Brendon Goddard

Brendon Goddard (born 20 May 1985) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for St Kilda and Essendon in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played for the St Kilda Football Club from 2003 to 2012, then with Essendon from 2013 to 2018.

Brendon Goddard
Goddard playing for Essendon in April 2018
Personal information
Full name Brendon James Goddard
Date of birth (1985-05-20) 20 May 1985
Place of birth Traralgon, Victoria
Original team(s) Gippsland Power (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 1, 2002 national draft
Height 193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 94 kg (207 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder / Defender
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2003–2012 St Kilda 205 (104)
2013–2018 Essendon 129 0(56)
Total 334 (160)
International team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2006–2017 Australia 6 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2018.
2 State and international statistics correct as of 2017.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

He was the captain of Essendon during the 2016 season. He is the second cousin of Hugh Goddard who currently plays for the Carlton Football Club.

Early life

Goddard was raised in Traralgon, Victoria, and later attended Caulfield Grammar School as a boarder. He was an accomplished sportsman, co-captaining the school's First XVIII football team and co-captaining the First XI cricket team as a batsman and pace bowler.[1]

AFL career

St Kilda: 2003–2012

A lifelong Carlton supporter, it seemed destined that Goddard would fulfill his boyhood dream of playing for the Blues when Carlton finished last in the 2002 AFL season and indicated they would take Goddard with the first pick of the 2002 National Draft. However, an investigation into salary cap breaches stripped Carlton of the #1 pick, which was elevated to St Kilda, who ultimately took him. "It was pretty deflating, to be honest. But at that age you don't get a choice of where you go, so I was just grateful to get an opportunity anywhere." [2]

He debuted in the following season while completing his Victorian Certificate of Education as a Year 12 student at Caulfield Grammar School. He played in the 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup winning side – the club's second AFL pre-season competition win. After being selected with the number 1 pick, he received a lot of criticism in his early years.[1]

During a round 7 clash against the Sydney Swans in 2007, Goddard ruptured his ACL after falling heavily onto it, which resulted in Goddard missing the remainder of the season.[3]

He would return to play in round 3, 2008 and produced a solid form for the rest of the year. Despite interest from other clubs trying to recruit him, he signed a contract to stay with the Saints until 2010.

After a strong first few rounds of the 2009 season, Goddard was noted as one of the best players in the league and was seen as an early favourite for the Brownlow Medal.

Although generally considered a defender/midfielder, during a round 3 match against West Coast in 2009, he was positioned in the forward line and kicked four goals in the first quarter, the most he had ever kicked in a single game until that time. Although he didn't kick another goal for the game, he did gain 28 disposals in a best on field performance.

Goddard averaged 27.2 possessions per game in 24 matches in 2009 and was selected in the 2009 All-Australian Team and finished as the runner-up for the Trevor Barker Award.[4] St Kilda finished first on the ladder after the home and away season and won their third minor premiership.[5] They qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final, where they were defeated by the Geelong Cats by 12 points.

He averaged a career-high 28.7 possessions in 25 games (including four finals matches). He was voted in the All-Australian Team, finished third in the Trevor Barker Award and received 14 votes in the 2010 Brownlow Medal going into the night as the favourite to win. In the drawn 2010 AFL Grand Final, Goddard finished second in the voting for the Norm Smith Medal, with seven votes and his teammate Lenny Hayes won it with 13 votes.[6] He is also remembered for taking a memorable high mark in the last quarter, and kicking a goal which put the Saints in front (before Collingwood came back to draw the game and defeat the Saints in the resultant replay). At the conclusion of the season, he signed on until the end of the 2012 season.

