1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: This episode of head Game was recorded on gadigal Land Saturday, 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: April eight. 3 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 2: In the year two thousand, nineteen year old Jonathan Brown 4 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 2: steps out on Brisbane's famed Gabba. It's his debut match 5 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 2: for the relatively new Brisbane Lions franchise after years wowing 6 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 2: Victorian crowds in local competitions. The fresh faced new recruit 7 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 2: gives zell in his first match, but as the final 8 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 2: cyren sounds, Jonathan Brown has had no kicks, no marks, 9 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: and no hambles after packing up his life and moving 10 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 2: into State. 11 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: Is a less than. 12 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 2: Stellar opening act, but it would be far from his final, 13 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,639 Speaker 2: going on to become one of the AFL's greatest players. 14 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 3: This is serious times. Players soon joined the Brain the next. 15 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 2: Naristone, eventually kicking five hundred and ninety four goals across 16 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:03,639 Speaker 2: two hundred and fifty six games. I'm at Middleton and 17 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 2: this is head Game today. Jonathan Brown or as we 18 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 2: know him Brownie, on the highs and lows of his 19 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 2: AFL career and his pivot into the media. It's great 20 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 2: to have you on mate. Thanks for coming on Middleton's 21 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 2: head Game. Talking about head Game like a positive mindset, 22 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: you know, having that psychological resilience. 23 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 1: You've certainly needed it throughout your career. 24 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 2: But take me back to when you were young, because 25 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 2: your father was an AFL footy legend as well, was he. 26 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 2: What was it like psychologically growing up knowing that your father. 27 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: Was was this you know, AFL. 28 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 2: Legend And did you feel the pressure from a young 29 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 2: age or did you just want to be like your dad? 30 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:50,919 Speaker 4: I think I'm more wanted to be just like Dad, 31 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 4: and I was fortunate for that upbringing because I think 32 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 4: it does give you a leg gap. Yeah, I grew 33 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 4: up in footy cubs in locker rooms, and I'm sure 34 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 4: you would have obviously played plenty of sport and being 35 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 4: in locker rooms over the journey, especially as a younger fella. 36 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 4: So a teacher of the laws of the jungle, doesn't 37 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 4: it when it comes to team sport and teaches some 38 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 4: great values not only for sport but just for life. 39 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 3: So I just wanted to be like dad. Yeah, he 40 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 3: was my hero. 41 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 4: Still he is my hero, and he you know, I 42 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 4: suppose he taught me how to go about things and 43 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 4: really helped me with not only my football skills, but 44 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 4: between the years and how you approach your football career 45 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 4: and take it all on board. So I guess I 46 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 4: had I had the self help. God, I had the 47 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 4: book there to sort of got my way through. And 48 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,119 Speaker 4: grew up in the country areas of Colac and Warnable 49 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 4: and you know, and back in an era when footy 50 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 4: was tough, a little bit dirty beyond the scenes. Because 51 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 4: this year is the fortieth anniversary of a nineteen eighty 52 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,839 Speaker 4: five Grand Final, so one of my earliest memories as 53 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:56,399 Speaker 4: a kid where his dad captain coaching the nineteen eighty 54 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 4: five Cohlak premiership team against South Wannable and I was 55 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 4: ledry and known as the blood bath in those parts 56 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 4: down there, And so I saw some pretty brutal stuff 57 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 4: on a footy field as a young fellow, and I thought, jeez, 58 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 4: when you play footy, you've got to be tough and 59 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 4: you've got to be resilient. So probably fortunate enough of 60 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 4: but I was able to carry that through, or certainly 61 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 4: felt as if that's what you needed to be able 62 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 4: to play, leave the dirty stuff aside and try and 63 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 4: keep your eyes on the ball. But from that point 64 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 4: on I stood on the premiership dice when Dad accepted 65 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 4: the cup as the premiership winning coach and then he 66 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 4: handed me the cup and I held it up to 67 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 4: the cheese of the crowd. And back in those days, 68 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 4: in those country football leagues, they're still huge, but there 69 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 4: might have been ten thousand people there, so as a kid, 70 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 4: it looked like two hundred thousand people when you looked 71 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 4: out and you held that cup up and I thought, jeez, 72 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 4: that's what I want to do. That's my dream. I 73 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 4: think I was three years old at the time, man, 74 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 4: so forever that was just ingrained in my mind, entrenched 75 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 4: in my memory. 76 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, And it's sort of like a community affair, isn't it. 77 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 2: It's a community affair, it becomes a state affair. It 78 00:03:57,640 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 2: becomes you so much bigger than you think it is. 79 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 2: This actually back in those days where you know, the 80 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 2: accessibility to TV to you know, you came and saw 81 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 2: your team play, didn't you. 82 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 4: Absolutely, And it's what binds communities together, especially out in 83 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 4: the country. And Dad lives in a small country town 84 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 4: of Kuroit now about fifteen hundred people. They won seven 85 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 4: premierships in a row just recently and the whole town 86 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 4: just revolves around the footy club. 87 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 3: It's the community. 88 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 4: Everyone knows each other, so I love that upbringing and 89 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,719 Speaker 4: it was really important. Obviously it helped me get to 90 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 4: the top level, and you know, just just great memories. 91 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 4: I remember that nine to eighty five premiership was it 92 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 4: was im warnable, so it was about an hour and 93 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 4: a half drive home, and obviously Mum took myself and 94 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:40,720 Speaker 4: my younger brother home and when we got home, there 95 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 4: was already in the local paper. Colac's probably had about 96 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 4: ten thousand people. They already had a cartoon drawing in 97 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 4: the late edition of the local papers. The neighbor had 98 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 4: actually stuck it on our front door as you walked in. 99 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 4: So there's the cartoon that was in the paper, the 100 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,039 Speaker 4: late edition, with my dad standing up there holding the 101 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,279 Speaker 4: premiership cup up, and I thought, jeez, how can not 102 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 4: that you're here around you're not what to following these 103 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 4: footsteps here. 104 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's amazing. I can only imagine this, especially as 105 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 2: a youngster, you know, looking up to your father. You 106 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 2: know your father's there, and you know he's he's sort 107 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 2: of the disciplinarian of the family, but he's someone that 108 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 2: you look towards, that you look up to, that you 109 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 2: want to be like, and you know, you do anything 110 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 2: to please your father right at such a young age. 111 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 2: And I can imagine at three years I can't even 112 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 2: remember back to kind. 113 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: I haven't even got a memory. 114 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 2: Of when I was three years old. So that must 115 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,039 Speaker 2: have been a great memory for you, brownie. But have 116 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:35,479 Speaker 2: you got any other memories of the locker room antiques 117 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 2: from it from a young age where where it shocked you? 118 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 2: You're in the locker room and you were just like, well, 119 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 2: obviously you don't get too many people in trouble, But 120 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 2: was there any moments like that that you had on 121 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 2: the dais that you went into the lock of room 122 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 2: that shocked you more? 123 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 3: Well? I did. 124 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 4: Used to lock me in the lockers when I was 125 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 4: kidding those calac bikes, uh wild boys, and they taught 126 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 4: me how to swear. I was very good at one 127 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,359 Speaker 4: so I dad took away all my toys and you know, 128 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 4: he said, look, that's it. We're sitting here saying the word. 129 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 4: I was about three, about the same stage start saying 130 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 4: dim sim instead of the F word. And anyway, that 131 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 4: lasted about a day before I dropped back into the 132 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 4: F word again. 