BRENDON Goddard arrived at Essendon at the end of 2012 believing his new side was on the verge of a finals assault.
That it took a year longer than anyone would have hoped to finally be able to play in September with the Bombers was devastating.
Now that the time has come to finally return to the finals, he understands its importance.
When Goddard shifted from St Kilda to the Bombers as a restricted free agent, he saw Essendon as having the list and capacity to be a strong finals side for many years. Going to a side on the cusp of a premiership tilt was important.
"It was everything," Goddard told AFL.com.au this week.
"I could have made other decisions based on other reasons. I clearly identified Essendon as being in a really, really good position to push to become a top-four team and plays finals on a consistent basis over the next five to six years.
"I wouldn't be at the footy club if I didn't think that."
After being stripped of their top-eight place last year as part of the AFL's penalties for the supplements saga, many Essendon players were unable to further their finals experience.
The club has not won a final since 2004, and since then has been on the end of two elimination final defeats.
For Goddard, it isn't a problem. He has played 16 finals in his 246-game career, all of them for St Kilda. It is also where he built a reputation as a big game performer, particularly in the 2010 finals series.
Playing well – and knowing how to do it – on the September stage is not an issue for the 29-year-old. Although he understands going deep into this year's finals from seventh spot on the ladder will be challenging, Goddard hasn't counted the Bombers out.
Their push will start on Saturday night against North Melbourne.
"History will show that teams don't come from back of the pack and play in Grand Finals. We want to break that trend and create our own history in doing it this year, but it's crucial for the development to play finals in any aspect," Goddard said.
"It's more important this year than most because we did miss out on last year, but I'm very confident that the guys will get a taste for it this year. We've shown we're very capable of playing a brand of footy against the best teams that holds up.
"Now it's about finding that consistency. I firmly believe that playing finals this year, regardless of what happens, will hold us in really good stead for the next two or three years."
Throughout the lead-up to the Roos clash at the MCG, Goddard has noticed a buzz around a club. Teammates have come asking for advice how to handle preparation and the game, but he already feels that side of the group has developed this year.
"Our win-loss isn't as good as last year but I've seen the inroads and huge steps that guys have taken behind the scenes in their mental and physical preparation and their attitude towards footy. I've seen guys playing more mature footy," he said.
"[I've seen] the guys becoming men in the way they go about their footy."
Defensive pair Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker are among the group Goddard has noticed lift in that area, with no coincidence their form has spiked because of it.
"Their footy on weekends is more reflective of their preparation and the way they go about it," he said.
"They're two individuals, but as a whole group, there's been great inroads made in that area.
"It's hard for people publicly to get their head around that Monday-to-Friday stuff, but it does allow you to play the footy you do on the weekends. That's where you find consistency in your footy."
