Sydney Swans greats Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin returned to their home state on Friday night to launch the GO Foundation in Adelaide.

The GO Foundation, co-founded by Goodes and O’Loughlin in 2009, offers educational scholarships for Indigenous students from kindergarten through to university in a push to enrich their learning experience.

Goodes said launching the GO Foundation in Adelaide made for a highly significant moment.

“Tonight is about the success the GO Foundation has had in Sydney over the past 10 years. It’s also a success story about bringing the GO Foundation home to Adelaide, and the GO Ecosystem of support we can establish in South Australia,” Goodes said.

“Mick and I were both raised by strong women who packed our bags at 16 and told us to get out there and do our best. The GO Foundation reflects Mick’s and my own experience. We are targeting kids like us, the eldest, and also targeting girls. Our Ecosystem provides the extra support our students need to go further into successful, fulfilling careers.”

O’Loughlin said it meant a lot to be able to introduce the GO Foundation to the state in which he grew up.

“It’s great to be home and here tonight with my mum, sister and other members of my family,” O’Loughlin said.

“Bringing the GO Foundation to Adelaide has been a dream for a long time, and now I feel 10-feet tall. I’m really proud to be in South Australia and bringing this back home.”