Round 10 brought a few pleasant surprises; our first win since our come-from-behind-victory over the Bombers; our first Rising Star Nomination to demi-god Bryce Gibbs and an amazing return game from Jordan Bannister. Banno’s attack on a loose ball to stifle a forward thrust from Bulldog Nathan Eagleton, which led in a goal, win’s this week’s Play of the Week.
Not only did you get a recall to the seniors and make the best players, but you’ve won this week’s Play of the Week. Could the week get any better?
That’s awesome!
Sorry
Haha…That’s good enough…
The Play of the Week is for your hard attack on the ball, gather and clearance. Tell us about the incident and what was going through your mind at the time.
I was with Brad Johnson at the 50 metre line, and a kick into space was directed out to the wing. Nathan Eagleton was running on to it – so I left Johnson, who stayed Inside 50, and I managed to get it. Eagleton couldn’t make the tackle, so I got it, kicked to Bryce Gibbs – who is so composed with it – and we got a goal in the end of it. I knew if Eagleton had have got it….it was going to be a hard one.
Is playing in a shootout like that as exciting as watching it?
Yeah, definitely. It was so exciting, but mainly because of the guys I was playing with down back – I live with Andrew Walker, Houlihan lives a few metres up the road, and
There were some articles in the press talking about games like that lacking science or strategy – but then you talk to the fans and even though we are lower on the ladder than we want to be, Carlton fans are seeing our attacking nature as a saving grace. Where do you sit on the issue?
It’s an interesting one – at junior levels, say Under 12’s and Under 14’s, all they talk about is that ‘DEFENCE WINS GAMES’. As you play through the ranks it’s all about beating your man – I guess defence has been seen to be a priority. But there has to be a balance.
The rumour is that you were told that you wouldn’t get a game until some of the kids have had a go – is that true?
No, I was never told that. Denis was very honest with me and told me that ‘You’re going to have to work hard to get a game’. Denis has always been honest with me, and he was clear that everyone would be competing for spots, and that we would have a lot of the kids coming through, but also that he was mindful of those in their mid 20’s getting a game if they deserved it – and then taking the chance if it came.
I guess the last time we saw you was in Round 21, 2006. After a few good games in a row, you just couldn’t take a trick in this game – getting caught with the ball, getting suspended…how do you feel after a game like that? Does it affect your confidence?
I suppose I had a couple of weeks to think about it after, and I was down on myself for hesitating with my decision making. Yes, I got caught a few times that game. But then I told myself to forget about it, and try to relax – try not to think about the consequences, or worry about contracts or anything like that – you can only control what is controllable.
How did it feel in your first game back when the Coach tells you "Take Brad Johnson"?
All along before the game I was coming in to take Adam Cooney, and I was on Aker for a bit in the second quarter, but then, at half time, Denis says to me ‘We need you on Brad Johnson’. I’d played on him last year and he’d got away from me abit, but Denis said ‘just play him tight, you don’t need to do anything flashy, just beat your man’. Actually Liberatore ran through it with me, and Stephen Kernahan had a few tips too, and after all of that I was feeling confident about it.
Through the game, I saw that our midfield pressure was pretty good, so I just planned to play in front the whole time, and it worked on him.
What did Fev say to you after your goal – was he upset with you for kicking a goal from outside 50 instead of kicking to him?
Nah, I said thanks to him about 5 times! Fev is one of the hardest workers in the forward line – I was just grateful that he let it through!
Have you and Fev ever had a shootout? Because you'd be just about the biggest kicks in the team...
He’d have me hands down. You see him at training kicking them from 60 metres out on the boundary line and you just shake your head – he’s one of the best kicks out there. We see it at training – you wouldn’t see it so much in a game – but his field kicking is pretty impressive too.
You got to play alongside Gibbs for the first time in a competitive match on the weekend. And we thought he was, you know, pretty good. Does anything put him off his game?
Some people just have it naturally – he’s a born leader. I see him and think back to when I was a 17 year old starting up at Essendon, and just think of the differences.
When Setanta kicked that goal, was there a genuine concern he would explode?
Haha - we’ve seen some of his hurling tapes and let me tell you – some of his celebrations are ridiculous! He loves a celebration, but the boys enjoy it and encourage him.
You’ve been in the press this week a bit and Denis has had some nice words to say about you. What do you think you have to do to "nail your opportunity" as Denis has asked you to do?
Well, last year I played about 10 of the last 12 games and I was playing OK, starting on the field in those games, and then there was that Round 21 game you talked about. All along Denis has been very honest with me – maybe I can hold myself high like he said because I always know where I stand.
Back to your time at the Bullants, Is the game plan very different between what you experience in the reserves and what you experience in the seniors, and if so is it difficult to make the transition?
Good question – I don’t think it’s the game plan but it’s the skill level of the players involved. Down at the Bullants, the skills probably aren’t as good, so Barry’s been on at us to keep possession a bit longer and hold the play up a little, to make sure we don’t cough it up. But at
You are one of only three players named
Easy… Doering and Russell. I have played across from Doering before but we weren’t at
50 games this weekend. Did you think you'd ever make it? Because it must be said, many would have had their doubts…
I reckon I’ve thought about 100 times that I’d never make it, that I wasn’t going to get this far. Some guys celebrate their 100th game, but I am as proud as anything to make it to the 50 games. I know I’ve got a long way to go, but me, my Dad, my brothers, we’re all really proud of this.
It’s impossible not to like