133 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 3: And and then you wouldn't believe, say. 134 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 4: I see Dad driving away on the truck because he 135 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 4: was out running the farm for my grandfather, so he 136 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 4: had the truck. He loaded all the toys up, including 137 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 4: my foot in my bike, more two prize possessions. He 138 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 4: drove away and went straight in and cooled Nan, and 139 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 4: I was in tears and said, what happened, John? I 140 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 4: dad took me fucking trucks away? In answer, so do 141 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,359 Speaker 4: I have survived this long in the media without dropping 142 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 4: the F bomb? 143 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 3: In life? 144 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 4: During our radio days doing breakfast radio and over here 145 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 4: in Melbourne, we had to hit the dump button a 146 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 4: couple of times. But so the boys taught me how 147 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 4: to swear and they locked me in locker rooms, no 148 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 4: question about that. 149 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 3: There was plenty of that going on. But the one 150 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 3: thing that stood up, and it. 151 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 4: Goes back to that's where the Kolak football club had 152 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,160 Speaker 4: the greatest theme song. So as we know, I'm not 153 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 4: sure it does it happen where you grew up. And 154 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 4: after the big win the footy team, they sing the song. 155 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 4: They all come in and they sing the song. I'm 156 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:08,919 Speaker 4: not sure if that happens in the league or union 157 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 4: or soccer circles. It does and their song was the 158 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 4: Ore the Tigers. So this is how this song went, 159 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 4: there's a team on the track dressed in yellow and black. 160 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 3: We are the Mighty Tiger tea. 161 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 4: It takes a great team to start burst a butt 162 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 4: a teender, what bursts and more lake. No, it's true 163 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 4: because that was one of the teams of Plagins. If 164 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 4: rang ever beat us, that's another team. We'll all come 165 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 4: fighting back. We're fighting for the colors, the yellow up 166 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 4: and the black up, the Pies up, the Blues up, 167 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 4: the fucking fairies too. There's a team called Port Fairy. 168 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 4: We are the Mighty Tiger team. So imagine what all 169 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 4: us kids for doing mart When the boys would win 170 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 4: the game, we are standing on the tier saving their 171 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 4: lungs out for that last bit about the Port Fairy 172 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 4: football club. 173 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 3: So there was a legendary theme song. 174 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: As a youngster, that word is coming. I love it, mate, 175 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: I love it. 176 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 2: And yeah, it just goes you know, it goes to 177 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 2: show that, you know, we are a product of our 178 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 2: environment growing up and how important that circle is and 179 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 2: that influence. You know, kids growing up, you don't listen 180 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: to adults. You learn from what you see. You know, 181 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 2: when that adults talture goes in one air and out 182 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 2: of the other. But you really learn from what you see. 183 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 2: And it sounds like that you had a a really 184 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 2: action packed upbringing. But it wasn't just footy, was it. 185 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 2: You hear that you're a keen cricket player and you've 186 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 2: got is it left arm and left arm? Come on, 187 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 2: tell us more about that. 188 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,199 Speaker 4: Just wander Be was an acro. Yeah, that's funny. That's 189 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 4: an odd reference. But in a Pakistani fast ball about 190 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 4: as a left armor. Growing I was at Akron was 191 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 4: a bit bollering the world and he could talk to 192 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 4: the ball, and so I trying to emulate everything he did, 193 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 4: including the half taped up tennis ball in the backyard 194 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 4: and trying to swing it like was a macrom So. 195 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 4: And my goal, probably more than actually lacing up and 196 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 4: playing an AFL game lacing a football board up, was 197 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 4: to actually open the bowling for Australia on the Boxing 198 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 4: Day Test match against England, the old arch enemy. So 199 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 4: that was probably my first dream as a kid growing up, 200 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 4: and unfortunately never got to do that. I've been to 201 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 4: plenty of boxing days sitting in the outer having a 202 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 4: few cans, but but that was my first ever dream. 203 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:32,959 Speaker 4: I loved it and I was a bit aggressive. I 204 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 4: probably played cricket like I played football, and you know, 205 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 4: I was always trying to knock the batsman's head off. 206 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 3: I'm coming in off the long run, steaming. 207 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 4: In, charging in like the great Victorians of passed, like 208 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 4: Murv Hughes and those sort of fast bowlers. 209 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 3: But yeah, I love playing cricket. 210 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: So what one did you enjoy the most? Honestly? 211 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 2: And obviously I know that your father maybe have pushed 212 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 2: you down the AFL route because obviously that's that's what. 213 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: You're surrounded by. 214 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 2: But did you It sounds like that you really enjoyed 215 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 2: cricket there, because when I was talking to you, you face 216 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 2: lit up. Then, well when was when was the crossroads 217 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 2: when you had to decide what you wanted to do? 218 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 1: Or were you just better at footy? And you just 219 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: went down? 220 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 4: So I thought it's funny how it works out like 221 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 4: because and the first the first time Dad actually made 222 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 4: a comeback in cricket because he played cricket before the 223 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 4: footy days and say actually decided to make a comeback. 224 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 4: He was the club cricket catch and I was playing 225 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 4: seniors at that stage. I was about fifteen or sixteen pounds. 226 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 4: Senior said Dad made a comeback in the first time 227 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 4: were involved in the dismissal together. It was court Brown 228 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:39,079 Speaker 4: bowld Brown, and then I was bowling. The batsman hit 229 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 4: the ball and Dad took the catch in the outfield, 230 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 4: which is a great memory. 231 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 3: Had good zat. 232 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 4: But then the problem is we opened the bat together 233 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 4: and he ran me out. He bluddy ran me out. 234 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:51,680 Speaker 4: So I was a bit disappointed about that. But yeah, 235 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 4: how did it cross over well? When I went to 236 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 4: Brisbane to start training for football Because in the AFL 237 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 4: is a thing called the father son rule and if 238 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 4: you're I had played for a particular team, will you 239 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:03,679 Speaker 4: can't go straight to that team without having to go 240 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 4: through the draft essentially, And because Fitzroy, who Dad played with, 241 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 4: moved to Brisbane relocated to Brisbane, the Brisbane lines took 242 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 4: over the rights of all the Fitzroy's sons, so they 243 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:17,199 Speaker 4: invited me to come up. The great Lee Matthews, who 244 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 4: was our premiership coach would eventually become our premiership coach. 245 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 4: He invited me up to do pre season training and 246 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 4: I was very wet behind the years. I just presumed 247 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 4: that I was going to Queensland and moving up from 248 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 4: a country Victura. I'd go to Queensland. I do the 249 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 4: football training because it's during the summer months. I do 250 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 4: the football training, then I'll go off and play cricket 251 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 4: on the weekend. And when I got up there, I said, oh, yes, 252 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 4: so what create club am I. 253 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:40,599 Speaker 3: Allowed to play for? 254 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 4: And they said, nah, there'll be no cricket. You're not 255 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 4: allowed to play cricket. 256 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 1: So devastated. 257 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 3: So that was the end of my cricket dream. 258 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 4: So from that point on and I've never really been 259 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 4: able to I played some one off games here and there, 260 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 4: and I've never really been able to play for whatever 261 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 4: reason since. But but yeah, that was pretty much where 262 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 4: the dream ended. As a seventeen year old, I was 263 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 4: in the state cricket squad. So then it was really 264 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 4: full investment into AFL forever, apart from the night actually 265 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 4: went on the footy show. This famous footy shower here 266 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 4: in Australia. Rugby League had a version. I fell out 267 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 4: a version. I was a panelist while I was still 268 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 4: playing and it was one of my fondest memories my 269 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:26,559 Speaker 4: time in the media was when I turned up to 270 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 4: work that night. 271 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 3: I do about six episodes a year I had to 272 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:30,440 Speaker 3: come to town early. 273 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,679 Speaker 4: Came in on the Thursday night and I walked in 274 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 4: and the boy said, Ricky Ponting, Australian, the current Australian 275 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 4: cricket captain, is coming on the show. Would you like 276 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 4: to bowl a ball to him in the car park 277 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 4: during the show. 278 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 1: And I thought, of course I fucking would. 