ESSENDON veteran Brendon Goddard is ready to step into the shoes of Dustin Fletcher and become Australia's goalkeeper for the Virgin Australia International Rules Series against Ireland.
Goddard looks set to take on the pivotal defensive role for the two Tests against the Irish at Adelaide Oval on November 12, and Domain Stadium in Perth on November 18.
Fletcher was the Australian goalkeeper for more than a decade before hanging up the boots at the end of 2015.
Australia hasn't selected any key defenders this time, opting for a smaller side in anticipation of winning the ball at ground level.
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Goddard – at 193cm – is one of the tallest in the star-studded squad and was earmarked as Fletcher's back-up during the 2006 series.
"Fletch was under an injury cloud so the next person they thought to be best in line to be goalie was me," Goddard told AFL.com.au.
"I remember (assistant coach) Mark Williams grabbing me at the end of training and putting me in the goals just in case Fletch didn't come up.
"He had everyone get in a line and boot balls at me.
"I thought I did reasonably well to stop a few, so I think they've always had that in the back of their mind."
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Australia has traditionally picked taller players such as Jarryd Roughead and Nick Riewoldt to gain an advantage in the air.
However, the challenges associated with marking the round ball have seen a shift in the hosts' thinking for the coming series.
"In the past, we've struggled to catch the ball even with height being an advantage because it's so hard to judge the ball," Goddard said.
"The ball doesn't float, and if you put side spin or any sort of spin on the ball, it's really exaggerated.
"The ball is on the ground the majority of the time, so that's why we've gone a bit smaller.
"We've seen what's worked and what hasn't in the past and picked the team accordingly."
Goddard is the third-oldest player in the Australian squad behind evergreen Hawthorn veteran Shaun Burgoyne and returning Geelong champion Gary Ablett.
But the chance to represent his country one more time, along with working with coach Chris Scott, was one the 32-year-old was never going to turn down.
"My last few experiences, I've been lucky enough to be coached under Kevin Sheedy, Alastair Clarkson and now Chris Scott, and then you've got the assistants of Ross Lyon and Brad Scott," Goddard said.
"It's great to pick their brains and you get a fair sense of their philosophies on football, just through them talking about the game and implementing certain tactics because it is very similar.
"We defend very similar to how we would in a game of AFL."
Goddard is also looking forward to getting one over Bombers teammate and Irish defender Conor McKenna.
"He likes a bit of a chirp, although you struggle to understand him at the best of times," Goddard laughed.
"We'll have a bit of a chuckle and a bit of a chat on the field."
Brendon Goddard in Australian colours in 2006. Picture: AFL Photos
