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BRENDON Goddard still gets the occasional Carlton supporter who tells him he should be wearing the navy blue.
If not for one of the greatest scandals in football history, he might be. Every No.1 pick has a story and Goddard's revolves around Carlton and its salary cap dramas.
Goddard was the likely first selection for much of the 2002 season, when the Blues languished at the bottom of the ladder and claimed their first wooden spoon.
It so happened the teenager was a big Carlton fan, had trained with the club as part of his AIS-AFL Academy scholarship and even stayed at the house of recruiting officer Shane O'Sullivan during that period.
But only days before the draft took place, the Blues were stripped of draft choices (including picks one and two at the national draft) and hit with a fine of almost $1 million for the cap breaches.
St Kilda, which had held the No.3 pick, was pushed up the order to the first selection and was primed to select Goddard, who grew up in Gippsland in Victoria’s east.
In an interview for AFL.com.au's Under the Spotlight series, Goddard said it was a blow when he discovered the Blues' sanctions.
"I had my eyes set on Carlton. Like any kid growing up, it was a dream to play for the team you follow and essentially I was following that path until other circumstances got in the way," he said.
"I was at my sister's house by myself in Melbourne when the phone call came through at 11.30 at night from Shane O'Sullivan informing me they had lost their draft picks.
"It was pretty deflating, to be honest. But … at that age you don't get a choice of where you go, so I was just grateful to get an opportunity anywhere."
Goddard was picked by St Kilda and played 18 games in his debut season, but quickly understood the pressure that comes with being the first player drafted.
"Early days I was sledged a lot. I was told I was the worst No.1 draft pick ever by a lot of people on the field," he said.
"At no point did I think I wish I wasn't No.1. I was confident in my ability and St Kilda was always confident in where I was at early in my career with my development. I was never really concerned of what was said."
The 29-year-old, a two-time All Australian, departed the Saints as a restricted free agent at the end of 2012 after 10 seasons and 205 games and joined Essendon, winning the best and fairest in his first season.
