Simon Goodwin, Adelaide's in-form midfielder, says he is still learning about football and improving - at the grand young age of 29 and after playing 173 AFL matches, including two premierships, as well as winning two club champion awards and selection in three All-Australian teams.

The hard-running left-footer and reigning club champion has made a superb start to this season, piling up 103 disposals in three matches - 33 against Collingwood, 36 against West Coast and 34 against Melbourne.

He has had 49 kicks and 54 handpasses, while taking 13 marks and applying eight tackles.

Goodwin said after training on Wednesday he was 'relishing being challenged' continually by coach Neil Craig.

"At the start of every year you set new goals, and you look to improve and play your role in the team," he said. "I have specific roles that change week to week.

"I'm continuing to improve and that is what I'm liking about it. I'm learning more about the game, learning how to play forward, about new roles within the midfield, and it is really helping me improve as a player.

"It can be a whole range (of roles) - tagging, the run-with, to go for it myself, going up forward, playing down back. It varies all over the place.

"Obviously with Roo (Mark Ricciuto) not in the (centre) square, it means a lot of blokes come through, and I think our depth in the footy club is a thing that has improved us a lot. Having Roo down forward has not taken a lot from the midfield. We have a lot of blokes who can go through there."

The Crows trained at Max Basheer Reserve behind AAMI Stadium on Wednesday, and did everything possible to assimilate conditions at Subiaco Oval for Saturday night's clash with Fremantle.


The ground surface was firmer than at AAMI Stadium and longer, too, because the goal posts were moved back.

"Because we can't train there (Subiaco) on Friday, it was beneficial just to get 10 minutes playing on the same dimensions," Goodwin said. "We extended the goals further, and that gave us the chance to feel how far we had to move the ball down, and how far we had to travel with the ball.

"It is a little different, Subiaco - a bit longer - so we need to do a few things different."

Asked how the Crows could beat the Dockers, Goodwin said: "We just have to play our game and make sure we are hard at the footy and win the contested footy.

"We pride ourselves on performing away from home, so travelling is not a big issue for us. We enjoy it. It does not matter where you play as long as you put up a performance that we are going to be proud of. We're very confident when we travel. It does not hold any fears."

Ricciuto and Tyson Edwards rested from training because of soreness from Sunday's win against Melbourne at Carrara, but they will play on Saturday night.

And Martin Mattner (calf) and Chris Knights (shoulder) got through training and should be available to be recalled after missing the clash with the Demons.