SYDNEY Swans champion Adam Goodes has passed on some advice to the Wimmera's junior footballers.
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The utility etched his name into the Swans' record books on Sunday, breaking their games record when he made his 304th appearance in the red and white.
Goodes, 32, played an integral role in the Swans' surprise win against Hawthorn in Tasmania, with the 37-point margin fitting given it's his guernsey number.
Drafted from Horsham, Goodes hasn't forgotten his roots and this season's Wimmera Football League number one ticket holder had some words of advice for aspiring AFL players.
"The best advice I had when I was back there playing was to enjoy it. You have a fantastic opportunity," he said.
"The competition down there is of a high standard and a lot of our kids are taken to play with North Ballarat Rebels and if you do get that opportunity and you do get a training program or a weights program I really encourage you to stick to it.
"If there are other blokes in the Rebels in the local area, get together and work hard together and keep driving each other because there is no doubt that is what helped me take the next step.
"The standard of football there is of a high level and if you are playing at a team that is struggling, you be the one that helps that team improve and if you are playing in a team that is going really well, you try and be the player who is trying to help others out and bring others into the game."
Goodes, a two-time Brownlow Medallist and premiership player, said he was proud to be number one ticket holder.
"It's a huge honour having been a Wimmera Football League player and playing two games for Horsham Demons now they've won eight or nine grand finals in a row," he said.
"It's fantastic to be able to jump on board and hopefully support the Demons and the rest of Wimmera league back home."
Goodes surpassed Michael O'Loughlin as the Swans' games record holder.
"To me it is just another game but it's a special moment for myself and Michael O'Loughlin and there is no doubt when we're old men looking after each other's grandchildren we will talk about these days of when he gave me my jumper when I beat his record and how we might be only be the only two indigenous players at the Swans who have played 300 games," he said.
