Brendon Goddard will play his last game for Essendon on Friday night, after the football club decided not to offer him a new contract for 2019.
The former Saint was told on Monday that the club would be moving on without him for next season, despite Goddard’s wish to play on next year. Goddard addressed his teammates on Tuesday morning, which was posted on Essendonfc.com.au. “A lot of people probably thought I would be angry and bitter ... but in all honesty I’m not — I’m sad and disappointed because I love the game and I love being here,” Goddard said. “I know the brutality of football and the reality of it. “I respect the decision although I don’t agree with it. “Great organisations and footy clubs are built of making tough decisions and that’s why I’m not bitter and angry as much as people think I might be. “I walk away on Saturday a better person and that’s the most important thing.” The 33-year old will play his last game in the red and black on Friday night, against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval. Essendon coach John Worsfold said that Goddard found the news difficult to process and believed he could still play on with the Bombers. “He feels he can still contribute on the field at a really good level and that’s the hard part because he still has done that this year,” Worsfold told reporters on Tuesday. “Yesterday it was a jolt for him. Basically had to deliver the message and then let him have his space to digest it. I was comfortable with that and then had a couple of text messages with him later in the day and followed up with him this morning. “Overall he’s a realist, he understands the industry and understands there’s constant decisions being made about lists, selection week to week, and he understands what the club’s had to do.” Goddard played 205 games for St Kilda and 128 for Essendon. While playing for the Saints between 2003 and 2012, Goddard played in 16 finals and three Grand Finals — including the 2010 Grand Final rematch. He was selected twice as an All Australian and finished in the top three twice for the Best and Fairest. Upon joining Essendon in 2012, he captained 27 games and finished in the top three for the Best and Fairest three times.
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