Brendon Goddard (born 20 May 1985) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for St Kilda and Essendon in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played for the St Kilda Football Club from 2003 to 2012, then with Essendon from 2013 to 2018. He was the captain of Essendon during the 2016 season. Early life Goddard was raised in Traralgon, Victoria, and later attended Caulfield Grammar School as a boarder. He was an accomplished sportsman, co-captaining the school's First XVIII football team and co-captaining the First XI cricket team as a batsman and pace bowler. AFL career St Kilda: 2003–2012 A lifelong Carlton supporter, it seemed destined that Goddard would fulfill his boyhood dream of playing for the Blues when Carlton finished last in the 2002 AFL season and indicated they would take Goddard with the first pick of the 2002 National Draft. However, an investigation into salary cap breaches stripped Carlton of the #1 pick, which was elevated to St Kilda, who ultimately took him. "It was pretty deflating, to be honest. But at that age you don't get a choice of where you go, so I was just grateful to get an opportunity anywhere." He debuted in the following season while completing his Victorian Certificate of Education as a Year 12 student at Caulfield Grammar School. He played in the 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup winning side – the club's second AFL pre-season competition win. After being selected with the number 1 pick, he received a lot of criticism in his early years. During a round 7 clash against the Sydney Swans in 2007, Goddard ruptured his ACL after falling heavily onto it, which resulted in Goddard missing the remainder of the season. He would return to play in round 3, 2008 and produced a solid form for the rest of the year. Despite interest from other clubs trying to recruit him, he signed a contract to stay with the Saints until 2010. After a strong first few rounds of the 2009 season, Goddard was noted as one of the best players in the league and was seen as an early favourite for the Brownlow Medal. Although generally considered a defender/midfielder, during a round 3 match against West Coast in 2009, he was positioned in the forward line and kicked four goals in the first quarter, the most he had ever kicked in a single game