While most players travelled overseas during the off-season break, Sydney Swans champion Adam Goodes ventured back to South Australia to trace the bloodlines of his ancestors.

Goodes’ journey, which was captured by SBS for the Who Do You Think You Are genealogy program, began in early November and saw the dual Brownlow medallist take a two-and-a-half week journey across the country to discover his roots.

The program, which is expected to be aired early this year, took Goodes to the Flinders Ranges, to the home of the Adnyamathanha people, where his ancestors hailed from.


Goodes’ Who Do You Think You Are adventure follows former team mate and cousin, Michael O’Loughlin’s appearance on the program in early 2013.

O’Loughlin made a number of amazing discoveries about his ancestry, including the stunning revelation that his great-grandfather was featured on the Australian fifty dollar note.

Goodes’ Who Do You Think You Are experience capped off a very busy off-season for the dual premiership player, who was also honoured with the 2014 New South Wales Australian of the Year Award.

Goodes’ honour has put him in the running for the 2014 Australian of the Year Award, which will be announced on Australia Day Eve.

A special hour-long feature on Goodes will screen tonight from 7.30pm AEDT on Channel Ten in the lead-up to the Australian of the Year Award announcement. Watch the preview in the video player above.

Goodes also features on the cover of the current issue of The Weekend Australian Magazine.