Brendon Goddard
Encyclopedia
Brendon James Goddard is an Australian rules football
er for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League
(AFL). He is widely regarded as one of the best utility players in the competition and also a very good kick, with elite accuracy and distance with both feet.
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
.
. He debuted for St Kilda in the 2003 season while completing his VCE
as a Year 12 student at Caulfield Grammar.
winning side – the club's second pre-season cup win.
As a Number 1 draft pick, Goddard came under a lot of criticism in his early years.
, Goddard fell hard on his left knee which resulted in a ruptured ACL
. The injury ended his season.
.
Generally a backman and midfielder, in Round 3 Goddard was positioned in an irregular position at full forward and kicked four goals in the first quarter, the most he had ever kicked in a single game until that time. He did not kick another goal for the game but gained 28 disposals in a best on field game.
Goddard played in 21 of 22 matches in the 2009 season home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals series, winning the club’s third minor premiership
.
Goddard averaged 27.2 possessions per game in 24 matches in 2009 and was recognised for his excellent season with selection in the 2009 All-Australian Team
as an interchange player. This was his first career All-Australian Team award.
St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final
after qualifying and preliminary finals wins. Goddard played in the grand final in which St Kilda were defeated by 12 points.
At the conclusion of the 2009 season, Goddard finished as runner-up for the Trevor Barker Award
, the award for the best and fairest St Kilda player during the home and away season.
, going into the night as one of the favourites to win.
In the drawn 2010 AFL Grand Final, Goddard finished second in the voting for the Norm Smith Medal
, with seven votes. His teammate Lenny Hayes
won the Norm Smith Medal with 13 votes.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). He is widely regarded as one of the best utility players in the competition and also a very good kick, with elite accuracy and distance with both feet.
Early life
Goddard was raised in Traralgon, VictoriaTraralgon, Victoria
Traralgon is a regional city located in the Latrobe Valley in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. Traralgon is a city within the City of Latrobe....
and later attended Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1881 as a boys' school, Caulfield began admitting girls exactly one hundred years later...
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
Fast bowling
Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
.
AFL career
Goddard was selected by the St Kilda Football Club with the first pick in the 2002 AFL Draft2002 AFL Draft
The 2002 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and the elevation of rookies. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 2002...
. He debuted for St Kilda in the 2003 season while completing his VCE
Victorian Certificate of Education
The Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...
as a Year 12 student at Caulfield Grammar.
2004 season
Goddard played in St Kilda’s 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup
The 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup was the Australian Football League competition played in its entirety before the Australian Football League's 2004 Premiership Season began...
winning side – the club's second pre-season cup win.
As a Number 1 draft pick, Goddard came under a lot of criticism in his early years.
2007 season
During the Saints' Round 7 game against the Sydney SwansSydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
, Goddard fell hard on his left knee which resulted in a ruptured ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
. The injury ended his season.
2008 season
Goddard returned to play in Round 3 and produced a solid season thereafter. He signed on to stay with St Kilda until 2010, despite attempts by other clubs to recruit him.2009 season
After the first few rounds of the 2009 season, Goddard was noted as one of the stronger players in the league and became an early favourite for the Brownlow MedalBrownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
.
Generally a backman and midfielder, in Round 3 Goddard was positioned in an irregular position at full forward and kicked four goals in the first quarter, the most he had ever kicked in a single game until that time. He did not kick another goal for the game but gained 28 disposals in a best on field game.
Goddard played in 21 of 22 matches in the 2009 season home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals series, winning the club’s third minor premiership
2009 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
.
Goddard averaged 27.2 possessions per game in 24 matches in 2009 and was recognised for his excellent season with selection in the 2009 All-Australian Team
2009 All-Australian team
The 2009 All-Australian team represents the best performed Australian Football League players during the 2009 AFL season. It was announced on 14 September 2009, as a complete Australian rules football team of 22 players and a coach. An initial squad of 40 players was previously announced on 1...
as an interchange player. This was his first career All-Australian Team award.
St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final
2009 AFL Grand Final
The 2009 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the St Kilda Football Club and the Geelong Football Club at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26 September 2009...
after qualifying and preliminary finals wins. Goddard played in the grand final in which St Kilda were defeated by 12 points.
At the conclusion of the 2009 season, Goddard finished as runner-up for the Trevor Barker Award
Trevor Barker Award
The Trevor Barker Award is an Australian rules football award for the player voted the St Kilda Football Club Club Champion during the home and away season in the Australian Football League by a voting panel....
, the award for the best and fairest St Kilda player during the home and away season.
2010 season
Goddard played 25 games in 2010 (including four finals matches) and averaged 28.7 possessions. He was rewarded with All-Australian selection and finished third in St Kilda's best and fairest award (Trevor Barker Medal). Goddard received 14 votes in the 2010 Brownlow Medal2010 Brownlow Medal
The Brownlow Medal is the most prestigious individual award in Australian rules football and was awarded in 2010 to Chris Judd from the Carlton Football Club for being voted as the fairest and best during the 2010 Australian Football League home and away season. The vote counting ceremony was held...
, going into the night as one of the favourites to win.
In the drawn 2010 AFL Grand Final, Goddard finished second in the voting for the Norm Smith Medal
Norm Smith Medal
The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match.-History:The Norm Smith Medal is named after former Melbourne player and coach, Norm Smith...
, with seven votes. His teammate Lenny Hayes
Lenny Hayes
Lenny Hayes is a professional Australian rules footballer playing with St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League.Hayes is a former captain of St Kilda and continues to be an onfield leader in the Saints' midfield....
won the Norm Smith Medal with 13 votes.
External links
- Brendon Goddard's profile on the Official Website of the St Kilda Football Club