The pair played together in the elite under-18 TAC competition for a couple of seasons and their partnership reached a high with a premiership on the MCG on AFL grand final day in 1997.

Horsham export Goodes kicked six goals from full forward that day after having played much of the season at centre half back.

"He could always do the miracle every now and then," Hutchinson recalled.

His words resounded as Wimmera football followers rejoiced in the thrill of Goodes' win in the 2003 AFL Brownlow Medal count.

Goodes, 23, polled 22 votes to tie with Collingwood skipper Nathan Buckley and Adelaide Crows skipper Mark Ricciuto for the highest individual honor in Australian rules football.

The Sydney Swans ruckman had ranked among the top handful of favorites going into the count.

He polled votes in 11 games, including best-afield votes in rounds five and 14.

His mother Lisa May, of Horsham, was beside him at Melbourne's Crown Palladium as the count unfolded.

She later asserted that she'd always known her son would win a Brownlow.

"But I didn't expect it so soon!" she said.

Goodes spent time as a child in SA and at Mildura before shifting to Horsham and is a product of a Wimmera football development program

He now holds revered status as the Wimmera's first Brownlow Medallist.

Dimboola and Wimmera Football League legend of the 1950s and 1960s Lester Marks, also of Aboriginal descent, was among people to rise in praise of Goodes and his achievement.

"It is a great thing for Aboriginal people in the football world," Marks said.

"He's such a talented player and he sets a fine example for young players."

Goodes was clearly awed to be sharing the Brownlow victory with established stars.

"I can't believe I'm standing up here with Nathan Buckley and Mark Ricciuto," he said.

He praised Swans coach Paul Roos for allowing him to play his natural game and said winning a premiership medallion in a future season would make an ideal career double for him.

Goodes played for Horsham Sunnyside junior football club before his career took off and former Sunnyside leaders remember his conspicuous talent.

"One thing always sticks in my mind, when he was playing one day at Horsham City Oval and was running along chasing the ball and then flipped it up into his hands with a foot, played on and kicked a goal," long-time secretary-treasurer Peter Ledgar said.

"His skills were incredible and he was always very mature.

"He could mix with adults and at the next minute be assisting the under-13 kids, and kids seemed to flock to him. He was like a pied piper."