IT WAS a relaxed and jovial Dean Laidleywho fronted a charity fundraiser arranged by the school his son attends in theweek leading up to the Kangaroos-Geelong match in round 20.
He was joined on stage that night by Geelong coach MarkThompson, where both men were asked a series of questions by radio personalityTony Leonard about the keenly awaited rematch of the Kangaroo's thrillingvictory over the Cats in round five.
In one of the last questions of the night,Leonard asked each player who his favourite player to coach was. Notnecessarily the best, but the one player they watched and admired as someonewho was charged with bringing out the best of a squad of 40 or so young men.
Perhaps surprisingly, neither coach hesitatedwhen they gave their answer.
Thompson said Matthew Egan had won hisadmiration for his persistence and work ethic after choosing to make AussieRules his priority after giving up on a promising career as tennis player.
Laidley was just unequivocal when henominated Daniel Pratt, the defender who must have come agonisingly close tomaking the short-list of 40 players ear-marked for All-Australian selectionthis season.
The Roos mentor went on to recall the firsttime he saw Pratt playing as a teenager among men in the QAFL, and went on totalk about how, on the recommendation of senior figures at the club, he had totell the headstrong youngster his time was up when he took charge of theKangaroos at the end of the 2002 season.
He spoke about how he met with him when itlooked like his career was over yet again upon his axing from the BrisbaneLions at the end of 2004. He was glowing in his praise of how Pratt handled hissecond big kick in the guts, and was taken with how passionately he spoke aboutnot letting him down if he was given a third shot at the big time.
But the one moment that stood out for himwas how bravely he took yet another knock in his AFL career after being dropped onthe eve of the Roos' elimination final against Port Adelaide in 2005.
It was a moment that left an impression atthe time on Pratt, too, something he admitted in the lead-up to this week'spreliminary final against Port Adelaide.
"I actually got dropped for that gameand it was very disappointing to miss out," Pratt said at training thisweek.
"The team didn't perform on the dayand it probably hurts more that way because you felt you could have donesomething to make an impact.
"But as much as it probablydisappointed me back then, I'm not really looking back on things now – we'vegone on a new path this year and I'm just looking to go forward everyweek."
Far from being a chance to miss out on theRoos' biggest match in seven years, Pratt has established himself as one of themost important members of a team that has surprised many on the way toSaturday's preliminary final.
Comparisons with club legend Glenn Archerare not uncommon or unwarranted, with the 24-year-old regularly performing thesame recklessly courageous acts that have become the Shinboner of the Century'strademark.
The similarities between the pair have beennoted by their Kangaroos teammates, who regularly rib Pratt about his desire toinherit the famed No.11 guernsey worn into battle on 310 occasions (so far).
"A couple of the boys have joked thatI've been trying to hint to Arch that I want his jumper but look, whatever theclub wants to do with it or Arch wants to do with it I'd support that.
"They could easily give it to someonelike Michael Firrito or even to Daniel Harris.
"Maybe they'll retire it, which Ithink would be a fantastic idea. But whatever they do with it doesn't worry me.
"If they do pass it on to keep Archieat the forefront of everyone's mind in the future, I'd support that. But Ihaven't really thought about that."
If it was up to the coach, you'd reckonPratt will be up for a number change over the off-season.
