Brendon Goddard and Saints thought they were on verge of premiership after massive mark
Brendon Goddard’s amazing mark with seven minutes left in the 2010 drawn Grand Final is the subject of gallows humour, but also pride for the former Saints star. And it’s also one of the best marks in history.
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It is the kind of gallows humour that comes about because if you didn’t laugh you would deadset cry.
The setting is late at night as the St Kilda players of Ross Lyon’s generation gather to reminisce and reflect over more than a few beers.
Someone will shake their head and say this of Brendon Goddard’s magnificent mark and goal with seven minutes left in the 2010 Grand Final draw: “I thought we were home.”
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As teammate Nick Dal Santo says now of that amazing football intervention: “When he took that mark I thought we had won the Grand Final.”
For his part Goddard is happy to play up to the stereotype and laugh about his missing legacy.
“I have joked a couple of times. Mainly when I have had a few drinks ... well, maybe even when I am sober. I say if we had won that game there would be a bronze statue of it out the front of Moorabbin.”
GODDARD!! 🙌
— AFL (@AFL) August 22, 2018
Relive Brendon Goddard's incredible leap from the 2010 drawn Grand Final. pic.twitter.com/m8ubShKeym
History will judge that Goddard’s mark at the 19-minute mark of that stupendous Grand Final against Collingwood put St Kilda in front in time-on of a second straight decider.
Then came a Collingwood rushed behind, Travis Cloke’s clutch goal and THAT Lenny Hayes behind that eluded Steven Milne.
Yet if St Kilda was trounced in the replay, it shouldn’t detract from the magnitude of the mark.
When everything was on the line, Goddard literally stood tall 20m out from goal to fly over Harry O’Brien (now known as Heritier Lumumba) and then goal to put the Saints up, 10.7 (67) to 8.13 (61).
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Goddard had exactly that blend of exquisite skill and assuredness to know that when the moment came, he was ready.
Surging down the open side of the ground with Luke Ball trailing, he is forced to wait as Lenny Hayes U-turns and spins through traffic to pump the ball long.
“I remember running on the fat side of the ground and knew if I pushed forward on ‘Bally’ I would have a mismatch,” Goddard says.
“Arrogantly, I thought I could probably outrun him too. So I ran in from that off-ball side and remember it vividly. The boys stuffed around with the ball on the forward flank and I was cracking the s--ts. In my own head I was like, “Bloody get it into me, I am on Bally”.
“When they finally did, it was just one of those things.
“It’s just timing. Right place, right time, Bally was a bit smaller and couldn’t get body on me and you get a sense of what is around you. I didn’t know it was Harry at the drop of the ball but when you jump you want to stick it on someone’s shoulders, or if you miss body contact you fall and look like an idiot. I happened to get a ride and I remember a bit of shock.
“You almost get a fright when you stick it.”
The St Kilda star had taken one of finals history’s greatest marks, yet there was so much more than that on the line.
“There was always that quick thought, ‘Bloody hell, I can’t miss this, especially from this position’. It crossed my mind but I understood the situation.
“In my own head I was thinking there were about five minutes left and ran back to the centre still encouraging blokes — ‘Keep playing the game’. I remember saying that verbally.
“A few guys have admitted in general chats about the game they thought we had won it. Probably the reason why I bring it up is it’s not the best state of mind to be in with five minutes to go, but it’s only natural. Most supporters probably thought that too.”
Few playing groups are tighter than that St Kilda mob which came so close, with their regular catch-ups part therapy sessions even a decade on from the first of those Grand Finals.
“Yeah, it brings back emotions talking about it now. It has kind of faded now but come Grand Final week there will be a picture of it somewhere and it’s the only game I have watched start-to-finish. I haven’t watched all of the ‘09 replay,” says Goddard.
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“Every individual deals with it differently. Roo (Nick Riewoldt) and I being close, we have talked about the most in-depth. We sleep all right, knowing there wasn’t much else we could do.
“We could say we let ourselves down in the first half (with St Kilda 24 points down) but the process over the years, we did everything possible to achieve greatness.
“It’s a cliche to say don’t leave any stone unturned but we know that, it’s not just words. Nick and I were ruthless and anal about reaching a certain standard of training and we understand not everyone was wired like us, but everyone got to a certain level of training. They all pushed themselves to be fit and strong and mentally tough. So we did everything we possibly could.”
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