279 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:47,439 Speaker 3: Of course I would. 280 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 4: I thought, here's my cheating, here's my chants, my career, 281 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 4: career is still alive. So I got to bowl to 282 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 4: him in the car park. I got the bowl two 283 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,080 Speaker 4: or three balls to him, and that was a real highlight. 284 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:00,040 Speaker 4: I had some help from the lighting boys because I 285 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 4: had a fully white, taped up tennis ball. I had 286 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 4: a bright white light on just behind the bowler's arm 287 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 4: as I ran in, and the boys just turned it 288 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 4: on just as I was about to let go the ball, 289 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 4: so punter couldn't say it. I bowled a bounce and 290 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 4: I actually hit him on the shoulder. So people still 291 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 4: come out to him in the streets. Jeez, what about 292 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 4: that night you put one past Ricky Ponting, You actually 293 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 4: hit him. 294 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 3: You must have been bloody fast. 295 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 4: Little they know. I had a bit of help from 296 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:24,839 Speaker 4: the lighting boys. But that was a memory I look 297 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 4: back on. 298 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 2: And the aggression mate, then, I'm sure the aggression was. 299 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 2: I'm sure he wanted to bowl his head off really well. 300 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 4: I remember Ricky saying as we're walking out from the 301 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 4: studio out of the car, pak has, mate, just look 302 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 4: after you, just nice. 303 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 3: Half folly. 304 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 4: I said, no problems and I thought, no chance, I'm 305 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 4: not bowling half folly. I'm gonna try and take his 306 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 4: head off. So he's a good sport about it. So 307 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 4: great memories of cricket though, And it's a big part 308 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 4: culturally in Australia, isn't it. And obviously it is in 309 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 4: your country, but everybody loves cricket here in Australia. 310 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 2: So as the Australian cricket dream ended, one started me 311 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 2: and one a wan, it was just take me back 312 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 2: to that moment when you got to the club. They 313 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 2: were like, listen, you are now fully embedded, fully focused. 314 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 2: It's afl afl afl live dream ea, sleep shit whatever 315 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 2: it may be. Was that a pleasant sort of distraction, 316 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 2: you know, taking you away from other sports and letting 317 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 2: you know that you are in this now, this is 318 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 2: your career. 319 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 3: It was your dream and I felt very fortunate. 320 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 4: But yeah, when you're young, I think it takes a 321 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 4: while to develop that professionalism. And even though you come 322 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 4: into a professional system, you're not necessarily professional at that 323 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 4: starte especially back then in the game. 324 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 1: And just how old were you? 325 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 4: I was eighteen, So I just turned eighteen years old. 326 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 4: You know, I'd moved from a small country town to Brisbane. 327 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 4: That was like moving to Las Vegas. Yeah, the bright 328 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 4: lights of Brisbane back in the late nineties, early two thousands, 329 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 4: and shit, we had some fun. 330 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 3: We used to run about town and I have a 331 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 3: lot of fun. 332 00:14:57,680 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 4: So it probably took me a while to develop that 333 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 4: professional because it wasn't until I get through that first 334 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 4: twelve months. 335 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 3: I played twelve games. 336 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 4: Out of what twenty however many games I played down 337 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 4: in the AFL twenty three games in a season, played 338 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 4: about twelve games. I was in and out of the 339 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 4: senior team, dropped between seniors and the reserves. And I 340 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 4: went home and I thought it. Mate actually said to me, 341 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 4: this is what mentors are so important, especially for young males, 342 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 4: to have that strong male influence over you, whether it 343 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 4: be your father or a strong male influence in your life. 344 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 4: And he actually said, you know, what do you want 345 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 4: to be in your career? You know, do you just 346 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 4: probably want to lock a lot of country boys they've 347 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 4: sort of head out there, they might have twenty thirty 348 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 4: games whatever, and then you're back, you know, after four 349 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 4: or five years, then you're back into the country and 350 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 4: live in a normal life. Or do you want to 351 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 4: have a long, memorable career. And because unless you commit 352 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 4: to being a professional athlete in the truest sense. 353 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 3: Of the word, you're gonna have a lot of regrets. 354 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 4: And it sort of just it struck a chord with me, 355 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 4: and I thought, Nay, he's right, and yeah, you can 356 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 4: still have a good time, but you are a professional 357 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 4: and I want to live my dream to the fullest. 358 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 4: And I had this unbelievable preseason home boxing. Like I said, 359 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 4: he was a made of mind, a mentor, and I 360 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 4: spent six weeks hard trading in the gym and what 361 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 4: I thought was the pain barrier was absolutely broken and 362 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 4: just taking to another level. 363 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 3: And that was a really big learning thing for me. 364 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 4: And I came back from that six weeks and I 365 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 4: turned some heads to Brisbane when it started a preseason, 366 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 4: including the coaches, and they were like shit, what's Brownie 367 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 4: Ben doing. 368 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 3: I'd put on weight, I reckon. 369 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 4: I was able to increase about eight kilars, put a 370 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 4: lot of muscle on. I was super fit. I was 371 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 4: really strong, and I was ready to go. And that 372 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 4: next season, Lee Matthews came up to me, the coach, 373 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 4: come up to me at the start of the season, 374 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 4: and he said, you're you're my key forward. You're my 375 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 4: center forward, which is one of the positions on the 376 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 4: ground that I played. I'm sticking with you. And you 377 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 4: know what, I didn't feel a sense of anxiety around 378 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 4: that because I knew I was prepared. I would have 379 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:07,439 Speaker 4: felt anxious if I was still prepared like I was 380 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 4: six months earlier. But because I'd done the work, I thought, no, no, 381 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 4: I've I'm. 382 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 3: Good to go. 383 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:17,119 Speaker 4: I'm ready to accept this opportunity. And we always had 384 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 4: this sort of used to have these signs around the 385 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 4: locker room, and I think I had said success is 386 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 4: where opportunity and preparation collide. And I'd done the preparation 387 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 4: and my opportunity collide. And it's a funny thing happened 388 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 4: that year and I played every game and we won 389 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 4: a premiership. At the end of the year, and I 390 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 4: think it's starting on that premiership. Funny hour thing, isn't it. 391 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 4: Twelve months earlier I was sitting on mum's couch at 392 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:46,880 Speaker 4: home contemplating what I was going to be as a footballer, 393 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:49,199 Speaker 4: watching the AFL Grand Final, and twelve months later I 394 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 4: was standing there holding the carp up with a premiership 395 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 4: madamee living out your dream and just thinking of myself. Shit, 396 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:57,879 Speaker 4: imagine if I had to put that work in and 397 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 4: decided to become a real professional. And obviously that was 398 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 4: an everlasting memory for me. 399 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 2: You know, mentals are great, especially you know, like you 400 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 2: mentioned the father figure, and they're great to have as 401 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 2: a mentor. But I think having a mental outside of 402 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 2: that realm, outside of the family realm, you know, really 403 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 2: just focusing on the trade itself, having a sort of 404 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,119 Speaker 2: a trade mental is it will lever you up to 405 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,119 Speaker 2: a different part of your game. Because when you have 406 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:35,679 Speaker 2: so much respect I think as a as a youngster 407 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 2: for your father as we mentioned before, but when an 408 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,959 Speaker 2: outside influence decisis that, you know, that's that's done out 409 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 2: of because they have your best interests at heart. It's 410 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,679 Speaker 2: not done out of love or unconditional love like your 411 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 2: father or family member. It's done out because they actually 412 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 2: have your best interests at are. They see the potential 413 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 2: that's within you. And when they build you up in 414 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 2: such a way, when they invest their time and their 415 00:18:56,760 --> 00:19:00,400 Speaker 2: experience into you, that type of mentorship is super important. 