It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Brent Moloney, but it’s one he was happy to take.
While for a lot of footballers it would be hard to leave the club that nurtured your early career in the AFL, it provided an opportunity that Moloney has relished, becoming part of a deal that saw Brad Ottens make a move to Geelong. Since joining the Demons, he hasn’t looked back.
“In the end, I was still contracted to Geelong, so I didn’t have to go anywhere, but I barracked for Melbourne as a kid, so it was a dream to actually be able to play for them, and play alongside some of the blokes that were my heroes growing up,” reflected Moloney
“The transition has been great. The boys really welcomed me when I got to the Club, and looked after me, so I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Moloney had an outstanding first season at his new club, playing 21 of 23 games, and placing a very respectable fourth in the Best and Fairest award. He was also part of the team that took on Ireland in the International Rules Series at the end of the year - an experience which he says was fantastic for him and his development as a footballer.
“It was great, just to play and train with elite players from other clubs, some of them who I idolised growing up, and to be able to feed off them. It was a great experience for me.”
In this, his second season at Melbourne, Brent hopes to build on his first season at the Club, and hopes the Demons will go a long way in 2006.
“We had a bit of a slow start to the season, losing the first three games, but last year we had a flying start and dropped away, so hopefully we can reverse that trend, build our season up, and come home a bit stronger, hopefully even go all the way.”
After such a strong 2005, Brent’s preparation for the 2006 season was marred with injuries to his shoulder and calf. He missed a number of weeks of training, but he has now bounced back, putting those early troubles well and truly behind him.
Facing his ex-teammates, like in Friday night’s game, is something that Brent really enjoys. “I absolutely love playing against Geelong, it’s something I really look forward to each season,” he said before the side’s final training run before the crunch game.
When asked what has had the biggest impact on his career so far, he is quick to admit that the move to Melbourne has had a major bearing on his football.
“Neale rang me and asked me if I wanted to come, and told me that he was going to give me a bit more opportunity than I had at Geelong, and he’s done that, so that was by far the biggest move in my career so far,” Brent admitted.
Confirming that he would love to stay at Melbourne until the end of his career, the future looks bright for Moloney. After all, at the ripe old age of 22, it is just the beginning.
