And being able to play at a club whose iconic figure in Darrel Baldock shares the same status at one of his former AFL homes was the icing on the cake for Goddard, who will be in the Demons' line-up at the Latrobe Recreation Ground which will be attempting to hand East Devonport its first loss of NWFL the season.

"I am excited as I like what country footy and grassroots footy is about because I am a country kid from Gippsland,'' said the 33-year-old, who played 334 games for Essendon and St Kilda.

"So I do really understand the importance of country footy and the role that it plays and its importance to communities, so I am excited to participate and get involved again in grassroots footy.

"When this first got raised, I spoke to Matty Lloyd and Dyson Heppell, who have also been down to the club and spoke so highly of it, but also having that connection there with Darrel Baldock, that also makes it quite special.

"Doc (the Saints' sole premiership captain) played such an integral part in St Kilda's history, and when I was there he was referred to a lot as one of the club legends, so there is a real connection there for me.

"My first game in Tassie was a VFL game playing for Casey Scorpions and I have been on training camps there and I do have a deep affinity with Tasmania through Nick Riewoldt and being close to the Riewoldt family.

"So I do have a long relationship and history with Tassie, and after it first got raised, I didn't really second guess it as I know how much footy means to the Taswegians, and when you bring up the topic of them having their own AFL team, you do see how passionate they are about it."

Goddard will be a guest speaker at Latrobe's sponsor's day lunch from 11am on Friday, with a limited number of tickets available for $35. For details, contact Rick Slatter (0418 579 530), Gavin Woodcock (0439 376 657) or Chloe Nicholls (0456 780 690).