Brendon Goddard spray: Adam Cooney defends ex-teammate over Anzac Day spat

AS we enter the third day of outrage on Brendon Goddard’s latest on-field faux pas, I thought I may as well chuck in my two bob’s worth considering I spent two seasons with the pretzel-flicker himself.

Brendon Goddard lets his feelings be known. Vision: Fox Footy

AS we enter the third day of outrage on Brendon Goddard’s latest on-field faux pas (aka #spraygate), I thought I may as well chuck in my two bob’s worth considering I spent two seasons with the pretzel-flicker himself.

I didn’t have a lot to do with the man I nicknamed “Godzilla” (partly because of the GODZ9 emblem in his Nike boots, and partly because he stomps around, baring his teeth and scaring the life out of kids) before I was traded to Essendon at the end of the 2014 season, apart from bumping into him at the odd function or wedding of a mutual friend here and there.

I, like many of us, had already formed a view of what sort of bloke he was.

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I admit, he was one character I thought I would clash with at the Bombers.

Our personalities and the way we went about our footy were very different.

To my surprise, I got along well with him from day one at the club.

Now, listen here! Source: Fox Footy

I found him easy to talk to, have a laugh with in the locker room and, most importantly, if I gave him shit about something he would usually take it well and fire something back.

I only played with him for a short period, smack bang in the middle of the biggest team crisis in AFL history, but I respected how hard he worked, how he stuck up for his teammates and the club every time he fronted the media during the clubs darkest times.

I also respected and understood his personality and why he’s wired the way he is.

He might be the most competitive player I’ve seen in my time in footy (Scott West, Matt Boyd and Daniel Cross are all in the conversation).

A lot of people, and I’m sure a few past and current teammates, take offence at the way he communicates on the field.

I never did.

No doubt I have had feedback from him, and vice versa, but I always understood why and where it was coming from.

The aim is always to help try and win or improve.

Is he demonstrative? Yes.

Does he go too far? Maybe.

Brendon Goddard wasn’t in the happiest mood on Anzac Day. Picture: Michael Klein

But I was always able to strip out the initial thoughts in my head when he was yelling and think, ‘He’s not doing this because he hates us, he’s yelling because he wants improvement and hates losing (and maybe because he’s a lunatic)’.

AFL footy is an uncompromising game.

If a teammate can’t speak to you directly in the heat of a match, maybe the game is not for you.

The most important thing when there’s a blow-up like Wednesday is to follow up post-game or at training.

If there was a Godzilla moment, I liked the fact he always followed it up when tensions had eased, getting to the bottom of the issue — listening to both sides, disagreeing with the final outcome believing he was right and moving on straight away.

Brendon Goddard and Adam Cooney after a St Kilda-Bulldogs preliminary final. The clubs met in prelims in 2009 and 2010.

I love seeing David Zaharakis, who was on the end of a classic Godz9 spray on Anzac Day, stretching down in the rooms after the game with little Billie (BJ’s daughter) sitting next to him, address the issue and move forward.

Sure, he’s frustrating, he clips his toenails in the middle of the locker room and always sits nude on a crate, shaving his legs with a pink female razor in the team showers.

But above all he cares about the club, his teammates and wants so desperately to achieve the ultimate success.

He was also chief organiser of the team’s footy trip in my time at the club. Young players love that.

Love him or loathe him, you have to respect him and what he’s achieved in the game.

To come so close to a flag and play so well on Grand Final day must burn inside and is no doubt one of the reasons why he is so passionate.

We are by no means best mates and only catch up by chance, but the hysteria surrounding the aftermath of Anzac Day has been way out of proportion.

My advice to BJ: Maybe, just maybe try to tone it down a touch, and clip your nails and shave your legs at home.

But keep organising the footy trips and make sure you’re always first there and last to leave.

Your teammates respect that as much as a pinpoint drop punt coming off halfback!

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