Brendon Goddard’s tears during his post-match interview have generated quite a negative reaction from Saints fans, but supporters may need to adjust their thinking in the future.
When the AFL draw was released, Brendon Goddard would undoubtedly have marked down Round 4 as a momentous game in his career.
After long and decorated service with the Saints, Goddard became the biggest face of the AFL’s new free agency rules when he agreed to move to the Bombers at the end of last year.
Of course, the media focus was directed on the financial aspects of the move, with the Bombers offering significantly more money and a four year deal as compared with the three on offer from the Saints.
This offer was obviously enticing, but I suspect there was more to Goddard’s decision to move than just money.
There has been some talk Goddard and Saints’ coach Scott Watters didn’t see eye to eye on the best role for Goddard to play within the team.
Goddard may also have looked honestly at the Saints’ list and felt his chances of winning a flag with the Saints may have passed (hardly an original theory, given most experts have dismissed the chances of the Saints becoming a premiership threat any time soon).
Whatever the rationale for Brendon’s decision, one thing that Saints’s fans cannot question is the passion with which Goddard served St Kilda.
This was never more evident than the 2010 finals series, in particular the first grand final of that year. Goddard almost single-handedly – apologies to Lenny Hayes – snatched a famous victory.
As a Collingwood supporter, I remember thinking during that amazing second half that if we were to hang on, we’d have to stop Goddard.
He played his heart out that day, and as an opposition supporter, I always respected his passion for his club.
A clear example of another player showing he still had strong feelings for his former club came in that same year’s grand final replay.
As the final siren rang, a lasting image for me was the spontaneous reaction of Luke Ball, a former captain of the Saints, who had just helped the Magpies triumph over his old club.
He appeared unsure of whether to be ecstatic at achieving his dream or upset for his old club and teammates. This was a very real reaction, as was Brendon Goddard’s on the weekend.
Whenever a player leaves a club in the AFL, he always expects to receive some bronx cheers. Sometimes this is reasonably good natured, particularly if the player was seen to have been moved on rather than choosing to leave.
However, if you leave of your own volition, particularly for more money, then you can expect to cop the brunt of the supporters’ displeasure.
Supporters from other codes around the world don’t always have the same reaction to player movement. Football clubs in Europe transfer and loan players between clubs at a rate that would be alarming in the world of AFL.
However, the fans are used to players moving around, and quite often welcome them back to their old stomping ground with applause rather than jeers.
Cristiano Ronaldo returned recently to Old Trafford to contribute to Manchester United’s exit from this year’s Champions League, scoring a goal in Real Madrid’s victory.
The parochial crowd gave him a warm reception, and he in turn refused to celebrate his winning goal later in the match.
The respect between the fans and player was obvious. The supporters knew moving clubs in this competition is part of the game, and that while with United, Ronaldo contributed greatly to their on-field success.
The AFL culture is still very different, and most supporters still value a player’s loyalty to their club above just about everything.
However, the more players take advantage of free agency and move clubs, whether it be for more money, more opportunity or simply a change of scenery, the more supporters will be confronted with their former favourites in different colours.
It’s fine to be disappointed about losing a player, but it’s a bit much to retrospectively question their commitment to the club during their time there.
Brendon Goddard may no longer be St Kilda fans’ favourite son, but his contribution to the football club during his time there should never be questioned.
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