SIMON Goodwin says it’s still strange coming up against his former side Adelaide, despite having finished his stellar 275-game career with the Crows at the end of 2010.

Goodwin, who joined Melbourne as senior assistant coach in September last year – he will succeed Paul Roos at the end of the 2016 season, spent four seasons as an Essendon assistant coach.

But despite having been out of the game as a player for five years, the two-time Adelaide premiership player and former captain said it was still a different experience coming up against his ex-team.

“I spent 15 years at one club and there are some people still there that are integral to the footy club, so it does still feel a little bit weird,” he told Dee TV.

“But I’m a Melbourne person now and I feel strongly about that and this is my home now, so I’m looking forward to getting over there and hopefully putting up a really good performance against them.

“I think there are about 16 players I used to play with, so I’ve got a pretty good handle on how they play and their style of play, and the way they like to be as individuals.

“It’s a little bit of insight, but it’s always interesting and a little bit weird going back to play your old team, in your old team and in your old state – but it’s something that I’m really looking forward to.”

Goodwin said another former Crow – and Adelaide best and fairest winner – Bernie Vince was champing at the bit to take on his former team.  

“Bernie has spoken to a few [of his former teammates] during the week, so he’s really keen to get back playing some good footy,” he said.

“It’s a big week for him personally – performance wise as a player – and I’m sure he’s keen to put on a good performance against his old team.”

Goodwin said the top of the table Adelaide was “in terrific form”.

“There’s no doubt about it. They’ve played some outstanding footy and they look really well organised,” he said.

“We’re going to have to play a certain brand of footy to come away with the result and the boys are really focused on playing that style, and trying to be really aggressive with it.

“If we can be in the game for a large portion, we feel that we can really grind it out to the finish.”

Goodwin, who is overseeing the midfield with Ben Mathews, said he was confident the Melbourne engine room and ball winners would bounce back this week, after a tough second round.

“I thought they were fantastic in round one against a pretty talented Suns midfield, but last week they were disappointing with the way they played,” he said.

“They got badly beaten up in contested ball and clearances in the second half and it’s certainly something we’ve addressed throughout the week.

“I’m confident with the character of the guys that we’ve got in that they’ll respond.

“They’ve got a really big task against [Patrick] Dangerfield, [Rory] Sloane, [Richard] Douglas and [Sam] Jacobs and taking those boys on in there.”