CRITICISM of Brendon Goddard's form is "stupid" and ignores the unprecedented load the Essendon captain has had to shoulder in the absence of the club's WADA-suspended players, his manager Craig Kelly says.
Goddard was appointed Essendon skipper in late January two weeks after the Court of Arbitration for Sport handed a season’s suspension to long-standing captain Jobe Watson and 11 other current Bombers who participated in the club's 2012 supplements program, including stars Dyson Heppell, Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker.
Jobe Watson Brownlow call brings dread, says McLachlan
Former Melbourne forward and breakfast radio co-host David Schwarz said on Monday that Goddard's form had suffered under the burden of being captain this year.
"I thought his first half against Collingwood [in round five] was just horrible. His second half was a little bit better. Brendon has normally been that sort of player where he goes missing for slabs of games. I have noticed a lot this year that that has happened," Schwarz said on SEN.
Kelly, of Elite Sports Properties, told AFL.com.au that critics of Goddard failed to recognise the handicaps he and everyone at Essendon was playing under in a year when the club had been forced to hurriedly bring in 10 'top-up' players ahead of the home and away season.
"I read with interest some genius had a crack at 'BJ' (Goddard) the other day about his form," Kelly said.
"People need to understand that in the role he plays he needs some support around him, as do others in the team.
"At the moment, there's not the right support there to get the ball to a young forward like Joe Daniher to give him a chance to compete. He needs more support, but so too does a very experienced veteran of the game like Brendon.
"Everyone needs to understand the massive impact this has had on the bookends of the club – the young and the old.
"No one's ever had to do this before. So the criticism of BJ is nothing more than stupid comments made from outside the inner sanctum."
In a season when the undermanned Bombers were tipped by some to become the first club to go through a season winless since Fitzroy in 1964, Goddard has already led them to victory, in round two against Melbourne.
The skipper has also averaged 24.5 disposals a game, and is third at Essendon for inside 50s (22), equal fourth for clearances (18), fifth for tackles (22) and sixth for contested possessions (45).
Goddard is in the final season of the four-year contract he signed with Essendon when he crossed from St Kilda as a free agent at the end of 2012.
The club's compensation and contract negotiations with the 12 suspended players have meant Goddard is yet to open official contract talks with Essendon, but Kelly expects those discussions will get under way in the next couple of weeks.
"BJ is super keen to get through to the other end of this. He wants to stay there and see the thing through," Kelly said.
"He did not go to Essendon for the money. He went there because he saw an opportunity with where the team was heading.
"Now he's carried more of a load since he's been there than some that are no longer there.
"I can't applaud him enough for that."
ESP manages three of the banned Bombers: Tom Bellchambers, Brent Stanton and Jobe Watson.
Kelly said ESP was in "constant dialogue" with Essendon in relation to the banned trio's compensation claims and contract status.
