Jets tyro Archie Goodwin passes A-League test with flying colours

Forget that the Newcastle Jets striker is the talk of Australian football after a stunning finish to the A-League season.

In year 11 at Newcastle High, Goodwin had a biology class, spent a free period catching up on work and anxiously awaited the results of an English exam.

He squirmed as mates, most of whom play in the Jets academy or youth team, fired verbal bullets during a photo shoot.

Ladies in the front office poked their head around the door to see what the commotion was about.

"It's good to be back at school for a while," said Goodwin, who is on a scholarship with the Jets and trains full-time with the A-League squad. "I'm still training by myself, but it is good to get away from a team environment, go back to school and see all my friends and teachers. The boys still hang shit on me and treat me like a mate, which is good.

"It is a great a school. Everyone is very supportive."

Away from football, Goodwin is typical teenager, who enjoys hanging out with his mates.

On the football pitch - Goodwin's field of dreams - he is a different beast. Aggressive. Unrelenting. Confident. Composed.

It's hard to fathom that he is not 17 until November 7.

Goodwin, at 16 years and 106 days, became the youngest to play for the Jets when he was introduced for the final five minutes of the 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory on February 21.

That honour had been held by another home-grown striker James Virgili, who made his A-League debut aged 16 years and 180 days in 2009.

Goodwin double-downed and added the club's youngest goal-scorer to his growing list of records, with a sublime strike to help seal a 2-1 win over grand finalists Melbourne City. A full stop on the Jets mission to avoid the wooden spoon.

It was a goal straight from the top shelf. Crafted by fellow teen Lucas Mauragis, Goodwin curled a shot on the run from 20 metres which nestled in the top right corner.

"It was crazy, I don't know how to explain the feeling when that went in," Goodwin said. "I was at school the next day. The past month has been a blur."

Goodwin is the latest in a long list of teenage sensations to take centre stage with the Jets.

Some have gone on to forge highly-successful careers in Australia and abroad.

But it doesn't always work out that way.

"I just have to stick to my dream and that is to keep playing football and hopefully have a good career out of it," he said. "At first it was crazy when I got the call to train with the A-League squad. Once you are comfortable in the squad, I feel other people get more excited about it.

"Next is a senior contract and hopefully the Young Socceroos. That is definitely a goal for me. I will just keep working hard until I get there.

"I'm still a kid so I can get away with some things. I try to keep my diet pretty strict, make sure I do the right recovery and things like that."

Goodwin has already encountered crippling injury. A series of stress fractures wiped out two years of football.

"I broke my left foot and right foot three times each," Goodwin said. "I played eight months in three years from under-12s to 15s. I would come back, play for four weeks and be out again."

Conscious of Goodwin's developing body, former Jets coach and academy boss Craig Deans ensured that the fleet-footed attacker's work loads have been managed.

Jets' football manager and all-time leading goal-scorer Joel Griffiths, has no doubts the latest prodigy has the ingredients to reach the top.

"You can't be the finished product at such a young age," Griffiths said. "I wasn't doing what he is doing - I wasn't scoring goals at the highest level.

"He is a breath of fresh air for the Jets and our fans. He has that little bit of swagger, that little bit of charisma that young kids will be drawn to. That is something every football club needs.

"You don't want to put too much pressure on someone like him. You want him to develop in his own way.

"Hopefully, with a bit of luck and managing his body, he keeps building on what he started last season.

"He is not shy, he is not quiet. He is happy to foot in at training and he is not afraid to speak when he needs to speak ... all those little things you look for.

"He has to keep working hard and learning off the coaches. There is a very bright future there."

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