Brendon Goddard – Deck of Dream Team 2013

Name: Brendon Goddard
Club: Essendon
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Assistant Coach 2013 Price: $501,300
Bye Round: 13
2012 Average: 97.3
2012 Games Played: 20
Predicted Average: 104

Why should I pick him?

At St. Kilda, Goddard would be a risky option at best. Priced at a hefty 97.3 average, playing a role in which he has become disenchanted with in a rapidly aging side doesn’t inspire much confidence. But for Essendon? It’s a whole other proposition. As long as he’s wearing a red sash in 2013, Goddard will be very difficult to ignore.

Firstly, the promise of midfield time is extremely tempting. Unfortunately, there are no readily available stats for % TOG spent in each zone, but it’s common knowledge that he spent much of 2012 off half-back, usually closely followed by the opposition’s best defensive forward. With the extremely damaging Watson, tireless Stanton and deadly efficient Heppell all very tag-able options, suddenly Goddard sees much more breathing space and time spent near the pill; all of which means more DT points for us.

Secondly, Essendon are on the way up. Their incredible start to the season in 2012, where they stood at 8 wins and 1 loss flipping into June, should be much more indicative of the Bombers’ 2013 fortunes than their injury-riddled end to last season. If you don’t think that will affect his scoring, then think again; In 2009 and 2010, St, Kilda won 20 and 15 games respectively – these are Goddard’s only seasons where he has averaged 100 or more (103.7 and 113.4). In contrast, St. Kilda has only won 12 games in each of the last two seasons, so it should have come as no surprise that Goddard averaged much less than he has shown he is capable of, just 96 points per game in that span. Basically, more wins has the flow-on effect for more points to Goddard, and I’ll eat my hat if Essendon don’t sit above the Saints on the ladder come finals time.

Lastly, the dependability factor seals it for me. Goddard is DT royalty for good reason, averaging above 80 every season since 2006, and north of 95 in each of the past four years. While his last couple of seasons have been underwhelming (according to the lofty expectations we have set for him), the fact remains; Goddard is still the highest-averaging defender-eligible player this year. He’s reliable, consistent and durable (he’s played at least 20 games in each of the past five seasons), and he’ll flourish at Windy Hill with the lure of a Finals berth a renewed possibility for the veteran.

 

Why shouldn’t I pick him?

As I mentioned earlier, he’s the highest-averaging defender eligible player this season, which naturally attracts the highest price-tag. Maybe you’d prefer to save $60k for teammate and fellow DPP Dyson Heppell, or a further $20k for the similar Hartlett.

Apart from that, I can’t see any downside in picking someone of Goddard’s calibre now that he’s got a fresh start at an up-and-coming club.

 

Deck of DT Rating.

ACE – ‘Lock’ is possibly the most overused term in the DT vernacular, but even if we’re being technical, Goddard satisfies the definition completely. Along with Gibbs, Goddard will be a no-brainer selection for my side, a set-and-forget from mere seconds after the Team Picker went live. Ultimately, I probably still would have taken him as a Saint, but now that he’s lost the white from his Guernsey, he boasts what few players priced at $500k still have – great value.

Predicted Stats:

 

Bomber interview with Goddard at altitude training camp – particularly interesting words @6.00 min mark regarding midfield time.

 

 

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