Former Saint Brendon Goddard is a big fan of St Kilda’s review and is hoping the subsequent appointment of Geoff Walsh will benefit the club, declaring the players “don’t know what a successful culture looks like”.
The Saints fell short of expectations in 2022 after missing finals despite being in the top four after Round 11.
A subsequent external review at the club saw veteran football administrator Walsh instilled as the club’s GM of football and he said he’s keen to fix the “degree of irrelevance” around St Kilda.
Goddard, who retired in 2018 as an Essendon player after 205 games with the Saints, now sees himself as a Bomber, given how much things have changed at Moorabbin.
“We created a really good culture (at St Kilda) and we’re proud of it, and you probably say it’s dissipated because the people that were involved in the club at that particular time, not too many of them are left,” the 37-year-old told AFL Trade Radio’s Trade Afternoons.
“Hence when people ask me if I’m an Essendon man or St Kilda, I probably lean towards Essendon.
“One because I’m recently retired from there, but a lot of the people I was involved with at the end of my career are still at Essendon, particularly the players.
“The whole St Kilda organisation has completely changed (since I was there).”
Goddard said he was invited back for a catchup by former teammate Justin Koschitzke, the first time he’s been back to the club and noticed how much had changed.
“When I look at it, I was there a month or two ago, the first time I actually went back there since I left,” he continued.
“It’s changed a lot and I think they do need to improve that culture.
“Respectfully to a lot of the people and players involved - particularly the players - they don’t know what a successful culture looks like because they haven’t been a part of one yet.
“It’s hard and I think that’s one of the reasons why they got Geoff Walsh in, some people question the review… I think it's healthy to continue to review your club and organisation regardless of results, to continually just try and get better.”
St Kilda is set to be boosted by the recruitment of former Bulldog Zaine Cordy in 2023, although the club has lost Ben Long to Gold Coast.