Essendon assistant coach Simon Goodwin says he is comfortable at the club and is keen to stay at the Bombers despite rumours of a possible return to Adelaide at the end of the season.
Goodwin, who retired at the end of 2010 after 275 games with the Crows before being appointed Essendon's midfield coach, says he is enjoying learning at the club.
""I'm really happy here at Essendon,"" Goodwin said from Windy Hill on Thursday.
""I'm only one year out of the game and really enjoying developing here as a coach and working with the players here at Essendon.
""Not only that, but the coaching staff and the club here have been terrific. I'm here for a while and that's the way I'd like to keep it.
""We're asking the players to continually improve as players and also the coaches [want to continually improve as well], and I feel this is a really good environment for that.""
Essendon will play Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Friday night, where it has lost 14 of its past 16 encounters since 2000.
Goodwin, however, dismissed the poor travel record and said it was important that the club won at all venues if it is to develop.
""We try and forget about what's happened in the past, but I think the more important thing for us as a footy club is we want to become good performers, not only here but away from home as well,"" Goodwin said.
""Once we become a good side, our away record will take care of itself.""
Bombers' assistant coaches Mark Thompson and Brendan McCartney were instrumental in using their knowledge of Geelong before the Bombers upset the Cats in round 15, and Goodwin said it had been interesting dissecting and pulling apart the Crows' game plan from outside the club.
""Obviously I know the players really well. I spent a lot of time with them and I'm close mates with a few,"" he said.
""To actually understand the way the way the players want to play, it's been a different experience to actually go away and study them and understand some of their strengths and weaknesses.""
Goodwin said captain Jobe Watson and defender Cale Hooker were both available to play after hamstring strains, however, Watson trained with the Bendigo Bombers' VFL squad before the Essendon team hit the track on Thursday morning.
Goodwin, who retired at the end of 2010 after 275 games with the Crows before being appointed Essendon's midfield coach, says he is enjoying learning at the club.
""I'm really happy here at Essendon,"" Goodwin said from Windy Hill on Thursday.
""I'm only one year out of the game and really enjoying developing here as a coach and working with the players here at Essendon.
""Not only that, but the coaching staff and the club here have been terrific. I'm here for a while and that's the way I'd like to keep it.
""We're asking the players to continually improve as players and also the coaches [want to continually improve as well], and I feel this is a really good environment for that.""
Essendon will play Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Friday night, where it has lost 14 of its past 16 encounters since 2000.
Goodwin, however, dismissed the poor travel record and said it was important that the club won at all venues if it is to develop.
""We try and forget about what's happened in the past, but I think the more important thing for us as a footy club is we want to become good performers, not only here but away from home as well,"" Goodwin said.
""Once we become a good side, our away record will take care of itself.""
Bombers' assistant coaches Mark Thompson and Brendan McCartney were instrumental in using their knowledge of Geelong before the Bombers upset the Cats in round 15, and Goodwin said it had been interesting dissecting and pulling apart the Crows' game plan from outside the club.
""Obviously I know the players really well. I spent a lot of time with them and I'm close mates with a few,"" he said.
""To actually understand the way the way the players want to play, it's been a different experience to actually go away and study them and understand some of their strengths and weaknesses.""
Goodwin said captain Jobe Watson and defender Cale Hooker were both available to play after hamstring strains, however, Watson trained with the Bendigo Bombers' VFL squad before the Essendon team hit the track on Thursday morning.
