How pleased were you with your ability to shift if momentum when St Kilda got on a run midway through the second?
“That was probably one of the more pleasing aspects of our game. To have the momentum against us, they kicked five out of the last six through the second quarter there.
“To arrest that momentum is something we’ve worked hard on in building the behaviours that are going to do that within a game, within a quarter.
“I thought the boys were outstanding. They were speaking about it on the bench. They certainly went back to what they knew and got the game back on our terms.”
They got within nine points when Steele kicked a couple of goals but you managed to break it open again.
“You’re going to get challenged in AFL footy. It is going to be like that,” Goodwin said.
“Especially with 30-minute quarters. It is going to be the teams that can create momentum but also arrest it. It is going to happen to every team.
“It is a good position to be in, to be able to do that so far. We’re learning. We’ll learn from it, understand why that takes place and how we maintain it and get it done more often than not.”
What did you think of Kysaiah Pickett?
“I took my young lad to the footy a lot and used to watch Cyril Rioli,” Goodwin said.
“That’s what the Melbourne supporters would love about Kozzy. You sit on the sidelines as coach and you love watching him play. He’s still got a lot to learn and get better at but he a good player.
He looks fitter, he looks in better shape. He obviously worked really hard while he was away?
“He worked incredibly hard. He had a clear program that was set by Burgo and the team when he went back to Adelaide. He was very diligent. He did F45 every morning for three weeks. He trained three times a week with Woodville West Torrens.
“He came back, embraced the VFL. Played a game and a half. Full credit to Kozzy. He’s done an extraordinary job to deal with what he went through but also to come out and perform the way he has.
“He has got that raw talent, speed and excitement.“
What’s his next step? How does he get better?
“Keep doing the basics well. There is no secret to becoming a good player. Doing it week after week, getting it done time after time. He’s still got enormous growth in him. By no means a finished product yet.”