While the AFL pre-season is nearing the chequered flag, St Kilda key defender Hugh Goddard is approaching the starting line.
With his ruptured Achilles tendon now fully healed, the highly rated backman is ready to increase his workload and begin his own pre-season campaign ahead of a return at some stage in 2017. Although he won’t put a date on a comeback just yet.
The 21-year-old fell to the ground at Adelaide Oval in Round 11 last season – his one and only senior appearance for the year – with his Achilles and season crumbling in a bitterly disappointing moment for the Victorian.
But now, seven months on from that cruel twist of fate, Goddard has taken his first few steps back into main training and can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“It’s been about seven months now, so I’m coming into a good phase at the moment where I’m actually back out training with the boys, warming up with them a bit and getting involved in my pre-season now,” Goddard told saints.com.au.
“The Achilles is fully healed now. I’m back running now and feeling really good; (I’m) just out the back [training ground] and getting my fitness up and back.
“I’m back out there doing a bit of the warm up and really seeing the place where I can get to. I’m really looking forward to getting back out there and putting my best foot forward."
The arrival of Collingwood premiership full-back Nathan Brown and the return of Jake Carlisle has alleviated St Kilda’s concerns in the defensive key posts for the time being, but like Paddy McCartin at the other end, Goddard is still viewed as a key piece of the puzzle long-term.
Goddard, who was taken with the final pick in the first-round of the 2014 National Draft – three picks ahead of new Saints recruit Jack Steele – is confident of returning this year and continuing his development.
“I think you’ve got to be with the industry that you’re in, the game changing and new people coming in the door, you’ve still got to believe that you’re there and about. I’ve put everything in place to put myself in the best position to do so,” he said.
The Geelong Falcons product will avoid the urge to rush the process, determined to tick every box before restarting his career after running into this speed hump midway through his second season.
“There’s a rough indication of where I’m at, but I’m sort of taking it day by day but I’m aiming for the early part of the season. The physios are really happy with how I’m progressing but I’m just taking it day by day and I’ll get into when I can," he said.
