Brendon Goddard could be traded by Essendon if it has another big trade and free agency period
BRENDON Goddard’s future at Essendon remains unclear with the Bombers targeting three potential midfielders in the off-season, including GWS’s Dylan Shiel. JON RALPH looks at where the two parties are at.
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BRENDON Goddard could be moved on by Essendon at the end of the year if it lands multiple players through an aggressive attitude to trading and free agency.
Goddard met club powerbrokers on Monday and believes all parties are on the same page, with the 33-year-old still a good chance to play at Essendon next year.
But it was made clear to him that if the Dons landed all of their trade targets, it might see him forced out given the salary cap room the Bombers would need to commit to those players.
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Essendon crashed out of finals contention against Richmond on Friday night and is set to endure a 14th season without a finals victory despite expectations it could win this year’s premiership.
The Dons are also at a contract impasse with Shaun McKernan, having put an extremely modest offer to him while rival clubs consider longer-term pitches.
McKernan, 27, had an excellent season as a ruck/forward and at least two other Melbourne-based rivals are scouting him while he haggles over figures with the Dons.
Essendon football boss Dan Richardson confirmed on Friday night the Dons were interested in contracted Giant Dylan Shiel, saying: “You would be right to assume there is interest there. He is a contracted player, so who knows how that plays out”.
Essendon is working hard to secure inside midfielders, with Shiel, Mitch Wallis and Will Setterfield among their trade targets to bolster a team seen to be in the premiership window.
Goddard is determined to play on next year and if not offered a contract by the Bombers he would easily slot into a rival team looking for experience and quality disposal.
Carlton, Gold Coast and his former team St Kilda are all among the teams who are considering replicating the Brisbane Lions’ addition of AFL champion Luke Hodge, effectively an on-field assistant coach as well as off-field leader.
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It remains to be seen whether Goddard would accept a significant pay cut to stay at Essendon if it did end up securing multiple trade targets.
Goddard had a dirty night in Richmond’s win over Essendon, looking proppy and shaky defensively as he played just a week after he hurt his knee.
Coach John Worsfold was forced to defend Goddard’s body language after a heated conversation with teammate Michael Hurley, saying Goddard was much-loved by the players.
Fox Footy analyst David King said of whether Goddard played on at Essendon: “It’s going to be a conversation, there’s no doubting it”, after he highlighted a handful of poor defensive efforts.
The club must also make decisions on Matthew Leuenberger, Jake Long, Jackson Merrett, Mark Baguley and re-sign Jayden Laverde.
But exciting defender Aaron Francis, 21, still contracted until the end of 2019, is happy at Essendon and content in Victoria after a mental health battle and an aborted trade during last year’s off-season.
Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell this year told the Herald Sun the Bombers had cap room to follow the acquisitions of Devon Smith, Adam Saad and Jake Stringer because of high-profile departures in recent years.
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Jake Carlisle, Patrick Ryder, Jake Melksham, Michael Hibberd and retiree Jobe Watson have left the club ample salary cap room to again go to the market with its draft selections.
“There’s total transparency between the parties that need to know … I don’t have a choice, I’m happy with that, it is what it is,’’ said Goddard of the timing of Essendon’s decision.
“That’s where transparency is important, and honesty, and that’s where we’re at. I think it goes pear-shaped when there’s a lack of communication or there’s a lack of transparency and you get the lip service and all that kind of stuff and there’s a surprise, or surprises, that pop up.
“But we’re all on the same page. So whether I agree with it or not, I’ve got my head around that it’s the reality of the situation and the position I’m in.”
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