goonan played his early football at whorouly and won the ovens & king football league's best and fairest award in 1958. although approached by four vfl clubs, goonan next played for myrtleford. he was cleared to south melbourne in 1961, where he remained until 1964, with most of his 50 appearances coming as a defender or ruck-rover. relocated to northern victoria through his work as a police officer, goonan joined the albury football club. a knee injury cost him a spot in albury's 1966 premiership team. he later spent four years as captain-coach of rutherglen.