VAFA 2019: Former St Kilda and Essendon star Brendon Goddard to play with B section club

He never wanted to leave Essendon and nearly joined Carlton on the eve of the AFL season. There’s no doubt Brendon Goddard has a footy itch that needs to be scratched and the 300-game champion has landed on his next destination.

Brendon Goddard shows the way for Essendon in 2017.

Brendon Goddard had an itch that needed to be scratched.

And so, four months after retiring from the AFL, he will pull on the boots again — with Caulfield Grammarians in the VAFA.

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“He had a bit of an itch,’’ Fields coach Simon Williams said.

“And we are glad he picked us. It’s a coup for the club, that’s for sure.’’

The former St Kilda and Essendon star has strong ties with Caulfield Grammarians. He attended Caulfield Grammar School as a boarder.

Some of his old school mates are still around the club.

Flashback: Brendon Goddard with his Caulfield Grammar teammates in 2002.

Goddard, 33, will join Caulfield Grammarians training at Glenhuntly Oval tonight and is expected to slot into the Fields forward line in the coming weeks.

“He’s got to get his body right first…we’re not going to rush him,’’ Williams said.

“Obviously he’s played (over) 300 games so he knows when he will be right. He will put his hand up when he’s ready to play.

Brendon Goddard marks for St Kilda in 2010 grand final.

“He’s going to be training Tuesdays and Thursdays like the rest of the guys and he intends to play as many games as he can.’’

Goddard is friends with Caulfield Grammarians president Peter Small’s son-in-law and the prospect of returning “home’’ was hatched last October.

“It started off as a bit of a dream and out of that it actually materialized,’’ Small said.

“When I told the playing group on Saturday you could see the genuine excitement.

“You just can’t buy that sort of experience, you just can’t get someone who has played (over) 300 (AFL) games to turn up and help you out. It’s a huge bonus for us.’’

Goddard said he wanted to keep playing while he could.

“I made the decision on Friday. (We) have been in talks for a number of weeks now,” Goddard said on AFL tonight.

“I didn’t want to sit back in five or six years and regret that I didn’t still continue to play footy when I still can.

“When I’m 38 to 40 and I can’t move, I’d wish I had have done it now.”

The VAFA Premier B competition will be worth watching this season.

Former Hawthorn and North Melbourne speedster Billy Hartung will line-up with St Bede’s Mentone, while former Gold Coast Suns coach Guy McKenna is coaching Beaumaris.

McKenna phoned Goddard to wish him well and say he was looking forward to coaching against him.

Caulfield Grammarians finished fourth last season.