Craig Goodwin returned to Adelaide United with a bang in his first season back following a two-year stint with Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam.
Goodwin started the season in scintillating form – scoring eight goals in seven matches across all competitions.
The 27-year-old finished the regular Hyundai A-League season with a team-high 10 goals.
However, despite his incredible production from the wing, Goodwin did experience two barren spells in front of goal, each lasting six games and then later eight.
Speaking at the he believed that was attributed to a combination of things, but predominantly from opposing teams employing tactics to curtail his involvement.
“I think obviously when you’re in some good form the opposition will look at the way you’re playing, the way the team’s playing, and try to set up and I guess nullify your effects,” he acknowledged at the Club’s annual Awards Night.
“So for me it was just about working hard and consistently trying to put myself into positions and finding new ways to get into goal scoring positions.”
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Discounting Goodwin’s impressive 10-goal haul, the rest of the goals were largely shared with United relying on a number of different scorers.
Nikola Mileusnić bagged five goals, while Isaías and George Blackwood found the net four times.
“I think naturally over the years Adelaide has generally always been a team that finds goals from multiple places,”
“Even the year we won it in 2016, there were so many different goal scorers as well.
“It’s been the same this year I feel, and I think it makes us really threatening.
“Georgie (George Blackwood), Nikola’s (Mileusnić) got a few, Benny (Ben Halloran) has scored and we’ve got boys all over the pitch that can find the back of the net.”
Apart from writing his name all over the FFA Cup 2018 Final, the South Australian local said scoring against Melbourne Victory and copping stick from their supporters was an enjoyable moment.
“Besides the FFA Cup for sure the Melbourne Victory games obviously our biggest rival and it certainly was one of my favourite photos of the year from that goal celebration,” he said.
“Because I think there were about thirty or forty people sticking the finger up at me, so it’s a really nice feeling scoring against Melbourne Victory.
“It’s probably a little bit more special than against any other team.”
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Goodwin was also the top-scorer in the FFA Cup 2018 campaign with five goals.
And it was his stunning half-volleyed strike in the Final which decided the game that won the Adelaide United Goal of the Year Award.
That powerful shot on his weaker, right foot, was one of eight nominations for best goal.
Goodwin somewhat played down his brilliant effort, intimating some luck was involved.
“I’m more one footed and my right foot is probably not something I use so often,” he explained.
“And at the time I was actually pretty tired during the game and Benny (Ben Halloran) set the ball back and it just bounced up perfectly so I pretty much just swung my foot at it and it happened to go into the top corner.”
Adelaide United host Melbourne City in a Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Elimination Final on Sunday, 5 May at Coopers Stadium. Kick-off is at 6.30pm ACST. Gates open 5.30pm.