416 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 2: And this is what I say to you to anyone 417 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 2: you know going through the ranks or you know that 418 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 2: younger stage of their life coming through is seek you know, 419 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 2: external mental ship. Seek external advice away from the family, 420 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:15,359 Speaker 2: because it will just give you a different string to 421 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 2: your bow. 422 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 4: I think there's an acceptance too away from the family unit, 423 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 4: or say from the. 424 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 3: Father in this case. 425 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 4: Yeah, you probably accept feedback a little bit because I 426 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 4: think it's naturally ingranded us there. We don't, you know, 427 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 4: we don't accept feedback that well from our parents, especially 428 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 4: our old man. Like I try and teach my kids 429 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 4: how to kick the footy, and my aurst daughter she 430 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 4: didn't want to listen to me. 431 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:41,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, my exact point. 432 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 2: It's the same with me when I trained my son, 433 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 2: and someone will up in the gym and going you're 434 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:46,880 Speaker 2: not doing that correctly, And I'm like. 435 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,159 Speaker 1: I've told you, ex. 436 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, you're talking about that, Like I talked to dad, 437 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 4: and Dad was a school teacher for forty ideas. I 438 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 4: grew up on the dairy farm, but at the go 439 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 4: on live stream to play football, so living in the city, 440 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 4: couldn't run a dairy foami, he's playing foot he so 441 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 4: it became a phys ed teacher. And I asked him 442 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 4: about what the biggest thing is difference in say, troubled 443 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 4: kids or yeah, what's the most common denominator? He said, mate, 444 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 4: in forty two years, by a comfortable margin, is the 445 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 4: strong male influence in one's. 446 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 3: Life, whether that be man, male or female. 447 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 4: He said, that is the strong That is the strongest 448 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 4: common denominator. There's that, and then there's daylight to the 449 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 4: next biggest influence. So that's a really interesting point that 450 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 4: he made, and obviously that change just how important they are. 451 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 3: Yeah. 452 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 2: Absolutely, And you know when you when you raise that point, 453 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 2: it just hit a nerve because I thought to myself, 454 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:49,680 Speaker 2: you know, I've had family influences whether male or female, 455 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 2: but outside of that, you know, in the military, in 456 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 2: the sports arena as well, you know, being being class 457 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 2: as an athlete in the Special Forces, you know, just 458 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:02,239 Speaker 2: level you up. And I think you just have that 459 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 2: bit bit more of an understanding to not answer back 460 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 2: to not you know, take it for granted and just. 461 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:14,360 Speaker 4: Isn't it Yeah, absolutely, obviously that's a yeah. You did 462 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:17,679 Speaker 4: it to the exchange, didn't you, Because in your former 463 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 4: formal life in the military, there's there's there's no question 464 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 4: to ask is it going. 465 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: Exactly? Yeah, you know about it. 466 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,159 Speaker 2: But Brownie, you mentioned that moment when you picked up 467 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 2: that premiership you know, that premiership trophy for the first 468 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 2: time at such a young age. Before I get onto 469 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,920 Speaker 2: that just it's probably a personal question and I think 470 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 2: a lot of ossies will be asking it. From when 471 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:43,879 Speaker 2: you grew up and you saw the AFL, you know, 472 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 2: and I'm talking hitting it. I remember seeing it when 473 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 2: I was a youngster, hair being pulled, shirts being ripped, 474 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 2: forearms you know going in. Has it changed dramatically? And 475 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 2: I'm talking about the physical violence of the sport, you know, 476 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 2: from where you when you saw it growing up as 477 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:04,640 Speaker 2: a kid to when you actually played it. 478 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,760 Speaker 4: Absolutely well, growing up the country. I was fifteen when 479 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:10,919 Speaker 4: I started playing senior football against the man and I 480 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:13,520 Speaker 4: still remember this day against team called camping Out and 481 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:16,199 Speaker 4: they're full of dairy farmers and they were scary. So 482 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,640 Speaker 4: to a fifteen year old, I'll shit yourself and four 483 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 4: size of your Yeah, absolutely, I thought they're just going 484 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,160 Speaker 4: to eat me here. And there was three or four 485 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:27,639 Speaker 4: blues that day, and I remember thinking, jeez, you know, 486 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:29,239 Speaker 4: I've got to not be stupid about it, but I've 487 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 4: got to stand up for myself because they'll sense the 488 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 4: weakness and they'll come after me. 489 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 3: So, yeah, no doubts it's changed. 490 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,920 Speaker 4: At the AFL level, the game is as hard as 491 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 4: it's ever been because they're professional athletes. You know, they're stronger, 492 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:46,199 Speaker 4: they're quicker, all those sort of things. But so the 493 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 4: contacts always going to be heavy, those incidental contacts, that's 494 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 4: part of the game. And they've been able to clean 495 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 4: the game up there from I suppose the dangerous tackle situation. 496 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 4: The bumps used to be really heavily celebrating that game. 497 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 4: Now they've been taken away. So I guess world Sport 498 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 4: a specially contact board. And there's such a concern about 499 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 4: concussion it's on the front pages everywhere now and people's 500 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 4: long term health that leagues are having to adjust these 501 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:15,120 Speaker 4: historical rules, aren't they that was seen as the fabric 502 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 4: of the game. They're having to change these rules, which 503 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,120 Speaker 4: is they've had a bit of blowback for, but ultimately 504 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 4: it's to protect the players from themselves. And the concussion 505 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 4: rules are a lots more stringent than they were. I 506 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:27,760 Speaker 4: remember two thousand and three Grand Finally, where I was 507 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 4: knocked out at the first bounce. I didn't miss a 508 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 4: minute of the game, and you know, the doctor shadowed 509 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 4: me for about fifteen minutes out on the ground, and 510 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 4: I played every minute of the game. We had a 511 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 4: great win, but I can't remember how a lot of 512 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 4: the first half. So imagine if that happened now, the 513 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 4: doctor would be deregistered for life. You never be able 514 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:49,120 Speaker 4: to practice again. But that's the thing you did, and 515 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:50,439 Speaker 4: that's what we went out and did it, and we 516 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:52,879 Speaker 4: wore it as a badge of honor because your teammates 517 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:55,439 Speaker 4: did it, your captains did it, your leaders did it, 518 00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 4: and you just want to find their footsteps. But now 519 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 4: we are in a safer time. But in terms of 520 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 4: the contact and the speed of the game, it's as 521 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:06,919 Speaker 4: fast and as brutal as it's ever been, as far 522 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 4: as I go, and we don't want those keen hits 523 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 4: and dirty pies beyond the scenes still we so I 524 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:15,360 Speaker 4: think the game's in pretty good health from a physicality 525 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 4: point of view. 526 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:17,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, And it. 527 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 2: Forces you to focus on the game because I suppose 528 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 2: back in the day and you know we've all been there, 529 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 2: you're focused on the game, but you're focused on the 530 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 2: player as well. 531 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 1: Absolutely, I take this guy out. 532 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 2: You know, and you're not focused on But when you 533 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:34,120 Speaker 2: focus on the game, of course, you know that sort 534 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 2: of level of athleticism goes up because you know you 535 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,400 Speaker 2: have to be focused on getting the ball and doing 536 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:42,119 Speaker 2: what you need to do. 537 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:45,640 Speaker 4: So I remember Nathan Buckley Backs how he actually does 538 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:47,920 Speaker 4: the podcast with me from Tom Tom works with Backs 539 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:50,479 Speaker 4: on a Monday night on the catch and is just 540 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:52,639 Speaker 4: a great player for Collingwood, you know, one of the 541 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:56,439 Speaker 4: greatest piers have games ever seen. And obviously we had 542 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:58,119 Speaker 4: the big rivalry. We made him in a couple of 543 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 4: the Grand Finals. But you know, it's part of my 544 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:04,679 Speaker 4: job sometimes when I'd start outside the center bounce and 545 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:06,360 Speaker 4: I'd come in off the center square and I'd try 546 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 4: and pick off the opposition's best midfield And this day 547 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:10,919 Speaker 4: I come charging in buses. 