AFL footballers are presented with some fantastic opportunities to develop skills that may never be offered to people in the general public.

One such skill is the art of public speaking and talking to the media.

The AFL gives talented junior footballers media training in preparation for joining an AFL club. However nothing can prepare you for a “real” press conference – something I would find out when I arrived at Port Adelaide.

In Melbourne, with 10 AFL clubs, the media attention is more spread, and the majority of the media is handled by the senior players of the clubs.

In Adelaide however, with only two teams, you are expected to front a group of 5-10 dictaphone-wielding reporters, whilst being filmed by four large, confronting cameras from the moment you join the club.

Just like kicking and handballing is a skill, so is public speaking and being able to answer tough questions when they are fired at you. It is a skill that you see young players develop over time and with more experience. We are fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to develop this skill by doing press conferences on a regular basis – usually around once-a-month. The development of Danyle Pearce, Shaun Burgoyne and Kane Cornes’ speaking skills in the time that I have been here is a big tick to our media relations department and the guys themselves.

My first Adelaide press conference was at my first ever Port Adelaide training session in December of 2003 and it was ‘interesting’ to say the least.

A delayed flight had caused me to arrive at training late. Here I met Choco for the first time. He first had a go at me for being late and then at the clothes I was wearing.

I joined in the session, not knowing anyone, and wearing the tightest running shorts you could imagine (apparently they were the only size left). Following the session I was again greeted by Choco, who told me my legs were too big (they should look like his, he said, pointing to Byron Pickett’s chicken legs) and I looked like I could shed a few kilos. Now confident as ever in my appearance and my chances of making a big impact at my new club, I was told that the media would like to ask a few questions.

I had done some radio interviews since the draft so I should be fine I thought. “Oh and also we are announcing our new sponsorship agreement with Vodafone, so do you mind if we put some tattoos on your face and arms?” Um OK.

So here I am about to give the Adelaide public their first glimpse at this ‘shock draft pick’, and I’m still blushing from my first hard training session, knowing that the coach already thinks I am too fat, and with temporary tattoos all over my face!

Despite all of this I was able to blurt something out about it ‘being my last chance’ and that ‘I think I have something to offer as a back-up’. Somehow I was even able to plug Vodafone and highlight how important they are to the club. Not too bad.

Talking in front of people and particularly the media can be very daunting for anyone. You get nervous and often wish you had not said a lot of the things that you say. But over time it does get easier and is a tremendous skill to have in your armoury.

I’m up again on Thursday. Wish me luck.

mahns