Goddard not Essendon's saviour

Essendon recruit Brendon Goddard has played down the expectations of Bomber fans as he continues his pre-season preparations with his new side.

Speaking to the Essendon website from the club's high altitude training base in Colorado, Goddard said he was excited to join the Bombers after spending nine seasons with the Saints.

But the 27-year-old was quick to stress that he was not the solution to all of the club's problems as James Hird's men look to bounce back from a disappointing 2012 season which saw them miss the finals after a dismal run of results at the backend of the season.

"That's not the case at all; I'm here obviously to offer a bit. I'll do my best to win games of footy as well, but I'm not going to be the saviour at all," he told essondonfc.com.au.

"The development will come from the younger guys. Without sounding too big headish, I think a lot of people know what they're going to get from myself and Jobe [Watson] and Stants [Brent Stanton] and the older guys."

The 200-game veteran also refused to be drawn on why he left the Saints, but did shed light on why he chose Windy Hill over all other offers.

"I see the talent within the group and where they could go, that's obviously something that did appeal," he said.

"(It's about) what I can offer the footy club as a footballer, and what the footy club can offer me as a person.

"Obviously staying in Melbourne was one thing as well."

The former Saint also admitted he was drawn to the Bombers after talks with the coaching staff revealed he would predominantly be used in the midfield rather than down back where he spent most of his time at St Kilda.

"That's something that really stood out and was appealing, at Essendon - that I'd like to play more in the midfield permanently," he said.

"As an inside mid and with the potential to rest forward and obviously I've got the ability to play various roles, but 95 percent of the time I see myself playing that role.

"Summing it all up, I thought Essendon was a really good choice."

Despite being new to the club, Goddard insists he is ready to be seen as a leader and has no problem with the pressure this will bring.

"I don't have trouble with giving feedback and stuff like that, can be quite narky at times as a lot of people might know," he said.

"At the end of the day it's all about trying to get better, and yeah, I enjoy the leadership aspect of things.