548 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 3: Obviously Collingood's best player. 549 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:14,479 Speaker 4: I thought I'm going to nail Bucks here first bounce, 550 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:16,879 Speaker 4: Marvel Stadium, fifty thousand people. 551 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:17,960 Speaker 3: I've come charging in. 552 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 4: Bucks has just seen me at the last second and 553 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 4: moved his head out of the way. Well, my elbow 554 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:25,679 Speaker 4: was already up and I've come through and I've cleaned 555 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 4: up my captain Michael Voss, another great player, and I 556 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:29,879 Speaker 4: knocked my captain out. 557 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:33,920 Speaker 3: You went straight through him and got me Skipper. 558 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 4: So I didn't get suspended, obviously, you can't get suspended 559 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 4: hitting your own player. 560 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:39,200 Speaker 3: But I just missed Bucks and hitting. 561 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:43,120 Speaker 1: But probably focus on the game, exactly. 562 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 4: Focus on the game itself. So it's just a funny 563 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 4: one there. And who would have thought, now, I mean, 564 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 4: Bucks are great mates. 565 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 1: No, it's great, man. 566 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 2: That's why I ask it because you know when I 567 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 2: grew up as well, you know it was known even 568 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,239 Speaker 2: in the UK, you know, Australian. 569 00:25:57,680 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 1: Football as we called it. 570 00:25:58,920 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 3: It was. 571 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 2: It was just you know, you'd see it and you 572 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:05,440 Speaker 2: just watch it purely for them for the dirt. 573 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 3: Well, there was the famous game in the Battle of Britain. 574 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:09,359 Speaker 4: I used to do a game at the end of 575 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 4: the season and back when Foster's Lager a beer and 576 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:13,640 Speaker 4: that all that was huge with the. 577 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 1: Expats they come out, that's right, and. 578 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 4: They had this famous game after the nineteen eighty seven 579 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 4: I think Carlton be also nine eighty seven game final. 580 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:27,720 Speaker 4: A week later they played an exhibition match at the 581 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,639 Speaker 4: Oval in London and it was known as the Battle 582 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,160 Speaker 4: of Britain and you see types that players were getting 583 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:36,560 Speaker 4: knocked out, a getting their jewels broken. It was just 584 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 4: a brutal, brutal game of football. Not a great advertisement 585 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 4: nowadays if you show that, but back in the day 586 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 4: it was almost that was what it was accepted. So 587 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:48,439 Speaker 4: you can understand people from the British oles would have 588 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 4: had those visions of what a FL and Australian football 589 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 4: is all about. 590 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:54,640 Speaker 3: So fortunate enough they've cleaned the game up. 591 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, absolutely mate, I'll make you right. And yeah, 592 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 2: it's like you said, the you know, there's the athletes. 593 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:03,199 Speaker 2: You are athletes out on that pitch. I went with 594 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:08,680 Speaker 2: Ben Cousins to watch my first AFL for and Car 595 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:11,639 Speaker 2: and I didn't realize how big that oval was. I 596 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:15,520 Speaker 2: didn't realize how many kilometers, like fifteen to twenty kilometers 597 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:18,040 Speaker 2: a match the guys are covering and it's it's just 598 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:20,840 Speaker 2: like wow, talk and that's why you know, you see 599 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:24,120 Speaker 2: just whipped and you know your shape like athletes rather 600 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 2: than your big rugby players, which which you know, which 601 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:29,879 Speaker 2: I understood when I when I got there, I was like, 602 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 2: you've got to cover this hole. 603 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 1: And Ben's like, yeah, watch this and it's. 604 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:35,440 Speaker 3: What it was amazing. It is amazing. 605 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 4: And how long the game is, you know, it's their 606 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:40,359 Speaker 4: game's getting out towards Oh, I think the game is 607 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 4: getting too long, Like we're getting out towards one hundred 608 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 4: and thirty one hundred and forty minute games. That's not 609 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 4: including the brake side. And there's a lot of running guys. 610 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 4: You know what I was Actually I was about one 611 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 4: hundred and five kill as. I'm not sure if you 612 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:56,000 Speaker 4: got the kils pounds. Was one hundred and five kilas 613 00:27:56,040 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 4: and used to run about sixteen k of guy. So 614 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 4: you just think I can't even I can't even relate 615 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,320 Speaker 4: to that anymore. I've completely lost my shoulders. They call 616 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:08,680 Speaker 4: me the hum and Galiano bottle and of about ninety 617 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 4: ike ellis. Now I try and keep the weight off 618 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:12,920 Speaker 4: so I still enjoy a run, but I can't even 619 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 4: imagine being that white. Now I'm still being able to 620 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:17,880 Speaker 4: cover those distances and get hit at the same time. 621 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 3: But yeah, and there have to be an all round 622 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 3: athlete to play IFL. 623 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:25,920 Speaker 4: That you have to be so talented or certainly capable 624 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:29,159 Speaker 4: in so many athletic areas as well as skill areas 625 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 4: as well. 626 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 3: Yeah. 627 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 2: Absolutely, take me back to that moment. You know you've 628 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:36,880 Speaker 2: done the preparation, you've got your mentor you come back 629 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 2: like you said, you put on you put on good muscle, 630 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 2: you put on a bit of weight. You've got the 631 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 2: opportunity now and at the end of the season, you 632 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 2: don't miss a game, you pick up the trophy. 633 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 1: How old are you at this age? 634 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 2: What's going through your head as a nineteen year old 635 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:56,960 Speaker 2: professional AFL player the son of a of an AFL legend. 636 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 2: So I suppose there's a lot of pressure there. But 637 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 2: what's going for your head when you're lifting that. 638 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:02,239 Speaker 3: Trafy thing, isn't it? 639 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:05,360 Speaker 4: Because well, initially you just got how good is this 640 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 4: party going to be? And you know I'm going to 641 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 4: be the best looking nine ae year old in Australia, 642 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 4: you know, and all these sort of things flat to 643 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:14,720 Speaker 4: your mind because we're young. We're young, and we're dumb 644 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:18,360 Speaker 4: and we're and so your party and you celebrate, but 645 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 4: we were fortunate enough our team and this is part 646 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 4: of our success. And this has helped me in life 647 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 4: to always enjoy the moment, enjoy the success, but then 648 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 4: move forward to the next challenge. Lee Matthews how great 649 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 4: coach who you know a lot of people obviously where 650 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:35,440 Speaker 4: Lee Matthews' work and you know he was voted the 651 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 4: greatest player of the twentieth century. Full time premiership player 652 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 4: and also now a full time premiership winning coach. He 653 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 4: grabbed us on the Wednesday after the Grand final because 654 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 4: we had our exit meetings and we'll sort of thinking, 655 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 4: you know, we'd be sitting there drinking beers and still celebrating, 656 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 4: and it was a pretty brutal meeting, like he was 657 00:29:57,640 --> 00:30:01,160 Speaker 4: straight to the point, and he spoke about next seaon 658 00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 4: what do we need to do have the off season, 659 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 4: what do we need to do next season? And he 660 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 4: said also too, just a little reminder, every team is 661 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,360 Speaker 4: now on zero. He said, we're four days after the 662 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:14,480 Speaker 4: Grand final, You've won the premiership. He said that counts 663 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 4: for nothing now because now at that time there were 664 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 4: sixteen teams. He said, fifteen teams are now hunting us, 665 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 4: and he said, you can be the hunted or you 666 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 4: can continue to be the hunter. And he said those 667 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 4: other teams, they don't give a fuck that you just 668 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 4: won the premiership. The score and the ladder is back 669 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 4: to zero, and that is a reminder that we need 670 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 4: to come back and be better out of the preseason 671 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 4: and obviously start again. And he always had this pyramid 672 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:45,520 Speaker 4: and he used to keep it very simple to win 673 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 4: those to make finals. Back in those days, you needed 674 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 4: twelve wins to make top four, you needed sixteen. 675 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:52,320 Speaker 3: And he used to work on that pyramid. 676 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:55,000 Speaker 4: But he said the first step of the pyramid is 677 00:30:56,240 --> 00:31:00,320 Speaker 4: personal best in the preseason. And mark my words, he said, 678 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 4: the first day of pre season, if you turn up out. 679 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 3: Of shape, I'm coming for us. I'm coming for us. 680 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:09,400 Speaker 4: And that was a little reminder and a less than okay, right, 681 00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:13,520 Speaker 4: he's right, we need to move forward. And initially it 682 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:16,600 Speaker 4: was a shock, but we learned as a very valuable 683 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:18,840 Speaker 4: lesson and I think that's why we're able to win 684 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:22,160 Speaker 4: three premierships and almost one a fourth, and we're able 685 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 4: to just keep pushing forward as a team and as individuals. 