DUAL Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes says he’s feeling better prepared than he has in years for the upcoming season.

Two consecutive grand finals meant curtailed build-ups for the Sydney Swans going into seasons ‘06 and ’07, but the star midfielder believes he’s benefited from an elongated pre-season stint.

“For the first time in about three or four years I feel ready to play round one which is really great because going into other years I was probably going into it a bit underdone,” Goodes said.

“Playing that deep into the finals you’re always going to suffer at some part of the season, be that at the beginning, or the middle or at the end. We’ve coped well when we’ve had slow starts to the season and been able to pick up games along the way and then really find our form towards the end of the season. So hopefully we can get off to a good start this year and maintain that, having had such a good recovery in the off season.”

Goodes admits that the first half of last year didn’t go as he would have liked, but says he’s determined to carry on the good form he showed in the latter half of the season into 2008.

“I’ve been really clear in my mind about what I’ve wanted to get out of pre-season and I’ve been achieving those things… It’s not that I’ve done anything different this year. I’ve just tried to build on the second half of last season. But I don’t want to completely forget what happened at the beginning of last year because you need to look at the bad points to work on the good points.”

The 28-year-old and proud owner of two Brownlows as well as a precious 2005 premiership medallion, insists there’s plenty more he wants to achieve.

“I’m in the peak of my football career and I need to do everything I can to get the best out of myself,” Goodes said. “It would be a complete waste to think that I’ve done a lot in my career and just put the cue in the rack. I’ve got a great opportunity as a leader at the club to really instill the culture of the club into the younger players so that it outlives me at the Swans when my career finishes. That’s one thing I’m really proud and honoured to be able to do.”

For Goodes, watching the younger players at the club develop is a massive source of satisfaction.

“I love football anyway and I’m always enthused, but to see the way the younger players are coming along really makes you rock up to training and want to pat them on the back and be really proud,” he said.

This weekend Goodes will face two of his former teammates, Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster as the Swans kick off their season against St. Kilda at the Telstra Dome on Saturday night. He admits that playing against friends and former teammates is one of the less enviable parts of the job.

“It is hard but that’s the business we’re in… it is sad to lose the guys, but I’m really close to Adam and I talk to him just as much as I did when he was here,” Goodes said. “We all wish those guys good luck and good fortune because I did win a premiership with those guys and that will be with me for the rest of my life. They’ll always be close to my heart because of that.”