receiver, it is her loose ball gets that stand out, able to cleanly pick it off the deck, and dart inside, often between multiple opponents. Her kicking technique is superb, and she is not afraid to go long down the line, or cut into the corridor with a deadly 45-degree kick. Overall, Goodwin ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to her draftability, and her 2022 season has been one to remember thus far.

SARAH GOODWIN

Height: 163cm
DOB: 09/07/2004
Club: Glenelg
State: South Australia

ROUND 4 VS WWT EAGLES: (2022 AVE)

Disposals: 25 (22.3)
Marks: 4 (4.5)
Tackles: 2 (4.0)
Clearances: 2 (0.8)
Inside 50s: 5 (4.8)
Rebound 50s: 5 (3.8)

QUARTER BY QUARTER VS WWT EAGLES:

FIRST QUARTER:

Goodwin started her match against the Eagles with a clean intercept grab at half-back and nailed a perfect kick to Piper Window on the wing, three and half minutes into the contest. Her clean hands at ground level and ability to push further afield when she scooped the ball off the deck on the wing, and though her kick was not able to hit a direct target, got it to a contest where it was able to be locked up. At the six-minute mark of the term, Goodwin sidestepped one player and almost got past two more, before being brought down by Brianna Hyde. She concluded the quarter with a couple of handballs under pressure in defence, and then a lovely kick from the back pocket to half-back, to finish with six disposals in the first term.

SECOND QUARTER:

Though a much quieter quarter in terms of disposals, Goodwin had two eye-catching moments in the term that illustrate why she is so valuable. With the Eagles in control, Goodwin intercepted the ball at half-forward in close, and was able to shovel it out to Caitlyn Swanson who found Tessa Kohn for the goal at the 12 and a half minute mark of the term. Then, in the dying moments, she won the handball at half-back, pushed up, received it back, then darted inboard with outstanding vision to hit up an elite kick on a 45-degree angle and nailed it with precision. It lead to a Swanson goal on the eve of half-time.

THIRD QUARTER:

In the third term, Goodwin hit a pinpoint precise pass from the middle to half-forward, and then was able to shovel out a handball in another clean touch whilst being tackled on the wing. The next two disposals also came whilst under duress, with a clean handball through traffic under pressure, and a kick whilst being dragged down both proved effective. In the 13th minute of the quarter, Goodwin won a free kick and was able to pinpoint yet another pass down the ground. Late in the quarter, the talented teenager collected a ball running off half-back and kicked to a contest close to the line to buy time for her side. By the end of the third term, Goodwin had 16 touches.

FOURTH QUARTER:

Finishing with her strongest quarter of the game, Goodwin showcase a high work rate and endurance level to come away with nine fourth quarter disposals. Goodwin had less time on her hands in the third quarter, having an early kick from half-back to the wing after intercepting the first centre clearance of the quarter. Not long after she received the handball from Ella Boag and was able to keep the chain going. The next few touches she was in heavy traffic and forced to rush a number of her disposals, but despite a few not being as precise as they could be, they are usually at worst, still effective.

At the 11-minute mark of the term she hit a bullet to a teammate close to the line, but unluckily it bounced off her teammate’s chest and over. Late in the quarter, Goodwin almost hit a brilliant pass inside 50, but her teammate just misjudged the leap and went over her head.

CLOSING THOUGHTS …

Sarah Goodwin had another outstandingly consistent game. The midfielder has not put a foot wrong all season, and played an aggressive brand of football from half-back. Her best work is when she has space in front of her to run and use her exquisite foot skills and vision to pinpoint passes in the front half, whilst working back defensively to intercept. Though she can always increase her contested ball work, Goodwin still laid nine tackles in Round 1, and has taken five contested marks in four games. She is someone who competes well in the air, and is clever at ground level. As a whole, Goodwin projects as a Top 20 selection nationally, though being a state-based draft, expect both the Crows and Power to be keeping close tabs on her this season.