Now in his third season with the Bulldogs, the 31-year-old has never looked fitter and is tackling his second chance in the AFL full on.

Goodes is well aware how quickly an AFL career can come to an end.

A VFL premiership player with the North Ballarat Roosters and Footscray, Goodes’ time in the big league appeared over at the end of last season after being delisted by the Bulldogs.

He had played 15 AFL games in two years with the club after being a mature-age recruit.

With his future looking uncertain, Goodes turned his attention to renovating his house in Ballarat and keeping fit by running around Victoria Park.

There was no shortage of football offers outside the AFL and accepting one seemed the most likely path he would take next with his football career.

Then, a few weeks before pre-season, Western Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney called him. 

Goodes was redrafted by the Western Bulldogs as a 

rookie.

While becoming a rookie meant taking a pay cut after being on the senior list, for Goodes there was no hesitation. It’s about much more than money.

Now, Goodes is enjoying every moment of his third year at Whitten Oval.

“It’s a lot more fun,” he said after arriving back in Ballarat on Wednesday for the first day of a two-day Western Bulldogs community camp.

Goodes said it was a whole new club under new coach Luke Beveridge.

As a rookie, all Goodes can do is throw everything he has into training and hope he gets called up to the senior list if a vacancy arises.

The Bulldogs have already suffered injury blows.

Tom Liberatore is out for the season with a knee reconstruction and Zaine Cordy has undergone a shoulder reconstruction.

While football is foremost on his mind right now, Goodes is aware of the need to prepare for a post-AFL career.

Goodes, who first joined the Bulldogs as a player welfare officer, is also undertaking business studies with a view to working in a welfare field assisting children or the disadvantaged.

The community camp is the Western Bulldogs’ first in Ballarat since striking a partnership with the City of Ballarat late last year with a view to extending the club’s supporter base from the western suburbs into Western Victoria, and in the long-term playing home and away matches at Eureka Stadium.

The Bulldogs will take the next step in the alignment when it plays Melbourne in a NAB Challenge match at Eureka Stadium on Saturday, March 14.

The Bulldogs’ program in Ballarat on Wednesday featured a civic reception, school clinics, a master class for coaches in association with the North Ballarat Rebels, and training with BFL clubs, CHFL clubs and the Ballarat youth girls football squad.

Thursday’s activities will begin with an open training sessions at Eureka Stadium from 9.30am and will be followed by visits to various community organisations and institutions.

david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au