A STIRRING second half of the season will have Carlton full of confidence with 2019 coming to a close.

Familiar faces fired in Navy Blue while the Club’s emerging youngsters owned the future in a campaign which saw the Blues record seven wins for the year.

With the home-and-away season now over, we’re going through every player who featured for Carlton at senior level in 2019.

Here’s the year that was for Carlton’s No. 45, Hugh Goddard.

TOTAL AFL GAMES

2019: 2
Career: 12 

KEY VFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets):

Disposals: 251 (17.9) Marks: 115 (8.2) Contested possessions: 87 (6.2) Contested marks:  Rebound 50s: 72 (5.1) Tackles: 36 (2.6) 

OVERVIEW

Hugh Goddard was the perfect example of someone who earned their shot by way of outstanding performances in the VFL.

From the outset, Goddard proved to be a class above, starring for the Northern Blues each week on the way to his Carlton debut in Round 17.

Showing his outstanding judgement of the game and clean pair of hands, the former Saint played two senior games for his new club and was rewarded with a new contract for 2020.

Come the end of the year, the numbers Goddard produced as a key defender for Northern said it all: he ranked No.1 at the Club for marks and contested marks, No.2 for rebound 50s and averaged just shy of 18 disposals per game.

BEST PERFORMANCE

You can take a pick when it comes to Goddard’s best VFL games of the season: of the 14 he played, he was named among the best players by the coaches on 10 occasions.

However, it’s hard to look beyond his showing in the Round 3 win over Collingwood, where he was in direct opposition to Ben Reid.

Goddard kept the veteran to just one goal while collecting 17 disposals and eight marks himself in an emphatic performance.

Despite a disappointing loss in the final round, Goddard posted 30 disposals and 13 marks against Sandringham in Round 21: outstanding numbers in any game.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

The moment Goddard informed his dad of his impending Carlton debut was special.

Not long after being mobbed by teammates after finding out the news, Hugh called father Craig for a feel-good phone call.

The video says it all.

THEY SAID IT

The man who arguably watched Goddard closer than anyone this year was Northern Blues senior coach, Josh Fraser.

Speaking on Carlton Coaches’ Corner, Fraser was full of praise for not only Goddard’s performances, but also what he delivered off the field.

“He’s been able to impart a lot of knowledge on our players,” Fraser said.

“His preparation allows him to perform as an individual, and then he’s got the confidence to be able to set up and organise players around him.

“Hugh has a great ability to read the ball in the air, identify where his opponent is and then impact the aerial contest.”