ADAM GOODES didn't take criticism from coach Paul Roos to heart but the Swans utility does believe he needed to hear brutal honesty in order to kick-start his sluggish season.

Roos delivered a particularly harsh assessment of Goodes's form following Sydney's loss to premiers Geelong a fortnight ago. Footballers will either wilt under the heat or rise to the challenge in these circumstances, and it appears, judging by his form in the past two weeks, that Goodes is responding positively.

"I think any player, when you win or lose, you accept any criticism, especially when it comes from your coach. I had a good chat to Roosy about it - it's been two weeks now, and I think I've bounced back from it so I think it was a good thing to happen," Goodes said.

"I don't think he really singled me out … he was asked a question about comparing me to [Geelong's] Gary Ablett - he had 35 [possessions] I had 14 … and, to be honest, who could compare to Gary Ablett on the day? He was fantastic, his last quarter out-statted my whole game. I don't think I was singled out unfairly. I think my performance, like a lot of my teammates, did let each other down."

The 27-year-old, who will play for Victoria in Saturday night's Hall of Fame clash against the Dream Team at the MCG feels as though luck is finally smiling on him on the field.

"I felt like I've been working hard this year anyway. I think the ball is just bouncing in my favour a lot more and I am winning a lot more contested footy and a lot more clearances around the stoppages, and that is getting me into my game," he said.

"I'm making my tackles, which early on I wasn't doing - I was missing a few tackles, which was really disappointing.

"I think just that grind of really hard work has got me back to getting my body into good shape and feeling all right out there."

The two-time Brownlow medallist admitted yesterday he considered himself more a South Australian than a Victorian, but was more than happy to wear "the big V" on this occasion.

Goodes, who played soccer in his younger years, moved to Melbourne at 13 and played his junior football there, which qualified him for Victoria.

"A couple of weeks before the [Hall of Fame] squads were announced they asked me what I saw myself as," he said.

"I said I was born in South Australia and I see myself as South Australian, and then they told me the rules that it was where ever you played the majority of junior footy that was the state that you represent.

"I am just happy to be involved whether it is for the big V or the Dream Team, to play State of Origin or a game like it, is a great opportunity. It might be the last opportunity that us players get."

■ Essendon have been fined $5000 by the AFL after captain Matthew Lloyd approached the umpires at the quarter-time break in Sunday's loss to Port Adelaide.

The Bombers and their coach Matthew Knights were unhappy with the umpires' interpretation of the holding-the-ball rule.

Essendon's stalling season suffered another setback with Adam McPhee and Nathan Lovett-Murray suspended for one match each yesterday for forceful contact and striking respectively.