The game – Western Bulldogs 15.14 (104) defeated Melbourne 15.7 (97) at the MCG, Rd 8, 2009 Toyota AFL Premiership Season
The stats – five kicks, five handballs, three marks, four tackles, two clearances and 14 hit-outs
What was your pre-match routine today?
I got out of bed nice and late, around 9.30am and had a shower. I take things pretty slowly before the game. I like to have a big bowl of muesli with some fruit on it and sit at home and put some music on.
I try to get to the ground pretty early. We usually have to get to the ground two hours before the game, but I like to get there half an hour earlier than the others. I hop straight onto the physio’s table, get a working over for 10–15 minutes and then you’re in.
What type of music do you listen to before the game?
All jazz. Just a bit of groove and funk to get you into the mood.
Can you recall what Rodney Eade said to you and the group before you ran out to face the Dees?
Yes I can, but they’re all trade secrets!
How did you feel about starting the game on the pine?
I like to start on the ground, whether it is at full-forward or in the ruck. But it can’t always be that way. [Even though] you’d much rather be out there making the play,
it can be kind of good in a way because you can get a feel for the game. I know when I come on, I have to make an impact.
How did you approach your Melbourne ruck opponents today – Paul Johnson and Stefan Martin?
You try and do the same thing regardless of who it is. Every bounce is different anyway because you don’t know where it will go. It’s not all that technical. You have just got to keep things simple.
What are some of these simple things?
You just try and go the ball. Go the ball all the time and keep your eyes on the ball. Do that and you’ll end up winning the ball out of the middle.
What did you say to the midfielders at the centre bounces?
You tell them who to read what, who should go where and when to go. That can be kept pretty quick. You can say a number and that’s it – everyone knows where to go.
You must have been disappointed not to convert that running shot on goal in the last quarter, after the ball fell into your lap.
What do you mean it fell into my lap? I was front and centre, after doing all the hard work to get there! I was very disappointed – I wished I kicked it. The breeze just pushed it wide.
Did you enjoy the time you spent down deep in the forward line today?
I love playing up forward. The thing is you have to do something there and unfortunately I didn’t do anything up forward today. I look forward to next week so I can make amends for that.
What was running through your mind when Melbourne closed to within seven points with two minutes remaining?
If you have the ball in your hands, they don’t. You still have to keep doing what you have been doing, but be in a slightly more defensive mindset. You have to realise sometimes there is a time to attack and a time to defend.
Did you ever feel you had the four points in the bag?
Not really. I looked at the clock a few times and was thinking ‘C’mon, ring the bell’. Thankfully, it went soon after.
How do you rate your performance from a personal perspective?
I didn’t do a great deal today. I need to make sure I am contributing at a higher level and having more of an impact on the game. I don’t think I did that today.
What is on the cards for tonight and Sunday?
Tonight – very little. I’ll get another meal in. We had a couple of pizzas from Crust Pizza, which was good. We’ll also get some powerades in us tonight.
Then tomorrow we will go to the beach, walk around in the water and do it all again next week.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
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