At any point of the A-League Men's 2022/23 season, it would be acceptable to call Subway Socceroos star Craig Goodwin ‘in-form’.
Whether it was scoring goals in the FIFA World Cup for his country or leading Adelaide United to a third consecutive semi-final, and having his most productive campaign in the process, Goodwin has shown his quality and class on every Australian stage this season.
And on Thursday night it culminated in the winger being named the 2023 Johnny Warren Medal at the Dolan Warren Awards for an outstanding campaign.
Anyone who followed the season intently or not for that matter would probably see it come as no surprise due to his ascension in Australian football over the last few years, whilst becoming one of the faces of the competition.
His record of 25 goals and assists combined have almost guaranteed his beloved Adelaide side a goal throughout the most recent A-League Men's campaign, while he was the only player in the league to be in the top five categories of both goals and assists.
Goodwin’s finishing ability saw him net 15 goals throughout the campaign, including finals, overperforming his expected goals (xG) by six - the most by any player in the competition.
His ball-striking ability from his left foot allowed the Socceroo produce powerful shots from tight angles to beat the goalkeeper on multiple occasions throughout the season, making near-impossible finishes look like simple slots into the back of the net.
His finishing ability on his left foot saw defenders look to quickly close the Socceroo down with sliding, desperate blocks.
As a result, Goodwin has cleverly developed his game, with his supposedly 'weaker' foot now a key aspect the Socceroos' capability in the box.
Between 2017/18 and 2020/2021 in league competitions, Goodwin scored just three of his 22 goals with his right foot, representing 14% of his total output.
While netting two in the previous campaign with his weaker leg, this season has brought a big improvement with his weaker foot, as he’s netted four from 15, a rate of 26.7%.
His new-found ability to find finishes on his weaker leg has allowed Goodwin to feint shots with his left, before cutting inside and slotting the ball clinically into the back of the net.
Goodwin’s versatility and improvement on his right-foot highlight his willingness to adapt his game and improve as a player, and he’s reaped the rewards as those four weaker foot goals this season helped him reach the highest-scoring campaign of his career thus far.
From open play, taking away penalties and freekicks, the ratio left-footed to right-footed goals is six to four, demonstrating the impact Goodwin’s improvement on his right foot has had on his clinical ability in front of goal - something that the Socceroos will look to utilise and benefit from within the coming matches.
However, Goodwin’s versatility goes beyond his finishing ability, with his technical ball striking also aiding the winger in his ability to create chances.
Goodwin’s pinpoint crossing has been a known aspect of his game throughout his career, but this season he’s taken it to new heights in his ability to create opportunities for his side.
His 102 scoring chances created this season is the second most of any player in a single season since Opta began collecting this data in the 2012/13 campaign, with fellow Socceroo Aaron Mooy etching Goodwin with 104 in 2015/16.
Goodwin’s exceptional crossing ability saw him gain the most assists (10) and big chances in the league (16), while his expected assists of 10.6 demonstrate his unparalleled ability to set up goalscoring opportunities in the box.
Beyond his crossing, Goodwin’s clever decision-making and weight of pass contributed to his outstanding playmaking output; his xA was by far the highest in the league, double that of second place in Valon Berisha with 5.3.
His directness and willingness to get the ball into dangerous areas will be key for the Socceroos - the winger has played 330 passes (including crosses) into the box in the league, 116 more than any other player.
Goodwin’s overall performance in front of goal saw him finish second in the league for goals and assists combined, with only fellow Socceroo Jamie Maclaren gaining more than the Adelaide talisman.
Socceroos make up the top four for goals and assists combined in the A-League Men; Jason Cummings and Brandon Borello rank third and fourth respectively.
But it’s Goodwin who has demonstrated quality and consistency beyond belief in helping Adelaide to finish third on the league table, with the winger emerging as the most decisive player in the Australian men’s top flight, being involved in 45% of his team’s total goals throughout the regular season and finals campaign.
His decisiveness in games could prove pivotal in Australia’s upcoming clashes with world football heavyweights Argentina and England, as the Socceroos look to continue on from their stunning World Cup display to prepare for the Asian Cup next year.