Never mind David, Shepparton Swans have their own inspirational Goggin.
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His name is Enrique — known as “Enky” at the club — and he is a midfield bull and future leader at the Swans.
In the midst of his second full season of senior Goulburn Valley League football, Goggin has made another step forward in his progression.
After playing the majority of last season floating across half-back, this year, Goggin has been shifted into the middle and the effects are already on display.
The 20-year-old cygnet has averaged 20 disposals, 12.5 contested possessions, 6.8 clearances and 6.8 inside 50s across his first four games in 2024.
Goggin’s breakout match arguably came during last weekend’s five-point loss to Mooroopna when the young bull collected 22 touches, eight inside 50s, eight clearances, 12 tackles, seven one percenters and six intercept possessions.
Unlike most top-level Goulburn Valley League footballers, Goggin didn’t pick up a Sherrin until he was 14.
Instead, the young gun grew up kicking about a spherical ball.
“I actually started out playing soccer and I was a massive soccer fan,” Goggin said.
“It wasn’t till I was 14, I think, when I started playing football here at Swans and I’ve just loved it ever since.
Once making the cross-code switch, Goggin never looked back and immediately made an impact on-field with his natural sporting prowess and off-field as well as the young leader was elected as a captain for his under-16 and under-18 Swans sides.
As the midfielder becomes more acclimatised to his senior football surroundings, Goggin admits he has one eye on the future as he hopes to become a respected figure at the Swans and a role model for young players rising through the ranks.
Growing up a Geelong fan, Goggin’s idolisation of two key Cats figures clearly indicates his desire to lead.
“I’m a Geelong man, so I love Paddy Dangerfield and Joel Selwood,” he said.
“Even when I was younger and playing soccer, I was the captain of a few of those teams.
“I have captained under-18s and 16s here, so leadership is something that I really take pride in and I want to be one of those blokes that you look up to when you get older.”
The addition of Goggin into the Swans’ midfield mix has seen the young gun utilise some of his assets through the middle, such as his speed, agility and decision-making.
After his first full year of senior football in 2023, Goggin realised if he was going to make an impact with a move into the guts, he would have to add some size to his frame if he wanted to compete with some of the league’s best midfielders.
“Building that strength now as well so that I can hold my own ground in the midfield,” he said.
“It helps, especially in the seniors, with those bigger bodies.
“On the weekend, Mooroopna had some good players like Ethan Hunt; he was tough.
“There’s heaps though, in the GVFL; it’s a good competition.”
Outside of football, fitness and health play a key part in Goggin’s life.
He may not be at the level of his (nearly) namesake, former Navy SEAL turned inspirational speaker David Goggins, but the emerging Swan is studying to become a personal trainer in between his football and job at Aquamoves.
Swans coach Jedd Wright said the club’s opinion and respect for Goggin had continued to grow this season.
“His (Goggin) work ethic at training is something that has pushed him from being a good senior footballer to starting to push into that top-level GVFL player,” Wright said.
“He was the captain of the thirds and I can certainly see him playing a big leadership role moving forward with the senior group.
“His work-rate is first class and if there is one thing that stands out, it is that he is always the first at training, making sure he is always doing the extras and now it is starting to come to fruition with his football on Saturdays.”
As a club, Shepparton Swans’ senior side has had a mixed start to the season.
On the one hand, most pundits expected the Swans to be among the bottom few sides, and yet, Wright and Goggin’s side has been ultra-competitive against the league’s best teams.
But on the other hand, the Swans have lost three out of their four games in brutal fashion, with an accumulative losing margin of 11 points.
Being the young leader that he is, Goggin is choosing to focus on the positives from the Swans’ start to the season as he believes his side will be in the mix for finals come September.
“We (Swans) have struggled a bit over the past few years,” he said.
“The close losses, last year we would have lost those games by 40-50 points, so we are definitely up there this year and I definitely think we are a strong chance of finals.
“I think from last year, we have all really developed a lot better here at Shepp.
“It’s a great culture and I am loving my time here at Swans.”
Cadet Sports Journalist