The Bombers are currently at a high altitude training camp in Colorado, with Goddard joining nine other players on the camp which sees them training in altered conditions.
Midfielder Jake Melksham said the leadership shown by Goddard was instantly noticeable among the group.
"He has already tried to pass on as much of his knowledge to us that he can, he is working really hard and he is a good fella to get along with," Melksham told essendonfc.com.au.
"When we were going up the mountain you can tell he works really hard and he is a real professional the way he goes about his training and footy."
The 27-year-old - who joined Essendon as a free agent - also took part in his first skills session with the group before heading up Green Mountain on a group hike.
"Obviously he is an experienced leader and an experienced player so his skills were up to touch straight away," Melksham said.
"A few of us were a bit rusty and as you would expect a few of us were a bit tired from the day long travel.
"It was a nice short and sharp session, we got what we wanted out of it and it will hold us in good stead for the next few weeks."
Goddard's career stats
Goddard played 205 games for the Saints after being their No.1 pick in the 2002 national draft and was used in a variety of roles, but Essendon coach James Hird wants to use his star recruit in a key midfield role alongside skipper Jobe Watson in 2013.
"He has been recruited to play in the midfield," Hird said.
"He is a very versatile player who has been recruited to add another dimension to our team but we think he will play a lot in the midfield."
