He's a man of many talents - AFL star, 2014 Australian of the year, and a role model for young Australians through his community work.
An Andyamathanha and Norungga man born in Wallaroo in South Australia, Adam Goodes also speaks out against racism and domestic violence.
In a recent interview with the BBC's Hard Talk program he revealed that while he's enjoyed his star career in the AFL, football just isn't enough.
"I don't want to just be remembered for playing footy for kicking a ball around in a big stadium in front of 100,000 people," he told BBC.
Since being drafted into the Sydney Swans in 1997, Adam Goodes remains the club's record holder, playing more than 351 games for the Swans. He's also won the code's highest honour the Brownlow Medal on numerous occasions.
But it's his activities off the field that Adam Goodes hopes to be remembered for, like being named the 2014 Australian of the year.
The honour was bestowed upon him on Australia Day, a day that means different things to different people - especially Indigenous Australians.
"For Aboriginal people it means a completely different thing. But what I am trying to educate many of my Aboriginal brothers and sisters is that it should be a day of celebration also for us," he said.
"That we are still here, that we are still alive and strong, that we still have our culture, there is still language. Let's not focus on the negatives anymore. Let's focus on the positives. Let's rise above it and be the better ones."
Adam Goodes also talked of the impact of racism on his life, saying an incident in 2013 where a 13 year old girl called him an ape at a game, reminded him of just how far Australia still had to go to combat racism.
The 13 year-old girl subsequently apologised.
"I'm always going to accept an apology of a young kid, who made a mistake she didn't even know what she was saying."
He added that the incident did give him an opportunity to raise the issue of racism publicly.
"That opportunity to not only educate a 13-year-old girl but help educate other members who sit in the football crowds, people in the communities, people in the society, that those sort of things are unacceptable."
Adam Goodes told BBC he got his fair share of racist abuse growing up because of his Aboriginal heritage.
He said many people don't understand how constant racial abuse, even low level casual racism, can affect people.
Some people he said, fall into a downward spiral of depression and drug abuse because of the constant feeling of not belonging.
"I've had family members who can't take it as well as I can and be tolerant. Some react with violence, drinking, drugs, these types of things."
Along with being one fo the co-founders of The GO Foundation which provides Indigenous children with education scholarships and support, Adam Goodes was also formerly a member of the Howard government's Indigenous Advisory Board.
As for a career in politics? He hasn't completely ruled it out.
"I think when you want to do something positive for a large amount of people, then you have to be at some sort of level, whether that be at federal or state. We will see what happens."
Share
