Kieren Jack (Sydney Swans)
1. Which junior club did you play at?
Pennant Hills Demons.
2. What is your favourite memory of junior footy?
Probably the day I got drafted to the Swans on their rookie list. I went home and had dinner with Mum and Dad and the family, and it was a real special moment because it was signalling the start of something at the time. I had put a lot of work in and to be rewarded with a spot on the Sydney list was something I really cherished.
3. Who did you barrack for in the AFL as a kid?
Being a Sydney kid, there wasn't any other team to support. It was all the Swans, which is great because now I'm playing for them.
4. Who was your football hero?
Paul Kelly. I loved the way he went about footy. He was just so tough and courageous and so inspiring as a player.
5. What can you recall of the first AFL game you went to?
I think it was the game just before Tony Lockett's [record breaking] 1300 goals. He was a chance to kick it, but I think he may have just missed out by a couple of goals. I can't remember it too well or too much about it, but that was the first game I went to.
Troy Simmonds (Richmond)
1. Which junior club did you play at?
Montrose
2. What is your first memory of junior footy?
Playing at age 7 in what was then called midgets. I was running around on grounds full of stone and mud.
3. What is your favourite memory of junior footy?
Playing 100 junior games for Montrose. They made up a little banner and I ran through it in under-16s. I was always proud of that one.
4. Who did you barrack for in the AFL as a kid?
Carlton
5. Who was your favourite player?
Probably Wayne Johnstone in the earlier years then Anthony Koutoufides [both of Carlton].
6. What can you recall of the AFL first game you went to?
Standing in the crowd at Princes Park, trying to see the game and seeing everyone around wearing dufflecoats with numbers on the back.
Adam Cockshell (Port Adelaide)
1. Which junior club did you play at?
I grew up in Bow Hill, near Mannum and when I was about eight years old I played a couple of seasons in a little country town team called Perponda - the mighty Grass Parrots. I’ve got a few mates there that I still knock around with now.
2. What is your first memory of junior footy?
I have a very vivid memory of my little brother, who was playing at the same time as I was. He was only about four or five and, one day, he had to play for the other team because they didn’t have enough players to field a side. He took a mark, but he was facing the wrong direction because he wanted to kick to me and to our team. He kicked to me once and the umpire tried to explain that he had to kick it to someone on his team, but he kicked to me again and I remember the umpire actually picking him up, turning him around and telling him to kick the other way. It was quite funny.
3. Who did you barrack for in the AFL as a kid?
When I was very young I actually barracked for the Crows, but as a I got older, my alliances sort of faded and I wasn’t really looking for a team to support. I was more just watching footy and loving the game, even though I wasn’t playing at the time. When I started playing for Norwood I got involved a bit more and started to look at good games rather than a team.
4. Who was your hero/favourite player?
As a kid Tony Modra was a favourite with his high-flying marks, but Anthony Koutoufides was my inspiration. He had to overcome a few injuries and was still able to play some good football. It’s interesting seeing him having a run on Gladiators now.
5. What can you recall of the first AFL game you went to?
It was Adelaide v St Kilda and I was eight or nine. My country team was invited to come down and play at halftime, so we got tickets to the game. It was ages ago, probably around 1996 and I couldn’t even tell you who won!