686 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:29,160 Speaker 4: And so yeah, he quickly knocked that out of me. 687 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:30,960 Speaker 4: And when I thought I was going on a six 688 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 4: month tour of Australia with the Premiership Cup celebrating, it 689 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:36,480 Speaker 4: lasted about four days. 690 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 3: Quickly pulled the cup back down. 691 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 4: And you know what, I'm glad he did because now 692 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 4: we get to gloat and we get to look back 693 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:45,600 Speaker 4: and say we didn't just win a premiership, we won 694 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 4: multiple premierships. 695 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:47,640 Speaker 1: Yeah. 696 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:50,960 Speaker 2: No, I love that sort of level playing field scenario 697 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:53,920 Speaker 2: because it's sort of grounds you, it humbles you. It 698 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 2: gets you back into that headspace of right, listen, you 699 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:59,520 Speaker 2: know we are now you know we are being hunted 700 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:01,800 Speaker 2: the hunter and you. 701 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 3: Have to have that mentality as a competitor. 702 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:05,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely you do. 703 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 4: I think it keeps hearing that I found for me, 704 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 4: and I'm sure you'd be very good at this. 705 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:14,280 Speaker 3: It helped keep you. 706 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:17,040 Speaker 4: In the moment. Obviously keep you moving forward, but just 707 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:19,360 Speaker 4: keep you in the moment. And and that's why I used 708 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,040 Speaker 4: to love him not talking about He used to remind 709 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:22,840 Speaker 4: us what we're there for. 710 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 3: Often. 711 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 4: Yeah, he was screaming as the training and the boys 712 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:27,600 Speaker 4: that have a bit of a wins or a mind, 713 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:30,160 Speaker 4: he goes, you can't handle me screaming at you. He 714 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:32,480 Speaker 4: are you going to handle one hundred thousand Collingwood supports 715 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 4: screaming at you? Two thirty on Grand Final days? That's 716 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 4: when our game starts. On Grand Final Day. You don't 717 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 4: often remind us, you know, and and and uh yeah, 718 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:42,720 Speaker 4: if I treat you like like you wouldn't put curfews 719 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:45,160 Speaker 4: in place, you know, on the weekends for the boys 720 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 4: to go and have a beer. 721 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:47,240 Speaker 3: He didn't believe in. 722 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:49,240 Speaker 4: That, because he said, if I treat you like boys 723 00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:50,600 Speaker 4: during the work, hey a, you're going to be a 724 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:53,760 Speaker 4: man on Grand Final day two thirty on Grand Final Day, 725 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:56,920 Speaker 4: he'd often just drop those things in so little reminders 726 00:32:57,200 --> 00:33:00,520 Speaker 4: always as to what you were playing this game four. 727 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:03,320 Speaker 4: But then he used to just keep it sort of 728 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 4: small goals. You know, I never get to never get 729 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:06,840 Speaker 4: too far ahead of yourself. 730 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 3: And I still love that. 731 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:09,640 Speaker 4: I think it helped me as a competitor and an 732 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:11,360 Speaker 4: athlete just to live in the moment. 733 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:12,960 Speaker 3: And I think just in my daily. 734 00:33:12,680 --> 00:33:24,800 Speaker 1: Life, Brownie, you you were a hard, hard player to 735 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 1: to to go up against. 736 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,600 Speaker 2: And you know, looking at some of your footage, I 737 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 2: wouldn't say reckless tackles, but you used to go in 738 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:35,360 Speaker 2: as if your life depended on things how and I 739 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:37,640 Speaker 2: know the majority of your career you managed, you managed 740 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:44,440 Speaker 2: to stay injury free. Was was there a a procedure 741 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:47,560 Speaker 2: in place that kept you injury free because during your 742 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:50,440 Speaker 2: younger days, can't make you used to go in hard? 743 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:52,480 Speaker 3: It was? It was. 744 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:54,840 Speaker 4: It was a funny one because I thought, I, you know, 745 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:57,840 Speaker 4: like times again, a clerk, he's being reckless. But the 746 00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:01,320 Speaker 4: position I played that yeah, I grew up and the 747 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:05,239 Speaker 4: position required. Wayne Carey was a hero mind der mc 748 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:08,800 Speaker 4: brewn was a hero our mine. And they were just hard, tough, 749 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:11,760 Speaker 4: courageous players and they played the position in the right manner. 750 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:14,799 Speaker 4: They won premiership. So I idolized those guys, So I thought, 751 00:34:14,840 --> 00:34:16,920 Speaker 4: that's the way the position needs to be played. I 752 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:19,440 Speaker 4: wasn't the greatest athlete. I certainly wasn't the quickest, so 753 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:22,239 Speaker 4: I knew that I had to be able to outcompete 754 00:34:22,320 --> 00:34:25,399 Speaker 4: my opponent and outwork my opponent. So I never wanted 755 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 4: to be have an opponent that could outwork me, whether 756 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:30,799 Speaker 4: that be physically or between the years. 757 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:33,200 Speaker 2: And did you need to switch up your training for 758 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:35,440 Speaker 2: that or did you was there a certain way that 759 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:37,920 Speaker 2: you trained that was different to the others, especially in 760 00:34:37,920 --> 00:34:39,799 Speaker 2: that position. You know, you just have to you know, 761 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:42,799 Speaker 2: you have to be hardened as well as an athlete, right, 762 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:43,120 Speaker 2: And I. 763 00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:44,640 Speaker 3: Suppose I had to get the size on. 764 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:46,759 Speaker 4: So when I came, I was about I think I 765 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 4: was about eighty six eighty akilers and like I said, 766 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:51,960 Speaker 4: I got up to about one hundred and five kilos 767 00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:53,959 Speaker 4: within two to three years. 768 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:54,960 Speaker 3: So I worked really hard. 769 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:57,799 Speaker 4: I remember the ways catch Scottie Murphy's still in the 770 00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:00,720 Speaker 4: system is that you're long, and back in those days 771 00:35:00,719 --> 00:35:03,879 Speaker 4: we wanted big, strong teams. So I had to put 772 00:35:03,880 --> 00:35:05,960 Speaker 4: the weight on because I had the spaghetti arms and 773 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:08,680 Speaker 4: the and the nose shoulders at that stage. So I 774 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 4: used to send me home from gym. I had to 775 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,360 Speaker 4: come and do extra gym sessions and send. 776 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:12,839 Speaker 3: Me them every day. 777 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:17,000 Speaker 4: Goes right, stop near the convenience store and get a 778 00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:19,640 Speaker 4: large chicken and a loaf of bread. And so I'd go, 779 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:23,680 Speaker 4: I hat this bloody half a chicken or a full chicken, 780 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:25,839 Speaker 4: depend on how hungry I was, and half a loaf 781 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:28,160 Speaker 4: for bread every day, and very quickly I got up 782 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:31,759 Speaker 4: tow one hundred and five kilos. So, you know, so 783 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:34,200 Speaker 4: physically that's what I had to do and then I 784 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:36,719 Speaker 4: had to work really hard on my power. But I 785 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:42,000 Speaker 4: think the resilience, the fitness levels and the resiliance between 786 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:44,600 Speaker 4: the years, and I think that was a big part 787 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:46,280 Speaker 4: of when I went home and trained with my mate 788 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 4: in the gym every off season for that four to 789 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:52,680 Speaker 4: six weeks, and we did some brutal sessions. Brutal sessions, 790 00:35:52,880 --> 00:35:54,799 Speaker 4: you know, things where you think, jeez, I'm not sure 791 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:57,560 Speaker 4: I'm going to survive this, and you get through it 792 00:35:57,800 --> 00:35:58,600 Speaker 4: and it just makes you. 793 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:01,880 Speaker 1: Strong, washes you feel like you're going to pass out, yet. 794 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:04,080 Speaker 4: You do, but you come out the other side and 795 00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:06,960 Speaker 4: you do, and all of a sudden, just by that, 796 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:10,960 Speaker 4: by going to those gray areas, you've improved. And then 797 00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:13,200 Speaker 4: if you come back the next day, you've improved a 798 00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:15,719 Speaker 4: little bit. And then I do this little thing. I'd 799 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:20,000 Speaker 4: always train. I get up Christmas morning and try and 800 00:36:20,120 --> 00:36:23,040 Speaker 4: at six am a New Year's day, no matter how 801 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:25,680 Speaker 4: many beers I'd had with the boys, I'd go home 802 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:27,360 Speaker 4: the country lad so they'd always want to be on 803 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:30,840 Speaker 4: the beers and catch up and newsday, I get up 804 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:32,600 Speaker 4: at six o'clock and train, and we would do a 805 00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:35,399 Speaker 4: brutal session and no matter how late i'd beat out. 806 00:36:35,480 --> 00:36:38,320 Speaker 4: I'd always did that because I sort of had these things. 807 00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:40,080 Speaker 4: It's a silly thing in my mind. I want to 808 00:36:40,080 --> 00:36:42,280 Speaker 4: do these two or three things and these killer session. 809 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:45,160 Speaker 4: So when I looked at my opponent every time I 810 00:36:45,239 --> 00:36:47,360 Speaker 4: planted him, I wanted to look into his eyes and 811 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:49,719 Speaker 4: just know that. I know, I know you wouldn't have 812 00:36:49,719 --> 00:36:51,440 Speaker 4: got out of bed and done that. I know you 813 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:52,520 Speaker 4: wouldn't have done that session. 