MPNFL 2019: Brendon Goddard pulls on the hoops for Pearcedale in cameo appearance

Brendon Goddard pulled on the hoops and played for Pearcedale at Tractor Park on Saturday. He gave his take on the day.

Brendon Goddard playing for Pearcedale against Chelsea on Saturday. Picture: Josie Hayden

Brendon Goddard has played before 90,000-plus crowds at the MCG in his long and illustrious league football career.

On Saturday, he made a cameo appearance in front of 1500 at the grandly titled Tractor Park in Pearcedale.

And while the result wasn’t “too flash’’ — Pearcedale lost to Chelsea by 110 points — Goddard said he couldn’t have enjoyed playing for the Dales any more.

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The former St Kilda and Essendon star had about 20 possessions, kicked a goal and offered up vital advice to his young teammates.

Brendon Goddard flies for a mark. Picture: Josie Hayden

Goddard gets a handball away. Picture: Josie Hayden

“The day was great,’’ Goddard said.

“Obviously the result for the boys and the club wasn’t too flash, was it?

“But I’m very appreciative of them making me feel so welcome.

“I couldn’t have felt more comfortable.’’

Goddard, playing four weeks after breaking his hand in a game in Tasmania, started the game at full-forward and could only watch from a distance as a red-hot Chelsea drilled nine goals in the first 20 minutes.

Brendon Goddard at the Pearcedale huddle. Picture: Josie Hayden

He was soon moved to the backline and later spent time in the middle — using the ball well each time he had it.

Before the game, Goddard spoke at a luncheon attended by more than 170 and was well received.

Goddard said he was struck by how young his Pearcedale teammates were and praised the club for the direction it was taking.

“The guys were great,’’ he said.

“That’s definitely one thing I noticed when I first went into the rooms and met all the boys, how young they all were. It was pretty similar in Tassie, too, when I played there on Good Friday.

Pearcedale captain Travis Bravo kicks under pressure. Picture: Josie Hayden

“The coach Boris (Justin Hamilton) filled me in on where the club had come from, its transition and making a conscious decision to focus on youth. I think it’s the right thing to do.

“Obviously it’s pretty tough for a suburban team to go through that sort of stuff because everyone wants to be at the top…but I think what they are doing, culturally, it’s the best thing and it will set them up for long term success.’’

Goddard played 334 AFL games but said the “purity’’ of suburban football was refreshing.

“I’ve got a strong affinity with country footy because of where I grew up so I know how important it is to the local community,’’ he said.

Goddard at the huddle. Picture: Josie Hayden

Goddard on the move. Picture: Josie Hayden

“My brother came to watch (on Saturday) and I said to him, ‘I really enjoyed it, apart from the result’. Just the feeling and the atmosphere was great.

“You are playing footy for what it is, for the purity of it.

“To run out there with little stress, it was quite refreshing coming from 16 years of the stress and anxiety that is associated with playing AFL footy.’’

Hamilton said Goddard was “an absoulute ripper bloke’’ and did everything asked of him.

“He was great, fantastic. He probably had limited opportunities to get his hands on the footy,’’ he said.

“I threw him back, I threw him in the middle, I threw him forward. He responded everywhere he went, unfortunately we just didn’t have enough helpers on the day to stem the tide.

“They (Chelsea) are a pretty slick side. They block for each other, they use the footy well, they share it around, yeah, they’ve got some really good players.’’

Brendon Goddard takes a drink. Picture: Josie Hayden

Hamilton said Goddard’s on-field advice to the young Pearcedale players would prove invaluable.

“From a bloke who has played a lot of AFL footy and who is a legend of the game, to get a bit of an insight into how it’s done…that’s a life lesson for our blokes in two quarters of footy,’’ he said.

Goddard was impressed with Chelsea, describing the Seagulls as a well-drilled side.

“A couple of times when I got the ball in that 50-70m mark I looked up and they’ve got two spare backs…they were pretty well drilled,’’ he said.

“And they had a dominant ruckman which always helps in country footy.’’

Chelsea won 25.14 (164) to 8.6 (54), with Seagulls coach James Brain slotting six goals and Jack Francis five.

Brad Clark, Todd Gardiner, Sam Nickless and Shaun Foster also impressed for Chelsea, which as won four games in a row..

Pearcedale’s best were Jahron Ostrom, Jack McGuiness, Travis Bravo, Reece Twyford, Beau Scoble and Dylan Bradshaw.

It was a perfect day for footy — sunny and calm. “Never would I have thought I’d be applying sunscreen in May playing suburban footy,’’ Goddard said.