There isn’t much Adam Goodes hasn’t achieved in his extraordinary life. The accomplished sportsman, author, Australian of the Year and Dad speaks with our Features Editor Ros Reines about life out of the spotlight. And it is fair to say that he is finding his new journey with a leading Aussie wellness brand as “wanderful”.

From Swans champion to Wanderlust wellness warrior, it’s all part of Adam Goodes’ journey to reclaim and maintain his inner peace.

Some may have been surprised to see the legendary First Nations footballer, communing with nature on the advertising campaign for Aussie made brand Wanderlust to promote its plant active vegan supplements range. Inspired by nature’s wisdom. Made for now.

Where had the ferocious AFL player gone?

“This is who I have always been,” Goodes tells me over the phone, during his work day break.

“When I was playing football, I had to be OK with turning myself into a warrior. But this softer approach has always been who I am and part of my demeanour,” he explains.

“So, it was the other way around. Actually allowing myself to tap into that combative instinct was dicult and something that I did on that stage, on that field for a certain amount of time,” he comments.

The happily married father of three and former Australian Of The Year, is actively involved with Wanderlust, owned by former Swisse Vitamins boss Radek Sali, as well as being an ambassador for other iconic Australian brands including Qantas and David Jones.

He’s also the founder and CEO of the Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium (IDIC), which works with over 130 indigenous businesses, helping them to engage and secure Australian infrastructure and defence contacts.

Goodes devotes time to charity initiatives as the co-founder of the GO Foundation, along with another Swans legend, Michael O’Loughlin. It fosters educational opportunities for indigenous children.

“Since I retired from football, I really focused on being part of the solution through my work projects and through Wanderlust, which really gives me the opportunity to share my true self and play to my strengths,” he explains.

As an elite athlete, Goodes was naturally aware of the benefits of supplements, especially through his association with Radek Sali.

“I love that Radek created 100% Australian made supplements and the elements of Wanderlust ticked the boxes for me, especially when it came to shared values and connection to country,” he says.

“I also like the communication I have with like minded people during the amazing events that Wanderlust has done in the last two and a half years that I have been associated with the brand.”

Last February, Goodes was one of the speakers at the Wanderlust True North Festival, appearing on stage in Sydney and Adelaide.

A  truly  global  company,  Wanderlust regularly orchestrates events around the world, encompassing meditation, yoga and wellness practices. They have a passionate following of devotees who want to benefit from the clean, green lifestyle.

Joining Goodes on stage last February, were other wellness luminaries including Isabel Lucas and Gawarra, along with Paul Roos and his wife, Tami who is an empowerment master and intuitive healer.

It was Paul Roos, then the hugely successful and inspirational coach of the Sydney Swans, who helped turn Goodes onto the power of mediation.

“When Roosy took over as Swans coach in 2003, he invited the leadership group into his home for a 10 week meditation course with Tami and it was an incredible journey for all of us,” Goodes says.

“When it comes to football everything is designed around physicality but no-one at that time was investing in the player’s mental health.”

It had a very powerful effect on Goodes’ attitude to his sport, as it did with the other members of the leader- ship group. Meditation soon became a key part of his preparation for every game and, for him, just as crucial as getting onto the field and kicking the ball through a line of defence.

“The night before I played I started using meditation as a way of envisioning my performance,” Goodes says. “I was playing the game out in my head before I physically played it on the field the next day.”

“So, I had already been there in the moment and it gave me the confidence to stand up and take goals,” he says, “because I had already been through those moves.

“Meditation has been an incredible tool for me even post-football, to stay grounded,” he continues. “I use it to connect to my ancestors and to my intuitive ability.”

It’s strengthened him through some of the friendships he’s made with an over 35s team and their camaraderie, which is something he’d missed following his AFL retirement.

“To have that banter going on, really fills the void for me,” he admits. “Playing sport and prioritising wellness through Wanderlust is a choice. I want to be a present, healthy father and to do that I have to put the work in. I have to keep understanding what my body requires of me and to lead a healthy lifestyle,” he says.

Adam Goodes and his wife, Natalie have two boys and a girl in the ages of four, two and nine months.

What kind of a life does he want for them?

“I want what any parent wants. The opportunity for them to learn, to grow, to be accepted, to make mistakes, to be successful, to fail and to travel the world,” he says.

“The one thing that I’m able to give my children that my mum was never able to give to me is a connection to culture and language.”

Goodes admits that he spends little time mulling over the many shining highlights of his career including the two Brownlow medals, two premierships and the record number of games for an indigenous player.

He rarely dwells on his ultimate accolade as the 2014 Australian of the Year.