Archie Goodwin is a name that many fans of the A-League have a different opinion of.
Some will claim that Goodwin is a talent and the prototype of what an Australian striker should look like, others may say that due to injuries and a perceived attitude, Archie will never fulfil his undoubted teenage potential.
Regardless of what side of the fence you sit on, Adelaide United are firm believers of the famous colloquial saying, ‘No risk, no reward’, by securing Goodwin’s prized signature for four seasons.
Archie’s football journey began under his father in the junior’s sides of Cooks Hill United – a club he would still regularly attend to watch matches, until his recent move interstate.
Goodwin’s early talent was clear to see and after being spotted by Craig Deans, he would go on to sign for the academy of his hometown A-League club, the Newcastle Jets.
Deans was instrumental in Goodwin’s rise from an academy player, all the way to a senior player in his teenage years – becoming the Jet’s youngest-ever player in 2021, debuting at 16 years and 106 days old.
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The next three seasons, however, saw a disappointing return of 40 appearances, as Goodwin’s growing body showed signs of the brittleness that has been affecting him since a child.
Like many young boys, Goodwin suffers from Osgood-Schlatter disease, which causes inflammation of the area just below the knee, where the tendon connects from the kneecap to the shinbone.
It is a disease which has affected Archie since he was 12 years old and has resulted in stress fractures in his legs and, in the later part of his Jets career, his back.
Goodwin was never able to complete a full pre-season since turning professional and required constant rest and rehab in his fight to overcome the disease.
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If being labelled injury-prone at a young age wasn’t bad enough, there was also the murmurings of a perceived attitude problem behind the scenes.
Young attacking players tend to walk a fine line between confidence and arrogance; it comes with the territory of being a forward.
However, current Jets coach Rob Stanton and his predecessor Arthur Papas, both had training ground bust-ups in relation to Goodwin’s outbursts, lack of maturity and attitude.
With his young career seemingly at a crossroads, the proud Novocastrian made the choice to bet on himself, and break the hearts of Newcastle fans, by signing for a coach who has always admired him, Carl Veart.
Adelaide United head coach Carl Veart. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Whilst in charge of Adelaide, Veart has overseen a production line of South Australian teenage talent in attack.
But it’s the signing of a young interstate forward that sent tongues wagging locally, especially since there are Adelaide-born strikers in United’s reserves who were hoping to get a chance to impress this season.
After only being in the city of churches for a few weeks, Goodwin is hungry and motivated, showing early promise in pre-season.
Four goals in two matches, including a hat trick, have been highlighted by sharp movement and a coolness in the 18-yard box – even more impressive since Veart has been trialling a new formation with the side for season 2024/25.
So far Archie has not had any issues with his body and has been an exemplary teammate – rekindling a budding bromance with Panashe Madanha, who know each other from playing together with the young Socceroos.
Given it is only pre-season, Goodwin’s performances must be taken with a grain of salt as he is by no means guaranteed the starting striker role – competing directly with local boy Luka Jovanovic.
Once you factor in contract length and salary, it has the potential to be the shrewdest signing of the A-Leagues winter off-season.
Archie Goodwin has gambled on himself moving to Adelaide, just like Carl Veart has in signing the injury-riddled and arrogant-labelled hitman.
It will either be a resounding success or an abysmal failure, there is no in between – such is the gambler’s life.
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