It’s been a very long journey for newly appointed captain Brendon Goddard.  From a young Caulfield Grammar student in 2002 to the Captain of an AFL club undergoing enormous scrutiny, regeneration and finally restabilising.

Goddard has played a very big role in being the face of Essendon. Who would have thought that after playing magnificently in a number of St. Kilda finals series?  He almost single handedly won the Saints a premiership as a hard working and talented midfielder, pushing forward at every opportunity.  Who can forget his mark at the top of the goal square as the Saints stormed home?  He has been a very talented, resilient footballer and one that has played many positions ranging from half back to wing, centre and even out of full forward.  He had outstanding years in 2009 and 2010 winning All Australian selection.

Having been sold a vision and with Essendon on the verge of pushing up the ladder as a contender, on 1^st October 2012 Goddard signed with Essendon.  What he was about to experience was unprecedented and Goddard found himself playing spokesperson, mediator, statesman and media front man.  Essendon just wanted him to play, and play well.

Now, Goddard is the Captain.  He’s often been in leadership groups, but now he’s stepping into the role at Essendon reserved for names such as Reynolds, Fraser, Clarke, Hird and Daniher.  Unfortunately, as a Captain I doubt he will experience the exalted status of former Essendon premiership captains.  But his role is different and he may go down as one of the most important captains in Essendon history - leading the group out of this mist and setting up a fabric that will stand the test of time.  Quite reasonably, when assessing Goddard’s role and success as a captain, there will always be qualifier, and that is that he has the toughest job in AFL.

Great captains have always had defining features.  Goddard can’t impose himself physically on a game like Carey or Voss.  He is not as physically imposing as Hodge, nor can he lead from the front of the ground like Riewoldt or Pavlich.  Brendon’s best and most influential playing days may be behind him, but he can still be one of the great pillars of team leadership - together with John Worsfold - in season 2016 and maybe beyond. This is his team, his Club, with his imprint.

Goddard has had his detractors.  He has also been self-critical, meaning analytical, of his own demeanour.   In order to be a great on-field stabiliser for the likes of Laverde, Merrett, Langford and Parish, he will need to eradicate the visual gesturing and frustrated body language.  He has stated as much.  At stages this year a lopsided scoreboard and errors from teammates will test his composure.  Goddard can still be direct, still be emphatic, still provide strong honest feedback both on and off the field and still be demanding for uncompromising standards.  How he communicates those important characteristics will make or break Goddard the Captain.

Goddard led Essendon to a famous win against Melbourne last Saturday.

Essendon’s leadership group comprises youngsters in Merrett and Daniher, the experienced Gwilt and the emerging Zaharakis and Baguley.  However, I know that the likes of Crowley and Kelly will provide critical support and more so the ability, experience and maturity to tap Goddard on the shoulder as a means of support and feedback.  I know where Essendon are coming from but I would have left Daniher and Merrett out of it as they are now entering the critical development phases in their career.  The options were to put Crowley and Kelly in. 

Off field, media, functions and sponsors are all part of it.  Goddard knows it’s all coming and as an outstanding professional he won’t be fazed.

Finally, for Goddard, the ultimate challenge - personal form. I doubt very much the likes of Clarkson, Lyon, Longmire and the Scott twins are going to cut him any slack.  As Captain and one of Essendon’s key players Goddard will be targeted verbally, physically and more interestingly tactically.  As the key playmaker, ‘quarterback’, on the field, clubs are going to go after Brendon in an attempt to destabilise his on-field positioning and critical ball distribution.  Brendon, more than anyone, understands that it goes with the territory.

As Captain he knows he will need to fulfill many roles.  On the filed the opposition will be hell bent on stopping him controlling play.  Goddard does have to play well.  So he will have to change his game and continue to evolve and adapt to beat these tactics.   I don’t like this role that has evolved for him sitting just off the play as an outlet.  In that role he rarely takes the ball on the run and at full pace.  I’d love him to involve himself in a variety of phases of the game including pushing forward as he once did.  On the weekend against Melbourne he played the role perfectly, pushing forward, setting up, as well as linking patterns of play together.  That’s the real ‘Goddard way’ of playing.  He captained the team superbly.

For as much as he has done in a fantastic football career, this season poses one of his greatest challenges.  He can in fact end up a highly respected and critically significant Essendon Captain.

Robert Shaw is a former AFL Coach and was an Assistant Coach under Kevin Sheedy when the Bombers won the flag in 2000.  His column will be published each Wednesday.