Essendon’s Brendon Goddard will run out for his 250th AFL match on Saturday when the Bombers play Carlton at the MCG.
Goddard played 205 games with St Kilda before he crossed to Essendon at the end of 2012.
“I had to be reminded earlier in the week that it was my 250th this week. In saying that though, it will be something you look back on with great memories and pride when I finish footy," he said.
“Aaron Hamill and Robert Harvey I remember telling me to make the most of your time in footy because it goes quickly. In the back of my mind I was telling them to shut up because I’m only 18 and got plenty of time but, as they said, time flies.”
Goddard was taken with the number one pick ahead of Daniel Wells and Jared Brennan in the 2002 national draft.
He played 18 games in his first season, averaging 13 possessions.
“I openly struggled in my first couple of years of footy. But I always knew that I was on the right track. I always saw the bigger picture, I always knew I was doing the right things to become a really good player,” he said.
“There is always pressure for everyone, I won’t lie, I’m only human. But pressure is self inflicted, I learnt that from a young age.”
Goddard won the Crichton Medal as Essendon’s Best and Fairest player in his first year at the club in 2013.
The side qualified for the finals that year but was relegated to ninth when the AFL handed out its penalties for the club’s governance failures.
“It would have been a good learning curve and I’m a true believer that you need to do an apprenticeship in finals footy before you can take that next step. So that was a hard pill to swallow.”
Goddard lists the two wins in Perth in that season as highlights of his time at Essendon, as well as last week’s victory over reigning premier Hawthorn.
“I see a lot of similarities with this group and where St Kilda were in the late 2000’s.
“The guys are starting to see what is required to play consistent footy week in week out and what it takes to be a great team. That’s the exciting thing.”
