Goddard left the Saints via free agency at the end of last season in favour of a four-year deal with the Bombers.
Defender Jarryn Geary says when the two sides meet for the first time since Goddard's defection this Saturday, the Saints won't single him out.
"Whoever puts on the jumper, it doesn't matter what face is behind it, we're going to be playing that jumper," Geary said on Wednesday.
"We're going to be focusing on that and what we need to do and that's really get after them and try and get a win on the board.
"We'll be playing the jumper. You don't see too many faces out there any other time.
"Jobe Watson will be out there and Alwyn Davey and Michael Hurley so they're all just faces with the same jumper on."
Geary said while some of the Saints still had relationships with Goddard, his departure was a reality of the changing nature of football.
"He played here for a long time but this week we'll just be focusing on trying to beat Essendon and all that other stuff will take care of itself after the game," he said.
"People come and go and I've built relationships with plenty of people who have come through the door.
While the players won't go out of their way to be antagonistic to Goddard, Geary believes the Saints' supporters might not be so forgiving.
"Traditionally, most supporters are pretty angry when someone's left the club so they'll do what they do and I'm sure they'll give him a bit of a hard time," he said.
The Bombers had an emotional four-point win over Fremantle last Friday night in the midst of the James Hird-related drugs scandal.
Geary said the Saints expected the Bombers to again play with passion but there was no reason why his team wouldn't have the same drive.
"I think we're going to go in with some emotion as well. We're desperate to win this game," he said.
"It's round four, we're one and two so we've got just as much emotion to play [with] as them so I can't imagine them coming out any harder than we're going to."
Geary named Trent Dennis-Lane and Brodie Murdoch as players showing form in the VFL and as potential replacements for the injured Jack Newnes.
He also said the Saints would use last year's round 15 71-point thumping of the Bombers as a preparation tool.
"Last year was really good. We've had a look at a few clips from last year of where we can get them again, and we'll take some positives out of that and try and build on that to get the job done this week."
Jarryn Geary is a defender in NAB AFL Fantasy. He averaged 64.2 points in 2012. Register your team at our AFL Fantasy Hub.
Jennifer Phelan is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenPhelan.
