Former St Kilda and Carlton player Hugh Goddard has given a candid insight into the serious injuries that curtailed his AFL aspirations and his successful pivot to a corporate career.
The promise and the pain of an AFL dream
Drafted by St Kilda with pick 21 in the 2014 national draft, Hugh Goddard arrived at the club alongside future star Paddy McCartin. The tall defender showed early promise, making his debut in 2015 and playing 12 games in his first two seasons. However, his trajectory was brutally altered in 2017 during a VFL match.
A devastating Lisfranc foot fracture sidelined him for the entire 2017 AFL season. This complex injury, involving the mid-foot, is notoriously difficult to recover from fully. Goddard described the long and lonely rehabilitation process, which involved relearning how to walk and took a significant mental toll.
A fresh start and further setbacks
After being delisted by St Kilda at the end of 2018, Goddard was given a lifeline by Carlton, who selected him with pick 8 in the 2019 rookie draft. He managed to break into the Blues' senior side for two games in 2019. Unfortunately, his bad luck with injuries continued. A severe hamstring tendon injury suffered during a training drill ultimately led to his delisting at the conclusion of the 2020 season, ending his AFL career at just 24 years of age.
Reflecting on the cumulative impact, Goddard admitted the injuries created a mental barrier, making it hard to train and play with the same fearless intensity. The physical setbacks, one after another, made it impossible to establish any consistency or momentum at the elite level.
Building a new identity beyond football
With his playing days over, Goddard embarked on a new path. He is now forging a successful career in corporate partnerships and business development. He currently holds a position at the prestigious Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), a role he secured and has thrived in since his retirement from the game.
His journey into this field began with an internship at the Geelong Cats while he was still rehabilitating from his foot injury at St Kilda. This experience gave him a crucial foothold in the business side of sport. Goddard has spoken about the importance of planning for life after football early, a lesson he took from his uncle, former AFL player Brendan Goddard.
Now 27, Hugh Goddard has found fulfilment and a new sense of identity. He is engaged to be married and is content with how his story has unfolded, despite the premature end to his on-field dreams. His experience serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of a professional sports career and the value of preparing for a future beyond it.
