AFL: St Kilda great Brendon Goddard on club coaching return

New St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has turned to some of his former players to help turn the club around in 2023.

Brendon Goddard and Robert Harvey are both back at St Kilda as coaches.

Former St Kilda star Brendon Goddard says he has red, white and black “in my veins” and after starting work at his old club on Monday said he hadn’t been that excited in a long time.

Goddard, who played 205 games with the Saints before leaving to join Essendon, where he was also made captain, is returning to Moorabbin to work under new coach Ross Lyon, who he played under during his 10 years at the club.

The 37-year-old joins a bevy of club greats enlisted by Lyon, with former teammates Lenny Hayes and Robert Harvey also returning to St Kilda.

Goddard, who played 334 AFL games before returning at the end of 2018, will take on a development coaching role, focused on getting the best out of the Saints’ youngsters, and couldn’t hide his excitement after getting to work on Monday.

“I’ve got red, white and black in my veins. I haven’t been this excited for a long time,” he said.

“My last few years of my career were very much about development and helping the younger guys.

“I grew a great appetite for that and had great pleasure in trying to help progress younger players and fast-track their development as much as I could.

“The thought of doing that in an official capacity at the club I used to play for and have great memories with, and with great people back involved who I have great respect for, is really exciting.”

Brendon Goddard is excited to be back at St Kilda with coach Ross Lyon.

Goddard, who played in a drawn grand final in 2010, and two losing ones, both under Lyon as coach, said the thought of guiding the Saints to a flag, in a coaching role, was too hard to pass up.

“I’ve spoken to a number of past players who have gone on to be part of coaching groups and had success and win premierships who talk about the excitement around and the pleasure they’ve got from it,” he told the club website.

“Some of those guys have never tasted premiership success as I haven’t, but they describe it as being almost as satisfying as winning flags as a player.

“We’re in the business of winning premierships and that’s what we’re all here to do, to create an environment to help players develop into the best they can be.

“I’ve got a very strong tie to the footy club and strong relationships with the people I was involved with.

“The thought of coming back to the Saints was even more appealing when getting back with people you respect, have great memories with, and had great success with.”