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'Real concern': Goddard's defensive effort slammed by AFL great

Essendon defender Brendon Goddard’s career is on the precipice and efforts like this aren’t going to help his bid for a contract extension.

The veteran was aggressive in his feedback to other Essendon players after his side’s loss to Richmond on Friday night, but after the game he received some of his own medicine from AFL great David King.

King highlight how Goddard failed to properly mark Richmond forward Jason Castagna in one particular play, leading directly to a Tigers goal.

Essendon defender Brendon Goddard has copped some criticism. Pic: Getty/Fox Sports
Essendon defender Brendon Goddard has copped some criticism. Pic: Getty/Fox Sports

“That’s a real concern,” King said on Fox Sports.

Watch King’s analysis in the video at the top of the page.

Despite what was a number of defensive errors throughout the match, according to King, Goddard was still eager to tell his teammates what they were doing wrong after the final whistle.

The 33-year-old is hoping for a contract extension at Essendon beyond this season, and told RSN Breakfast Club he has felt vulnerable.

“I’ve felt vulnerable all year,” Goddard said.

“I think I discussed a couple of weeks ago just about preparing myself for this situation, (I) have done all year.

“I think late in the preseason, so Jan-Feb — I’ve just been getting my head around that this might be my last year and what do I need to do to prepare for worst case scenario.

“There’s a number of things (as to why it’s taken time), but percentages are in my favour.”

Bombers coach John Worsfold believes his AFL team’s season hasn’t been a failure
Bombers coach John Worsfold believes his AFL team’s season hasn’t been a failure

Worsfold hits back

Essendon won’t play finals after their tight loss to Richmond, but coach John Worsfold has hit back at suggestions the Bombers’ AFL season has been a failure.

Worsfold’s team needed a win against the Tigers at the MCG to keep their slim finals hopes alive, but couldn’t erase a 33-point deficit in the last quarter, eventually suffering a 12.9 (81) to 11.7 (73) defeat in front of 76,424 fans on Friday night.

After making the finals last year, Essendon will be spectators this September despite the heralded arrivals of recruits Devon Smith, Jake Stringer and Adam Saad.

“Everyone can have their own opinion on what (our season) is,” Worsfold said.

“We’ve worked extremely hard this year on bringing through some young players, we’ve worked hard on covering some injured players, on changing our game to become a team that is going to be able to take on the best teams in the competition and win.

“We’ve won on the road … so we’ve done a lot of good things this year.

“We’ve worked unbelievably hard, so I would say the hard work is going to be rewarded. It will be rewarded.

“Therefore, hard work and passion and growth is not necessarily a waste, I would say. I’d challenge anyone to say that if you go and work your backside off, that it’s going to be wasted.”

The Bombers have been one of the form teams of he competition after a disastrous 2-6 start.

Worsfold believes his side has made huge inroads in a lot of areas despite missing the top eight.

“Overall, we’ve just got to get a little bit better at everything we’re doing,” Worsfold said.

“We’re not far off it. We lost to Hawthorn by a kick, we’ve lost by a kick and a bit to Richmond … so we’re not far off.”

With AAP