[17:17:31] Aaron Hamill: Mostly up forward like last year, with the occasional run on the ball.
[17:17:52] AbZ: What do you see as your biggest weakness on the footy field Aaron?
[17:18:23] Aaron Hamill: Goal kicking at times can be a bit of a weakness for me.
[17:18:39] vergs: Aaron, have you approached this pre-season any differently because of your increased leadership role, and how do you compare this pre-season to your others?
[17:20:11] Aaron Hamill: Definitely one of the better programs we've had. I'm probably the fittest I’ve been for a while. A lot of the more senior boys have taken on more of a leadership role, just to make the younger guys feel at home as soon as they come into the club.
[17:20:26] Temple: Do you have a pre-game ritual?
[17:20:51] Aaron Hamill: Nah, nothing really set in stone. Left boot on first, that's about it.
[17:21:18] stk2003: Who are your closest friends at the club?
[17:24:14] Aaron Hamill: We all get along pretty well. There aren't really any segregated groups. Obviously the older guys like Fraser Gehrig and Thommo I get along with real well.
[17:24:44] RodgerFoxII: I was ecstatic when we picked up Steve Lawrence a couple of years ago. How good is it playing alongside a guy as hard at it as him?
[17:25:44] Aaron Hamill: It's great. I don't play down back that much, but when he's up forward though, he's courageous, gives 100 percent, and has a huge presence on the field.
[17:26:05] this_year: Who has had the greatest influence on your career thus far?
[17:27:35] Aaron Hamill: Wouldn't be one person. When I was at Carlton there were so many great leaders, Silvagni, Bradley etc., then you come down here and learn from Loewe, Harvey, and Burke. I've tried to be like a sponge, just to learn as much as possible from those types of guys. Certainly hasn't just been one person though.
[17:27:48] vergs: What players do you think will be the big improvers for us this year?
[17:29:24] Aaron Hamill: Hopefully a lot. Luke Ball, Nick Dal Santo, Xavier Clarke, Matty Maguire who'll probably take on a key role down back or up forward, and Jason Blake's got over his osteitis pubis. Certainly there should be a lot of improvers this year. Brendon Goddard could possibly play Round 1, and Kosi as well will be great.
[17:29:49] this_year: What do you do to relax outside footy?
[17:30:36] Aaron Hamill: Nothing out of the ordinary. Don't mind going down to the beach. Just relaxing with friends and family. I like to go away with a couple of the boys at the end of the year.
[17:31:02] this_year: Do you have an idol?
[17:31:59] Aaron Hamill: I probably did when I was younger. Steve Kernahan when I was younger. But as you get older you just start to respect all the experienced people around the footy club.
[17:32:20] saintsss: You left Carlton for St Kilda, what makes Saints’ fans sure you won’t leave St Kilda for another club?
[17:33:19] Aaron Hamill: I'm very happy where I am. I certainly wouldn't trade places for anything. The players owe a lot to the members, and we know we've got to give back to the loyal fans who have suffered over the years.
[17:33:37] vergs: What is on the cards for the boys in Tassie, and are you looking forward to it?
[17:34:38] Aaron Hamill: Yeah, really looking forward to it - 3 days Hobart, 4 days Launceston. We'll play 5 games and mingle with the public, hopefully sign up a few more members!
[17:34:56] PrInCeSs_MiLnE: Who has been your toughest opponent thus far?
[17:35:58] Aaron Hamill: Probably an old cliché, but they're all tough. Really enjoyed playing on Glenn Archer, because he's probably one of the hardest players I’ve played on. You've really got to think and be on your game, as you do against most opponents I guess.
[17:36:09] bails: Aaron, who at St Kilda has the best skills?
[17:37:21] Aaron Hamill: There's so many different skills to master, so it's hard to pick one player. Dal Santo and Heath Black can kick the ball really well. Everyone's good at certain skills, but they're all bloody hard to master.
[17:37:34] RodgerFoxII: Where did the nickname 'Sammy' come from?
[17:38:29] Aaron Hamill: After Sam Newman. I walked in at Carlton and one of the guys called me Sammy - ever since then it's stuck. Purely nickname, no reputation.
[17:38:47] this_year: Do you find it harder to remain focussed when travelling for an interstate match Aaron?
[17:39:35] Aaron Hamill: No I don't. There are factors to combat: different grounds, and different supporters. But all the boys really enjoy it.
[17:39:57] PrInCeSs_MiLnE: What’s the worst and best thing about being an AFL footballer?
[17:40:54] Aaron Hamill: Best: 22 guys going out week in, week out, giving their all; I don't think you can get that in any other industry. Worst: not playing to your potential as a team.
[17:41:08] stk2003: If we have a bit of luck with injuries (touch wood), how high do you think we can finish?
[17:41:45] Aaron Hamill: I definitely think if we don't make the finals we'll have under-achieved. Everyone is committed to playing finals’ football in 2003.
[17:42:03] HarveysDeciple: Your attack on the ball is sensational, and it is rubbing off on others, has anyone influenced you to play the way you do?
[17:43:22] Aaron Hamill: I was brought up in Canberra, so I played a mixture of sports - basketball and rugby league etc. I think that helped, but it's just the way I naturally play. I didn't really train to play like that.
[17:43:39] RodgerFoxII: How excited are you about captaining the first Saints premiership team in nearly 40 years?
[17:44:51] Aaron Hamill: It'd be a great script wouldn't it. I don't think we can look beyond playing in the finals. If I got the captaincy, I’d take it with open arms. If I don't get the captaincy, it's certainly not the end of the world.
[17:45:01] Temple: What is your favourite food?
[17:45:06] Aaron Hamill: Chicken.
[17:45:19] bails: Aaron, what’s it like playing next to Milney?
[17:46:43] Aaron Hamill: He's a little pest to be honest. What you see on the field, he's twice as bad off it. He's great, a real live-wire, and exciting to watch. He's certainly stepped up, but he's fired up for an even better year. He certainly brings a smile to my face playing alongside him; we're still trying to work on getting a handball off him inside 50!
[17:46:54] HarveysDeciple: How is the excitement level as we get closer to the season, does the intensity lift in the lead up to the Wizard Cup?
[17:48:18] Aaron Hamill: Definitely. As soon as we get back from camp, we're into it. We realise the opportunity we have as a team to be successful this year. All of our sessions have been up tempo; just having the younger kids has lifted the intensity of us older guys. We've still got a long way to go to achieve what we want to achieve.
[17:48:34] Temple: Do all your friends and family usually come and support you at the matches?
[17:49:14] Aaron Hamill: Yeah, my family moved interstate, they come over every 3 or 4 matches. My friends come down all the time, and are certainly a part of it.
[17:49:27] bails: Aaron, do you set a target of goals you would like to kick this year?
[17:50:56] Aaron Hamill: Probably I should be kicking a couple a game, and setting up 3 or 4 for others each game. I don't really put a figure on it, because that can limit you a bit.
[17:51:13] HarveysDeciple: What goes through your mind when you’re running back into a pack situation, and you’re about to get crunched?
[17:52:02] Aaron Hamill: Fortunately you don't have that much time to think about it. Most things on the field happen pretty quickly. You don't really worry about it, unless you wake up on a stretcher!
[17:52:39] Aaron Hamill: Thanks very much for the questions everyone, I’ll see you all during the season!
