SYDNEY champion Adam Goodes will break the record for the most AFL matches played by an indigenous footballer when the Swans take on West Coast at Patersons Stadium on Sunday.
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The Wimmera export will make his 341st AFL appearance, surpassing the 340-match record set by Adelaide Crows legend Andrew McLeod.
For Goodes, 34, the milestone is the latest achievement in an unparalled playing career.
The Swan has captained his club and country, is a dual Brownlow medallist, three-time club best and fairest, two-time premiership player, four-time All-Australian and Indigenous Team of the Century member.
On Wednesday Goodes said reaching the milestone would be a special occasion for him, but he was fully focused on taking on the Eagles.
“It’s a huge honour,” he said.
“Andrew McLeod’s a good friend of mine and there’s been a couple of us now who have played over 300 games, which is a fantastic effort.
“It’s a huge moment, but it’s just another game of football for me this weekend.”
The record has been a long time in the making for Goodes, who was sidelined for 10 months with a knee injury before returning in round six this year.
“The past nine weeks have just been about getting into good form and playing some good football and it’s sort of just come upon me, this milestone,” he said.
“I’m having fun out there.
“It’s awesome to be back out there playing – I’ve had 10 months off where it was really disappointing not to be out there and being able to play a role for the team.
“To be out there playing and contributing has been my main goal.”
Goodes has now played nine games since his return – with the Swans winning all of them – and he said he had not thought about making a decision on next year.
While injuries will limit what he can do on the field, the former Horsham footballer said it was about staying positive.
“In AFL football you have injuries, you roll with them and you don’t look at what you can’t do, it’s what you can do,” he said.
“You just maintain your body to a certain point to be able to go out there and execute the things you want to be able to do.
“There are some things I can’t do out there, I’m not going to tell everyone what they are, but I’m still able to keep my speed, put pressure on that forward line and I can still kick goals.”
The superstar utility hopes that with the spread of indigenous talent across the competition, somebody will one day pass the milestone he will achieve on Sunday.
“Records are made until someone else breaks them,” he said.
“I definitely hope that someone can come through and break the record.
“It is a lot of games, but it’s a pat on the back for the way you’ve gone about your football – looking after your body, the recovery, doing all those little things that sometimes players can find hard to do.”