Tredder, the new deal, why now with a year to go?
It was something we’ve been talking about for six or seven months. Brian (Cunningham) knew his future without anyone else knowing and his idea was he wanted to secure certain players for longer periods of time – Matty Primus was done last year – so we just sat down and talked. Nothing was ever going to go ahead from the start but after we sat down, we ended up deciding on a two year extension after next year.
Happy with it?
At the end of the day, if you want to go elsewhere there’s more money but I was quite happy what they offered me. I didn’t want to go anywhere else, I’m pretty settled here and the club has been very good to me.
You’ve been saying Mark Williams has been a big influence on your career. You’re obviously happy under him and in the environment he’s created?
He’s a great coach and has probably been one of the main reasons why I have hung around. He’s been such a big driving influence for me and been a big part of my career and he’s really made me the player I am with his coaching prowess. His coaching staff and generally everyone involved in the footy club have been nothing but warm and helpful to me and have made my time here a very pleasurable experience. I think what you’ll find is if you ask every other player that you’ll get the exact same answer because its such a good footy club, a good bunch of blokes playing in a pretty successful side that’s looking to get better
You wanted Mark to get re-signed before you committed to your new deal?
It wasn’t ‘get him signed or else’ but it was something where I wanted to know the direction the club was heading (with the coach) and obviously a week or two ago that direction came to fruition and the decision was made so we got really serious with the contract because his issue had been resolved so I felt I could go on and commit myself.
Tell us how far back your associations go with the Port Adelaide Football Club?
The earliest I can remember is 1988, kicking goals with my brother at Alberton, one of us was in the goal square and one of us was in the pocket, while the league team was doing training. Dad was involved as a selector and we were dodging the ball every time it came down there during circle work. I think we annoyed the hell out of Scott Hodges as full forward but ah well. We’ve been here on and off throughout my whole life. Dad used to coach under 19s and we’d run up and down the grandstand, carrying on.
You could have earned more money if you went to another club, and many do move on for money these days. What’s your opinion on that?
Everything’s individual, you’d have to look at it case-by-case but yeah often moving clubs is money driven. Everyone negotiates their contract to the most reasonable way possible. With my current contract, through Geof Motley, we said we want something reasonable, market value for what you’re worth to stay at your club. You can earn more going elsewhere, but what you find is the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. The money may be better but the set up at Port Adelaide through the whole club is as perfect for me as possible.
What makes it so good here?
Everyone works together, everyone’s together at the same location, we’ve got a multi- million dollar facility here for the players to use. You talk to other players in the AFL competition who have looked at our set-up and they can’t believe what we’ve got. We may even take it for granted. Like if you want to go for a swim, it’s right here, a four lane heated pool. At Melbourne Footy Club, their base is at Junction Oval, while their membership and marketing is based at another area. Here, we’re all together, we’ve got a good financial footing, we’ve got a strong passionate supporter base that is expanding so there was only ever one decision for me and that was to renegotiate.
And Adelaide as a city treats you well.
Yeah, I love the lifestyle. People say Melbourne’s bigger and better and yeah you can earn a lot more money off the field in marketing and stuff but do you have the lifestyle of the good weather and relaxed and chilled out atmosphere of Adelaide. It’s got everything that everywhere else has got just on a smaller scale. The other thing, I’ve been lucky because family and friends have always been around but what you’ll find is even the guys who have come from interstate realise that what we’ve got here at Port Adelaide is pretty special and to leave it would be pretty foolish
You’ve come a long way with your footy, what are some areas you’ve improved recently?
One thing you probably can’t measure is leadership but I think that’s improved. One because Matty Primus has been injured but we’ve also got a leadership group now, eight of us including Matty, who have taken on that leadership this year. We’ve had more of a say and it has been taken on board. Mark Williams has been very open to suggestions whereas in the past we didn’t have the voice to speak up as much. One or two probably did but now as a group a lot of guys have improved in that area. I’ve also found it really good in some guys coming up and asking questions of the leaders whereas before that wouldn’t happen so much, blokes would stick to themselves. That’s the area that Choco has got everyone going in – trying to become better in every way.
How are you finding the extra attention lately, the two or three men covering you like on the weekend against St Kilda ?
It’s just a matter of playing your role within the side to win. If you had to do that every week it’d be pretty tough and you’d go crazy but other weeks it opens up and you can kick a bag. You just have to continue to play your role in the team. On the weekend, I picked up Ladey’s man (as well as my man) and Lade helped Dean Brogan play so well. Everyone wants to be in the best players every week but that’s not possible and if we all can contribute then we’ll win.
We seem to be getting good at that, everyone doing their little bit to assist the team.
Yeah, we’ve got guys who have been able to adapt, which is why they play so well, whereas in the past maybe that wouldn’t have happened. We have guys who stood up who have been playing really well for us but other sides wouldn’t imagine that they’re going to be the match winners like Dom Cassisi kicked four goals and had a great game. Make that the Tredders – Terrific of the week!
You just did it. Good on ya’ Tredders, keep up the good work and on behalf of all Power fan thanks for signing the new deal.
