BRENDON Goddard has shed new light on his departure from St Kilda, saying he originally “begged” the club to keep him with a “deal that was fair”.

The Saints were under enormous salary cap pressure in 2012 when Goddard accepted a four-year deal to cross to Essendon as one of footy’s first free agents.

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At the time, former coach Scott Watters said Goddard left for the money, after two “mediocre” years at the Saints.

Goddard was adamant his preference was to remain at Seaford, but said the Saints “were making it difficult for me to stay”.

“As I said, I have got no regrets (about leaving), but I didn’t want to be in that (uncontracted) position in the first place,” Goddard said.

media_camera Nick Riewoldt, Brendon Goddard and Lenny Hayes walk off the MCG after the drawn Grand Final.

“I begged for the footy club to one, yes, give me a deal that was fair and what we wanted and they didn’t want a bar of it.

“So, I didn’t want to have to make that decision.

“I sat in front of Scotty (Watters) and went to his house and I was man enough to look him in the eye and tell him ‘I’m out’ and that it’s been the hardest decision of my life.

“He sat there and tried to tell me ‘You made the easy decision’.

“But if I left for money I would have been playing somewhere else (not Essendon).”

media_camera Brendon Goddard and Nick Riewoldt shake hands after a match. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Goddard said he remained close friends with some former St Kilda teammates, including “best mate” Nick Riewoldt, after narrowly falling short together in three grand finals.

“Although we didn’t ever win a premiership, what we did was special and what we shared together was special,” he said.

Goddard said his decision to leave the Saints was based on many factors.

“I made the decision based on my footy career and me personally and what was best for me and my girlfriend and my family,” he said.

“There are always two sides to the story, but without saying too much, they knew the compensation pick they were going to get for me, and they were making it difficult for me to stay.”