814 00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:55,600 Speaker 1: What I'll advantages, that's I've given yourself. 815 00:36:55,680 --> 00:36:56,680 Speaker 3: Yep, exactly right. 816 00:36:56,760 --> 00:37:00,000 Speaker 4: So I guess I tried to use that as a strength, 817 00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:03,520 Speaker 4: and I think it helped me. It really did help me. 818 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:05,239 Speaker 4: Whether that at the end of the day it's a 819 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:08,160 Speaker 4: placebo effect or not. I believed in it, and that's 820 00:37:08,200 --> 00:37:10,320 Speaker 4: the most important thing, Isn't it added to the belief. 821 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:12,640 Speaker 2: It's the same with me when I went into combat. 822 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:17,000 Speaker 2: I always believe, no matter what, no matter how harsh 823 00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:20,080 Speaker 2: the target was, no matter how high the high value 824 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:22,920 Speaker 2: target was on the network, that we were going to 825 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:26,360 Speaker 2: get I always believed. Every time I stepped my foot 826 00:37:26,360 --> 00:37:28,360 Speaker 2: on the battlefield, I always believed I was going to 827 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:30,840 Speaker 2: be on that helicopter home. I'd never get shot, that 828 00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:34,279 Speaker 2: would never get injured, And people say to me, that's 829 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:36,600 Speaker 2: just a seed, and I'm like, no, no, no, I believe 830 00:37:36,719 --> 00:37:38,319 Speaker 2: that in my head, I believe that I was better 831 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:40,960 Speaker 2: than everyone else, that I moved differently, that i'd move 832 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:44,400 Speaker 2: through the target and a methodical and a way that 833 00:37:44,719 --> 00:37:47,120 Speaker 2: they couldn't see me. They wouldn't you know, I'd always 834 00:37:47,120 --> 00:37:49,120 Speaker 2: have the drop on them. But in my head that 835 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:52,120 Speaker 2: positive seed of I know that I'm always going to 836 00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:53,200 Speaker 2: be on that helicopter home. 837 00:37:53,320 --> 00:37:54,000 Speaker 1: Never did I. 838 00:37:53,920 --> 00:37:56,279 Speaker 2: Allow that seed of doubt to enter my head of 839 00:37:56,640 --> 00:37:59,600 Speaker 2: what if I got shot, what if I got injured? 840 00:37:59,600 --> 00:37:59,879 Speaker 1: On time? 841 00:38:00,600 --> 00:38:02,960 Speaker 2: And I do believe to this day that that kept 842 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:04,879 Speaker 2: me alive and kept me coming home. 843 00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:06,520 Speaker 4: Do you think there was a moment where it clicked 844 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:10,000 Speaker 4: clicked for you in your in your training, because there's 845 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:13,400 Speaker 4: I think you know that that first processon I spoke 846 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:16,239 Speaker 4: about where I went on to in MAT's gym. You know, 847 00:38:16,600 --> 00:38:19,640 Speaker 4: I think we had to do a session and I 848 00:38:19,719 --> 00:38:22,279 Speaker 4: might have to do fifty updowns. We used to have 849 00:38:22,360 --> 00:38:24,719 Speaker 4: this thing like how many updowns you could do it 850 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:28,320 Speaker 4: or burpies, and and it was part of this boxing 851 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:30,560 Speaker 4: session and I got through it, and I thought of 852 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:34,320 Speaker 4: doing these fifty odd burbies in a row at the 853 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:36,600 Speaker 4: end of a session, in the middle of this brutal session, 854 00:38:37,480 --> 00:38:39,480 Speaker 4: I didn't think I was able to do it. But 855 00:38:39,760 --> 00:38:42,000 Speaker 4: I survived and got through and I thought, geez, you 856 00:38:42,040 --> 00:38:45,080 Speaker 4: know what, I can survive that, I can survive anything. 857 00:38:45,160 --> 00:38:47,760 Speaker 2: Do you know what there was during my selection process 858 00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:49,560 Speaker 2: when I was when I was in the Royal Marines 859 00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:53,200 Speaker 2: doing doing selection, the six month process to become a 860 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:56,400 Speaker 2: Special Forces operata. I remember the first four weeks was 861 00:38:56,400 --> 00:38:58,359 Speaker 2: the hill phase where you've got extreme weight in your 862 00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:02,480 Speaker 2: back covering extreme distance to navigate the time sensitive sort 863 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:05,600 Speaker 2: of tasks. And then when you pass that, that gets 864 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:07,840 Speaker 2: rid of like seventy percent of the course. Then you 865 00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:10,520 Speaker 2: go into the jungle, the jungle six weeks and I 866 00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:14,160 Speaker 2: can remember the guy that absolutely smashed the the. 867 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:17,120 Speaker 1: Hill face the first four weeks. He was just like 868 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:17,560 Speaker 1: a beast. 869 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:22,920 Speaker 2: I was scraping through with minutes and you know, but 870 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:26,160 Speaker 2: and I can remember in the jungle just and I thrived, 871 00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:27,040 Speaker 2: and I loved the jungle. 872 00:39:27,080 --> 00:39:29,040 Speaker 1: I love the soldiering bit of it. And I can 873 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:30,080 Speaker 1: just remember him, you know. 874 00:39:30,160 --> 00:39:32,800 Speaker 2: We had to go up to her to the jungle 875 00:39:32,840 --> 00:39:34,880 Speaker 2: house every morning, you know, and it was like a 876 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:37,680 Speaker 2: kilometer long, you'd be covered in mud, you know, you'd 877 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:39,560 Speaker 2: be woken up in the night. And I can just 878 00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:42,440 Speaker 2: remember we're all going up and he was walking down, 879 00:39:43,200 --> 00:39:45,919 Speaker 2: and I can remember thinking, in what and I'm done, 880 00:39:46,360 --> 00:39:51,279 Speaker 2: it is too much for me and you know, and yeah, no, 881 00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:53,800 Speaker 2: but it just you know, the jungle just does weird 882 00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:55,799 Speaker 2: and weird things to you. And it is in that 883 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:58,640 Speaker 2: moment I thought, you know, I belong here. I'm exactly 884 00:39:58,640 --> 00:40:01,120 Speaker 2: where I'm supposed to be because I'm still loving it 885 00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:03,520 Speaker 2: and I've had, you know, this guy that everyone you 886 00:40:03,560 --> 00:40:05,480 Speaker 2: know was like he's going to smash the selection, even 887 00:40:05,520 --> 00:40:07,680 Speaker 2: though we had a long way to go. I'm just 888 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:10,160 Speaker 2: seeing him walking down, even though I was upset for him, 889 00:40:10,560 --> 00:40:12,680 Speaker 2: I just thought to myself, Wow, if someone like him 890 00:40:12,760 --> 00:40:15,319 Speaker 2: is going down, and I'm going up with not only 891 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:17,239 Speaker 2: going up, but I'm going up with a smile. 892 00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:17,600 Speaker 3: On my face. 893 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:19,520 Speaker 1: I'm like, I'm loving it. 894 00:40:19,640 --> 00:40:21,839 Speaker 2: You know, I'm covered in mud, I've been up all night, 895 00:40:21,880 --> 00:40:25,680 Speaker 2: I've done break contact reels and and that's when I 896 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:26,560 Speaker 2: that was a moment I. 897 00:40:26,480 --> 00:40:29,840 Speaker 1: Thought, smile isn't yeah, it's it's a smile. 898 00:40:30,120 --> 00:40:30,319 Speaker 3: Yeah. 899 00:40:30,680 --> 00:40:32,360 Speaker 4: I had a smile by the end, of that session 900 00:40:33,440 --> 00:40:35,200 Speaker 4: exactly grow belief from that. 901 00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:36,680 Speaker 1: Absolutely you do. 902 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:40,160 Speaker 2: And that was a moment for me that that really 903 00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:41,879 Speaker 2: sealed it, and I thought, you know, I'm exactly where 904 00:40:41,880 --> 00:40:44,640 Speaker 2: I'm supposed to be, and you know this, this is 905 00:40:44,680 --> 00:40:47,279 Speaker 2: the career for me moving forward and getting to the 906 00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:49,400 Speaker 2: getting to the top of my military career. But anyway, 907 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:54,880 Speaker 2: visit about you may and going back to going back. 908 00:40:54,719 --> 00:40:57,200 Speaker 1: To to your to your career. 909 00:40:57,400 --> 00:41:00,920 Speaker 2: Would you say that you were obsessed with your trade? 910 00:41:00,960 --> 00:41:04,960 Speaker 2: Were you, you know, to the point where, of course 911 00:41:05,040 --> 00:41:06,719 Speaker 2: we like to you know, we need our fun, we 912 00:41:06,760 --> 00:41:08,560 Speaker 2: need our downtime, we need to you know, we need 913 00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:09,040 Speaker 2: to recover. 914 00:41:09,560 --> 00:41:13,360 Speaker 1: But were you obsessed with absolutely one hundred percent? 915 00:41:13,440 --> 00:41:16,839 Speaker 4: Yeah, and you had to keep that in check, yeah, 916 00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:20,720 Speaker 4: because there is a balance to it, not mentally wearing 917 00:41:20,760 --> 00:41:23,239 Speaker 4: yourself out complayer, because you probably aren't got so many 918 00:41:24,360 --> 00:41:27,719 Speaker 4: the mental cookies in the cookie jar. So it's just 919 00:41:27,719 --> 00:41:30,799 Speaker 4: trying to keep that energy for the right times. And 920 00:41:30,880 --> 00:41:34,120 Speaker 4: my wife had often my wife Kylie, who had three 921 00:41:34,160 --> 00:41:36,319 Speaker 4: beautiful kids with she would often remind me of that, 922 00:41:36,400 --> 00:41:39,319 Speaker 4: you know, like it's you know, she might say, you 923 00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:41,160 Speaker 4: need to have a beer tonight, or you need to 924 00:41:41,400 --> 00:41:42,160 Speaker 4: relax or whatever. 925 00:41:42,239 --> 00:41:43,560 Speaker 3: It may be because you just. 926 00:41:43,520 --> 00:41:49,360 Speaker 4: Get so invested in it and almost She used to say, 927 00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:52,400 Speaker 4: you're becoming a robot. You becoming a robot, And I 928 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:55,040 Speaker 4: think that used to bleed in my game. If you 929 00:41:55,120 --> 00:41:57,520 Speaker 4: become too much of a robot in your Monday to 930 00:41:57,600 --> 00:42:00,160 Speaker 4: Friday and it's sort of bleed into the game and 931 00:42:00,200 --> 00:42:00,640 Speaker 4: you had this. 932 00:42:00,719 --> 00:42:03,720 Speaker 3: Stilted look about you so and a lack of enjoyment. 933 00:42:03,800 --> 00:42:06,160 Speaker 4: So she was always one that sort of just remind 934 00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:07,920 Speaker 4: me about that, and I think I got better as 935 00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:12,239 Speaker 4: my career went just keeping that balance and because the 936 00:42:12,320 --> 00:42:14,719 Speaker 4: end of the day, we're playing footy for a living here, 937 00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:17,840 Speaker 4: and when you play your best football is when you 938 00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:20,799 Speaker 4: were that eight ten year old kid in the backyard 939 00:42:21,200 --> 00:42:24,239 Speaker 4: playing footy, taken on your brothers, taken on your old man. 940 00:42:24,440 --> 00:42:26,759 Speaker 4: It was the enjoyment of the game. That's when you're 941 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:28,400 Speaker 4: at your best and at your purest. 942 00:42:29,600 --> 00:42:32,000 Speaker 1: And when you were at the Brisbane lines, you were 943 00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:35,959 Speaker 1: offered multiple contracts to go elsewhere. What kept you there, mate? 944 00:42:36,040 --> 00:42:38,680 Speaker 2: What was the you know, you offered a lot of money. 