Australian Football

After playing a single game for South Fremantle in 1900, Bill Goddard joined North Fremantle a couple of seasons later, and gave the club five years of fine service, mainly as a half back flanker, over the course of 65 games. He also represented Western Australia on its eastern states tour of 1904. Crossing to Victoria in 1907 he went on to establish himself as one of the foremost centremen in the game. He was particularly prominent during his debut season with South Melbourne in 1907, and was sadly missed during that season's Grand Final, which the southerners lost to Carlton. After 28 games with South, Goddard had brief stints with Carlton (including the losing 1910 Grand Final), St Kilda, and Port Melbourne, before returning west.

The closing phase of Bill Goddard's career proved to be the most auspicious. Lining up with East Fremantle, he helped the side to three Grand Final appearances in four seasons, although only one of these - against South Fremantle in 1914 - was won. An injury sustained in 1918 forced him to miss that year's winning Grand Final against East Perth, and he subsequently retired, with 130 WAFA/L games to his credit.

Author - John Devaney