Wear and tear catches up with Mornington Peninsula football great Simon Goosey

Simon Goosey kicked thousands of goals to become a country football legend — but now he’s feeling the effects of a lifetime of footy.

Mornington coach Simon Goosey speaks to his players during the Bulldogs game against Pines last month. Picture: James Ross

Simon Goosey kicked thousands of goals to become a country football legend — but now he’s feeling the effects of a lifetime of footy.

At 51, popular “Goose” is heading into Beleura Hospital in Mornington on Tuesday for a hip replacement.

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He says it’s much needed; it’s been giving him grief for some time.

“It has, like, I can’t kick the footy at the moment,“ Goosey, who is coaching Mornington this season, said.

“Once I’ve got it done I’ll be able to kick the footy and do all those things I normally do.”

Simon Goosey playing for the MPNFL against Wimmera FL in 1997.

2000: The Goose runs up the Barkley St hill in Mornington, a favourite location for pre-season running.

Stewart Loewe and Simon Goosey in the EJ Whitten Legends game in 2005.

Goosey said the bad hip hindered his other sporting passion, playing cricket with Pines, and he welcomed the doctor’s advice of surgery.

“He (the doctor) said, ‘you’re a bit young (for a hip replacement)’,’’ he said.

“I said, ‘I don’t care, as long as the quality of life is there and I can do stuff. He said, ‘yeah, mate, that’s no worries’.”

Goosey is determined to get on with life after the surgery, even planning to take Mornington training on Thursday night, two days later.

“I’ll probably be on crutches, though,” he said.

With Mornington yet to have a win this season and depleted by injuries, Goosey quipped: “I might be able to play again.”

With the Goose, anything’s possible.