945 00:42:38,719 --> 00:42:40,359 Speaker 2: What what kept you with? 946 00:42:40,480 --> 00:42:42,520 Speaker 4: Well, I suppose it's the history of the lines, with 947 00:42:42,680 --> 00:42:46,160 Speaker 4: dad playing the lines and representing the same jump out 948 00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:48,640 Speaker 4: and having that premiership success, obviously you build up the 949 00:42:48,680 --> 00:42:49,480 Speaker 4: relationships not. 950 00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:51,719 Speaker 3: Over the players but all the staff that look after you. 951 00:42:51,760 --> 00:42:56,600 Speaker 4: And I married at Queensland Girl, so that certainly keeps 952 00:42:56,600 --> 00:42:58,800 Speaker 4: you a bit closer to high We still live in 953 00:42:58,880 --> 00:43:03,759 Speaker 4: Queensland women, right, Yeah, they just dragged you back. So 954 00:43:03,880 --> 00:43:06,680 Speaker 4: it was it was, you know, and then I was 955 00:43:06,680 --> 00:43:09,080 Speaker 4: the captain of the club. When I really got close 956 00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:12,319 Speaker 4: to going to Collingwood back in about two thousand and seven, 957 00:43:12,320 --> 00:43:14,319 Speaker 4: two thousand and eight, I think it was I was 958 00:43:14,360 --> 00:43:18,439 Speaker 4: the captain of the club and Kylin myself are about 959 00:43:18,480 --> 00:43:21,319 Speaker 4: to get married and start a family, you know, so 960 00:43:21,480 --> 00:43:24,200 Speaker 4: it would have been a big thing to leave, but 961 00:43:24,360 --> 00:43:26,520 Speaker 4: as the skipper of the club too, like that would 962 00:43:26,520 --> 00:43:28,040 Speaker 4: have been a big thing to leave the club when 963 00:43:28,040 --> 00:43:31,960 Speaker 4: you're the leader of the club. So ultimately I decided 964 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:34,759 Speaker 4: to stay and certainly no regrets about that, and unfortunately 965 00:43:34,760 --> 00:43:37,400 Speaker 4: didn't quite work out as well from a team success 966 00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:39,080 Speaker 4: point of view those last few years, and it was 967 00:43:39,080 --> 00:43:41,759 Speaker 4: a challenge. Collingwood went on to win a premiership. So 968 00:43:42,200 --> 00:43:44,799 Speaker 4: maybe I made the wrong maybe I wronged, made the 969 00:43:44,800 --> 00:43:47,640 Speaker 4: wrong choice. That was Collingwood supports often remind me about that, 970 00:43:47,719 --> 00:43:51,359 Speaker 4: but I bet that's right, but but you know, that's 971 00:43:51,440 --> 00:43:52,680 Speaker 4: that's life and no regrets. 972 00:43:52,719 --> 00:43:54,360 Speaker 3: When you look back in your footy career. 973 00:43:54,400 --> 00:43:58,920 Speaker 2: And when you played, was there a sense of responsibility? 974 00:43:58,960 --> 00:44:01,359 Speaker 2: Did you always have sort of your dad on your 975 00:44:01,360 --> 00:44:05,200 Speaker 2: shoulder to help you, you know, stay grounded, to help 976 00:44:05,239 --> 00:44:07,600 Speaker 2: you know, because if you let yourself down, you would 977 00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:09,920 Speaker 2: have let him down. Do you think that your father 978 00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:15,280 Speaker 2: being on your shoulder was a great sort of leveler 979 00:44:15,360 --> 00:44:16,080 Speaker 2: to your success? 980 00:44:16,120 --> 00:44:19,640 Speaker 4: Well, I think you Representing your family is a huge thing. 981 00:44:19,719 --> 00:44:23,239 Speaker 4: Certainly was for me, and I wanted to make them 982 00:44:23,280 --> 00:44:26,120 Speaker 4: feel proud for obviously the hard work that they put in. 983 00:44:26,160 --> 00:44:29,240 Speaker 4: My mum was my dad was still involved in footy, 984 00:44:29,280 --> 00:44:31,279 Speaker 4: so mum was the taxi driver. And growing up in 985 00:44:31,280 --> 00:44:34,520 Speaker 4: the country, especially playing representing footy, you do a lot 986 00:44:34,520 --> 00:44:36,480 Speaker 4: of miles and we used to have to go two 987 00:44:36,520 --> 00:44:39,319 Speaker 4: hours to training on a Thursday night at Geelong and 988 00:44:39,360 --> 00:44:41,680 Speaker 4: then for the games. It could be anywhere between two 989 00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:43,480 Speaker 4: to four hours for the games and Mum was off 990 00:44:43,520 --> 00:44:47,440 Speaker 4: and the taxi driver for that, so we had plenty 991 00:44:47,440 --> 00:44:49,520 Speaker 4: of long conversations. Used to give me the shits when 992 00:44:49,600 --> 00:44:52,400 Speaker 4: she said this good antique store. She loved her antiques, 993 00:44:52,440 --> 00:44:54,239 Speaker 4: so she's stopping an antique store and then I'd be 994 00:44:54,280 --> 00:44:55,640 Speaker 4: running laid for the footy. 995 00:44:55,680 --> 00:44:57,160 Speaker 3: Some country town somewhere. 996 00:44:57,200 --> 00:45:00,480 Speaker 4: And you know, so you wanted to make especially your 997 00:45:00,600 --> 00:45:03,879 Speaker 4: pearans prayer, but all your family prayer and obviously your 998 00:45:03,880 --> 00:45:06,920 Speaker 4: teammates and the people involved at the footy club at 999 00:45:06,960 --> 00:45:10,279 Speaker 4: the time. And so yeah, I think there's for me 1000 00:45:10,360 --> 00:45:12,319 Speaker 4: that was really a strong driver for me, and no 1001 00:45:12,480 --> 00:45:13,319 Speaker 4: question about that. 1002 00:45:14,200 --> 00:45:14,439 Speaker 3: Yeah. 1003 00:45:14,480 --> 00:45:19,399 Speaker 2: And you know, to finish up, mate, you played two 1004 00:45:19,480 --> 00:45:23,000 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty six games and scored five hundred and 1005 00:45:23,120 --> 00:45:29,640 Speaker 2: ninety four goals. Mate, that average that is phenomenal. Do 1006 00:45:29,680 --> 00:45:32,239 Speaker 2: you have a favorite goal that you could Is there 1007 00:45:32,239 --> 00:45:34,040 Speaker 2: one that six out? I know there's so mate, I 1008 00:45:34,080 --> 00:45:35,160 Speaker 2: know there's so many. 1009 00:45:34,960 --> 00:45:38,800 Speaker 3: Of them, right finals you remember one. 1010 00:45:38,880 --> 00:45:41,560 Speaker 1: You know, one where you were just like, yes, this 1011 00:45:41,920 --> 00:45:42,319 Speaker 1: is this? 1012 00:45:42,360 --> 00:45:42,560 Speaker 3: Is it? 1013 00:45:42,719 --> 00:45:44,600 Speaker 1: Or or do they all just merge together. 1014 00:45:44,560 --> 00:45:47,799 Speaker 4: A couple of I kicked a couple of goals to 1015 00:45:48,040 --> 00:45:50,040 Speaker 4: one of the tiler game and won the winning game 1016 00:45:50,360 --> 00:45:53,799 Speaker 4: on or after the siren. So they're the ones where 1017 00:45:53,840 --> 00:45:56,160 Speaker 4: you feel probably the most amount of pressure because you 1018 00:45:56,200 --> 00:45:59,319 Speaker 4: think I miss this, teammates are not going to want 1019 00:45:59,320 --> 00:46:03,400 Speaker 4: to talk to me. So that happened twice, once against 1020 00:46:03,400 --> 00:46:06,319 Speaker 4: West cast Eagles, once against Sydney. I think it was, 1021 00:46:06,360 --> 00:46:10,000 Speaker 4: but the Grand final ones are always memorable and probably 1022 00:46:10,040 --> 00:46:13,880 Speaker 4: the most important kick I had in my career that 1023 00:46:13,960 --> 00:46:17,160 Speaker 4: I kicked because you missed plenty, but you've got to 1024 00:46:17,160 --> 00:46:18,480 Speaker 4: put your head on the chopper. But I learned a 1025 00:46:18,560 --> 00:46:21,080 Speaker 4: very valuable lesson a bit goalkicking when I was young 1026 00:46:21,120 --> 00:46:24,080 Speaker 4: and taking opportunities or embracing the opportunities running towards the 1027 00:46:24,120 --> 00:46:28,799 Speaker 4: fire first year, late in the game, will behind and 1028 00:46:28,840 --> 00:46:31,759 Speaker 4: I thought, shit, if I get the ball and I 1029 00:46:31,800 --> 00:46:33,319 Speaker 4: have to kick for goal late in the game and 1030 00:46:33,360 --> 00:46:35,600 Speaker 4: I miss, imagine what everyone's going to think of me. 1031 00:46:35,840 --> 00:46:39,880 Speaker 4: So I almost almost ran away from the football or 1032 00:46:39,920 --> 00:46:43,360 Speaker 4: certainly didn't want to put myself in this situation enough. 1033 00:46:43,840 --> 00:46:46,799 Speaker 4: And guess what, the ball found me unbelievable, even though 1034 00:46:46,840 --> 00:46:49,000 Speaker 4: I wasn't trying to find the ball. And I had 1035 00:46:49,000 --> 00:46:51,000 Speaker 4: this shot and I missed a critical shot late in 1036 00:46:51,000 --> 00:46:52,960 Speaker 4: the game, we lost the gap, and from that point 1037 00:46:53,000 --> 00:46:55,640 Speaker 4: on that was a valuable lesson. I was running away 1038 00:46:55,680 --> 00:46:58,080 Speaker 4: from the fire and the fire got me, And from 1039 00:46:58,080 --> 00:47:01,680 Speaker 4: that point on, my mentality with goal kicking spish in 1040 00:47:01,680 --> 00:47:05,399 Speaker 4: those late game scenarios or late courter scenarios. I ran 1041 00:47:05,440 --> 00:47:07,239 Speaker 4: towards the fire and I think that put me in 1042 00:47:07,239 --> 00:47:12,840 Speaker 4: a lot better in mental space. Yeah, mindset put me 1043 00:47:12,880 --> 00:47:15,560 Speaker 4: in a lot better mindset to be more successful with 1044 00:47:15,640 --> 00:47:18,640 Speaker 4: my goalkicking routine, and I became a pretty good goal 1045 00:47:18,719 --> 00:47:20,719 Speaker 4: kicker in those pressure moments. So late in the third 1046 00:47:20,840 --> 00:47:24,000 Speaker 4: quarter against Collingwood, we're losing touch with him a little bit. 1047 00:47:24,040 --> 00:47:26,759 Speaker 4: We were the massive favorites, Collingwood were huge underdogs. Without 1048 00:47:26,760 --> 00:47:29,319 Speaker 4: getting over the top of us, I had to help 1049 00:47:29,400 --> 00:47:31,479 Speaker 4: turn the game for our team. We got a shot 1050 00:47:31,560 --> 00:47:33,880 Speaker 4: late in the game about forty eight out from a 1051 00:47:33,880 --> 00:47:37,839 Speaker 4: pretty tight angle and Vossi, a great premiership captain, came 1052 00:47:37,880 --> 00:47:39,959 Speaker 4: over to me. Now, Carton coach came over and said, 1053 00:47:39,960 --> 00:47:41,920 Speaker 4: big fella, we bloody need this. 1054 00:47:42,400 --> 00:47:43,839 Speaker 3: And when a man with. 1055 00:47:43,840 --> 00:47:46,319 Speaker 4: That much conviction stairs during the eyes and said we 1056 00:47:46,400 --> 00:47:49,040 Speaker 4: need this, I thought, I've got no choice, have I end? 1057 00:47:49,080 --> 00:47:50,719 Speaker 4: I've got to whack this straight through the minute and 1058 00:47:50,719 --> 00:47:52,879 Speaker 4: I reckon it was the most purest kick I ever hit. 1059 00:47:53,200 --> 00:47:55,439 Speaker 4: As soon as that ball hit my boot and left 1060 00:47:55,480 --> 00:47:58,160 Speaker 4: the boot, it was going nowhere but the middle of 1061 00:47:58,200 --> 00:48:00,319 Speaker 4: the goals. And so that was a great man. You 1062 00:48:00,320 --> 00:48:03,480 Speaker 4: were able to I guess, survive the pressure and help 1063 00:48:03,520 --> 00:48:05,000 Speaker 4: your team mates. And we went on to win that 1064 00:48:05,040 --> 00:48:08,239 Speaker 4: class Grand final by a class margin. But that helped 1065 00:48:08,239 --> 00:48:09,959 Speaker 4: give us the imputus to get us have the one 1066 00:48:09,960 --> 00:48:10,319 Speaker 4: that day. 1067 00:48:10,760 --> 00:48:12,799 Speaker 1: I love that, mate. You're in it anyway, so run 1068 00:48:12,840 --> 00:48:13,680 Speaker 1: towards the fire. 1069 00:48:13,960 --> 00:48:14,120 Speaker 3: You know. 1070 00:48:14,239 --> 00:48:15,960 Speaker 1: It's a great lesson. 1071 00:48:16,200 --> 00:48:18,759 Speaker 2: And the final question for you, mate, how hard is 1072 00:48:18,800 --> 00:48:21,560 Speaker 2: it now that you're in the media world. How hard 1073 00:48:21,640 --> 00:48:23,560 Speaker 2: is it to stay out of trouble and how hard 1074 00:48:23,600 --> 00:48:26,799 Speaker 2: is it not to bring your your pretty locker room 1075 00:48:26,800 --> 00:48:30,600 Speaker 2: antics to the to the media space where the limelight 1076 00:48:30,719 --> 00:48:32,040 Speaker 2: is on you and sometimes you. 1077 00:48:32,000 --> 00:48:34,759 Speaker 4: Have to go I know, Mum, would I say when 1078 00:48:35,280 --> 00:48:37,439 Speaker 4: dear old mom? God bless us. So they passed away 1079 00:48:37,440 --> 00:48:39,360 Speaker 4: a couple of years ago. Mom, she'd always ring me 1080 00:48:39,400 --> 00:48:42,799 Speaker 4: and go JB. She called me JB. When you go 1081 00:48:42,880 --> 00:48:47,879 Speaker 4: on TV tonight, don't swear, don't swear. So I often 1082 00:48:47,880 --> 00:48:51,920 Speaker 4: to revive myself, especially a live TV which I'm on tonight. 1083 00:48:52,320 --> 00:48:55,319 Speaker 4: Don't swear. That's whereas the cameras are there to roll. 1084 00:48:55,400 --> 00:48:59,080 Speaker 4: So so it's been very fortunate, as you would know. 1085 00:48:59,400 --> 00:49:02,239 Speaker 4: You know, he's a great industry. Fortunate enough. It's a 1086 00:49:02,280 --> 00:49:05,120 Speaker 4: privilege to still be involved for over ten years now 1087 00:49:05,160 --> 00:49:08,399 Speaker 4: since I retired and still get to. I get paid 1088 00:49:08,440 --> 00:49:10,359 Speaker 4: to go and watch games of football and call games 1089 00:49:10,400 --> 00:49:13,280 Speaker 4: of football and what's great athletes in action and discuss 1090 00:49:13,320 --> 00:49:15,600 Speaker 4: it and break it down and gives me a great 1091 00:49:15,600 --> 00:49:18,080 Speaker 4: balance with my family. I know you've got your family 1092 00:49:18,120 --> 00:49:20,440 Speaker 4: with you currently and often I bring the kids down 1093 00:49:20,480 --> 00:49:21,120 Speaker 4: in Melbourne with me. 1094 00:49:21,160 --> 00:49:21,960 Speaker 3: I've got my daughter. 1095 00:49:23,040 --> 00:49:25,319 Speaker 4: She took me to Beatlejuice some musical the other night, 1096 00:49:25,360 --> 00:49:29,120 Speaker 4: so that was a little bit different, account mate, exactly right, 1097 00:49:30,440 --> 00:49:32,840 Speaker 4: So you know that was you know, so just just 1098 00:49:33,360 --> 00:49:35,759 Speaker 4: great memories and I've really enjoyed my time in the 1099 00:49:35,760 --> 00:49:37,040 Speaker 4: media post football. 1100 00:49:36,719 --> 00:49:40,080 Speaker 2: And Brownie Listen. Thank you for coming on my podcast 1101 00:49:40,080 --> 00:49:42,200 Speaker 2: head game mate. It has been an absolute pleasure. Time 1102 00:49:42,280 --> 00:49:45,080 Speaker 2: has flown. Had a ball, mate, thank you so much. 1103 00:49:45,200 --> 00:49:46,760 Speaker 4: I've had a ball to and I love your shows 1104 00:49:46,800 --> 00:49:49,719 Speaker 4: to and listen. I've had your audio book as well, mate, 1105 00:49:49,760 --> 00:49:52,440 Speaker 4: that was fantastic. Or you're writing plenty of books. You're 1106 00:49:52,440 --> 00:49:54,680 Speaker 4: an author and I'm an author as well, mate, but 1107 00:49:55,719 --> 00:49:58,120 Speaker 4: I wrote the forward. I think that was about enough 1108 00:49:58,360 --> 00:50:00,520 Speaker 4: for me, so I had to have some help after that. 1109 00:50:01,640 --> 00:50:04,960 Speaker 1: Listen, thanks mate, and hopefully we'll catch up sooner. 1110 00:50:05,000 --> 00:50:05,760 Speaker 3: Take care. Thanks. 1111 00:50:06,440 --> 00:50:08,760 Speaker 2: You can catch more from Jonathan Brown twice a week 1112 00:50:08,840 --> 00:50:12,280 Speaker 2: on Brownie's podcast. I'll put the link in the show notes. 1113 00:50:12,760 --> 00:50:15,200 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining me on this episode of head Game. 1114 00:50:15,280 --> 00:50:17,920 Speaker 2: If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend. 1115 00:50:18,280 --> 00:50:18,400 Speaker 4: Hi. 1116 00:50:18,400 --> 00:50:21,040 Speaker 1: I'm Matt Middleton. See you again next time.