Goalie maybe put off guarding goal (8)
I believe the answer is:
defender
'goalie maybe' is the definition.
(goalkeeper is a defensive player in football)
'put off guarding goal' is the wordplay.
'put off' becomes 'defer' (synonyms).
'guarding' is an insertion indicator.
'goal' becomes 'end' (synonyms).
'defer' placed around 'end' is 'DEFENDER'.
(Other definitions for defender that I've seen before include "Guardian" , "Advocate" , "One on team" , "One who takes up the cause of another" , "Centre half, perhaps" .)