Retired footballer Adam Goodes has been approached to join the Labor Party, according to reports.

The outspoken Goodes called it quits from AFL in September after an outstanding career, in which he played 372 games, kicked 464 goals, won two premierships and two Brownlow Medals.

But his next move could be very different.

Fairfax Media reported that Northern Territory Senator and Olympic medalist Nova Peris encouraged the ex-footballer to consider running as a candidate for the party earlier this year.

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“The approach has been made by Nova,” a senior Labor source told The Sydney Morning Herald.

According to Goodes’ management, they were “not aware” of advances from the ALP or plans to get into politics.

He told NITV before his retirement this year he was “definitely not interested in party politics, definitely not interested in stepping into that arena”.

Asked in September about a future in politics, Goodes told the Herald Sun he didn’t identify with any particular party and vaguely stated he hoped his career highlight was “yet to come”.

He did not allude to whether that could be in politics.

He told The Sydney Morning Herald in 2013 he would rather be a changemaker in the AFL, than told what to do.

“In football, I’ve always wanted to be part of the process that makes change, by sitting on the executive board of the players’ association, being part of discussions that help influence the environment I work in and to influence the environment for future players,” he said.

“Being part of those processes has always appealed to me. I’d rather be part of it than be told: ‘This is how things are going to happen’.”