ESSENDON has lodged paperwork with the AFL as it takes the first formal step in making a bid for St Kilda's Brendon Goddard under the Gillette AFL Free Agency Period.
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"We can confirm the club has made an offer to secure the services of Brendon Goddard after he nominated Essendon as his destination of choice as a free agent," Bombers CEO Ian Robson said.
"We must now be respectful of the restricted free agency process and will not make any further comment until this process is completed."
Goddard is a restricted free agent, meaning St Kilda has three days to respond.
"The club is considering its position and will make further comment at an appropriate time," St Kilda said in a statement.
Waiting for Goddard: A short history of Brendon Goddard's decision to seek a move away from St Kilda
Despite rumours, Goddard has not been offered a leadership role by the Bombers.
"Absolutely not, Brendon obviously considers himself to be a leader regardless of any leadership title," Goddard's manager Dan Richardson told AFL.com.au.
Richardson said Essendon had provided a compelling pitch.
"He was very impressed with what James Hird had to say about where he believes he can take Brendon's footy," he said.
But Richardson insisted Goddard held no animosity towards the Saints.
"He felt that for a whole range of reasons that it was the best thing for him and his football career.
"He's a very thorough person with everything he does, it has been a really, really tough decision for him."
Goddard's management had received no immediate response from St Kilda.
"We haven't had any indication from them, and we're obviously respectful of their position."
Goddard has been offered a four-year contract by the Bombers, while St Kilda had been offering a three-year deal.
He was one of six restricted free agents available in the first year of free agency.
The 27-year-old had been at the centre of free agency rumours since mid-way through 2011 when he was linked to Greater Western Sydney.
The rumours of him becoming a Giant soon dissipated but he was soon linked to Carlton, the club he supported as a boy and Fremantle, which is coached by his former St Kilda coach Ross Lyon.
Goddard was considered to be one of the AFL's best players after a brilliant 2010 finals campaign, which culminated in him taking a spectacular high mark and kicking a goal to put the Saints in front late in the drawn Grand Final against Collingwood.
Goddard has played 205 games for the Saints and kicked 104 goals since he was taken with the first pick at the 2002 National Draft.
He finished second in St Kilda's 2009 best and fairest and won All-Australian selection in 2009 and 2010.
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