On 1 October 2012, Goddard signed with Essendon and became the first big name to use the AFL's new free-agency period which debuted in 2012. Goddard had refused to sign a new three-year deal all season and instead opted to sign with the Bombers, who offered him higher pay and a four-year contract. Goddard was formally offered the deal by Essendon at 11am on 1 October, with St Kilda allowed 72-hours in which to make a counter offer.[7] However, the Saints decided by the end of the day that they were not willing to match the offer, therefore allowing Goddard to join the Bombers. In making a formal statement of the decision, St Kilda head of football, Chris Pelchen, stipulated that the club had made a significant offer to Goddard "that was relative to both his position and other players within the team. While we are disappointed at his decision to leave the Saints, we are absolutely committed to our ‘team first’ philosophy in relation to player contracts."[8] St Kilda's senior coach, Scott Watters, further elaborated on the reasons St Kilda chose not to counter the Bombers' offer: "As far as the offer that was put forward to Brendon, it would've put him in the top two highest paid players at our football club", Watters said.[9] "The reason (for Goddard leaving) is money. It's that simple."[9] St Kilda was said to have offered "significantly more" than $500,000 a year to Goddard.[9]

Essendon: 2013–2018

He joined Essendon with aspirations of winning a premiership, but found himself walking into one of the biggest controversies in Australian sporting history. Goddard took on the responsibility of being a leader and speaking to the media where his new teammates were not allowed to speak.

Goddard's first season at Essendon was capped off when he won the first best and fairest award of his career.[10] He played every game for the season, mainly through the midfield, averaging 26 disposals and kicking 18 goals, his best season tally since 2010. His leadership continued to be valued on and off the field and his maturity and experience in big games proved invaluable to the young list.

In 2014, Goddard once again maintained his form on the field, whilst again being a voice for his teammates in the media. He was important in Essendon's loss to the North Melbourne Football Club and finished third in the W. S. Crichton Medal.

In January 2016, Goddard was named as Essendon's captain, replacing the suspended Jobe Watson. Mark Baguley was named as vice-captain.[11]

In August 2018, Essendon opted not to offer Goddard a contract for the 2019 season.

Statistics
[12]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2003 St Kilda1818661568323977300.30.38.74.613.34.31.7
2004 St Kilda182444174128302109480.20.27.35.312.64.52.0
2005 St Kilda18196417810528391410.30.29.45.514.94.82.2
2006 St Kilda1822109321156477177710.50.414.67.121.78.13.2
2007 St Kilda18732894113056120.40.312.75.918.68.01.7
2008 St Kilda1823114337200537182470.50.214.78.723.47.92.0
2009 St Kilda1824159359293652150770.60.415.012.227.26.33.2
2010 St Kilda1825249367351718172881.00.414.714.028.76.93.5
2011 St Kilda18231311309233542131900.60.513.410.123.65.73.9
2012 St Kilda18201213300187487121600.60.715.09.424.46.13.0
2013 Essendon922185347227574151730.80.215.810.326.16.93.3
2014 Essendon9201718282181463133510.90.914.19.123.26.72.6
2015 Essendon922107278303581131780.50.312.613.826.46.03.6
2016 Essendon92037256262518117730.20.412.813.125.95.93.7
2017 Essendon92353309304613168730.20.113.413.226.77.33.2
2018 Essendon92232239251490137370.10.110.911.422.36.21.7
Career 334 160 113 4301 3305 7606 2103 949 0.5 0.3 12.9 9.9 22.8 6.3 2.8

Personal life

Goddard is married to Rosie Brookes who share a daughter, Billie. Several of Goddard's commercial partners include Kia and Nike.[13]

See also

References
  1. Silkstone, Dan (13 September 2008). "Goddard willing". The Age.
  3. "List of AFL players who have previously undergone ACL reconstruction". Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  4. Riewoldt wins historic fifth medal Archived 7 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "2009 Season Scores and Results – Ladder". AFL Tables. 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  6. "St Kilda hardman Lenny Hayes wins first 2010 Norm Smith Medal". Archived from the original on 29 September 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  7. http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=148889
  8. http://www.saints.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/5315/newsid/148945/default.aspx
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. Rise and shine
  11. "Brendon Goddard named Essendon captain for 2016 AFL season". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  12. "Brendon Goddard". AFL Tables. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  13. . Brendon Goddard, Elite Sports Properties
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