ESSENDON veteran Brendon Goddard has declared he wants to continue his decorated career as he prepares to play his 300th game.
The 32-year-old will reach the milestone in Saturday's clash against Greater Western Sydney and says he's hopeful of signing a deal to play on next season.
"I would have thought that towards the latter end of this year, (2018) will sort itself out," Goddard said on Wednesday.
The midfielder said he was in a good physical and mental space and would play for as long as both he and the Bombers thought he had a positive impact on the team.
Goddard was the first player to change clubs under free agency, moving from St Kilda to Essendon at the end of 2012 after 205 games in 10 seasons with the Saints.
He was a key player as the Saints went close to winning flags in 2009 and 2010, earning All-Australian selection both years and said those losses caused a wound that would always remain.
His performance in the second half of the 2010 Grand Final was one of the best halves played in a decider and the spectacular mark he took in the last quarter would sit high in football's greatest moments, particularly if the Saints had defeated Collingwood.
Goddard said he wasn't sure whether he was in the zone during that game but he was certainly playing on instinct.
"What is being in the zone? I just think it is a matter of staying in the moment and just playing footy instinctively and if that is 'in the zone' then I think I was, yeah," he said.
"I did a pretty good job mentally to treat it as much as I could just like another game of footy … I think that really helps in big games."
He won a best and fairest in his first season at the Bombers as the supplements scandal enveloped the club for the next four years.
Goddard took on the captaincy in 2016 after the Court of Arbitration for Sport imposed a season-long ban on many of his teammates, and has been in outstanding form in 2017.
Brendon Goddard models a cap celebrating his career milestones. Picture: AFL Photos
He said the experience had made him play with a free mind this season.
"It was a good learning curve for me no doubt and I learned a lot," Goddard said.
"It's helped me with my football this year too to focus on the bigger picture things rather than trying to control too much and focus on the little things."
The No.1 draft pick in 2002 has played a minimum of 20 games in each of the past nine seasons, putting his remarkable durability down to both his meticulous preparation and good luck.
"I haven't been one for any weird or any strange recovery techniques, [just followed] run of the mill ice baths and cold water treatments and massages," he said.
"There was probably a point there where I went too far with it and became obsessive with it but as I have got older I have focused on the important things and the things that work."
