What football experience you have ? 

I started playing footy when I was 7 or 8yrs old, playing in the first ever side for the Glen Orden footy club (U10's) in the WSFL I played most of my junior footy there, (1 year at Werribee) stepping up to play seniors when I was just 14 (along with some of my junior team mates) in Glen Orden's inaugural senior year in the FDFL under Captain Coach Paul Johns. This bloke could play. I mean, really play. How he didn't play at AFL level I'll never know. From there I went to Wyndham Vale to return to playing under age footy in the U16's & then U18's in the GDFL. Very tough league, where we made 3 GF's and didn't win any. Bloody Modewarre!! Beat us in every one of them. The U18's one we lost by a point after the siren from a free kick and 50m penalty still kills me. I resumed FDFL seniors at Wyndham Vale for a few years playing mostly reserves with a few 1's games thrown in (loved playing ressies - could get on the cans during the 1's!!), more GF's, more losses! (was getting used to it by now) The year after I left they bloody won it! (Marty McCormack was a great coach, as was Chris Pastore and Steve Fletcher) Side note: I went to train with Footscray U19's, thinking I was a bit better than I actually was and I'm certain they saw me coming. After saying, "yeah, sure mate, why not" and a few laughs, we started with a 10k run. By the time I got back training was halfway done, so I just got in my car and left. Valuable lesson learnt - never tell your mates you're going to train with an AFL (then VFL) side unless you can actually keep up - I copped it over that for ages. I took a break from footy for a couple of years and resumed with GDFL side Werribee Central's in my (almost) mid 20's, however that was short lived as I learnt some of my mates were at old Westbourne in the VAFA, so off I went. Played ressies for a couple of years and had a ball. Anyone remember Steve the old PE teacher at Werribee high? He was the coach - absolute cracker of a bloke. Wish I'd had him at junior level. I took a few years off as I made an effort to visit nearly every pub in Melbourne. I resumed at the ripe old age of 31 in Sydney of all places with the Norwest Jets (now the Hawkesbury Jets) in 2002 and played for a further 3 seasons. Unfortunately for me, the beers and the darts did me no favours and the game had passed me by. I didn't have the dash I'd once had and realistically was played out of position due to my age, weight and lack of speed. I still reckon if I was played in midfield I'd have had an impact. Another side note, I ceased playing end of 2004. They won back to back flags in '05 and '06. I just wasn't meant to win one. During this time I was appointed the president of the club in 2003 and it only took that 1 year to realise I wasn't cut out for committee. I had to step in to coach the reserves in 2003 a few times after an incident saw our coach make a quick, yet welcome departure at 3/4 time in the first game!! In 2004 I was an assistant coach for the reserves, and had to step in to the coaching role a few times as the coach was RAAF and was in and out of the country. For anyone that cares to know, the Jets have a culture that is enviable around the country. Once a Jet, always a Jet and I made brothers for life at that club. Still catch up with them now and it's been 20 years since I last played. Bloody love 'em. I've played the odd super rules and masters games afterwards but it's much different when you've got to take 20 odd pills before the game just to be able to run on the paddock! By the end of '05 my footy journey was done. I was 34 So, after what seemed an eternity away from the game, my son Lachy, started with Auskick in 2019 (I think he was 5 turning 6). I'd been away from footy for pretty much 15 years and I really, really wanted to just be a spectator parent, but by the time he hit U12's in 2024 I couldn't help myself and asked Daniel Inzillo if he needed an assistant and luckily for me he was actually needing one! Loved working with Daniel last year. Was great how we both saw the same thing in the kids and were able to bounce ideas off each other. Really had me wanting to coach again - and after Daniel decided to step back this year, I gladly applied for the job - and here we are! I've pretty much been around footy clubs most of my life. The club culture and comraderie you get from team sport is like nothing else. You make mates for life out of this game - it's why I love it so much. 

What AFL team you follow? 

The mighty Western Bulldogs 

What you like about being a coach? 

Blowing the whistle and laps! Lol. But seriously, helping kids learn the club and team culture and the many disciplines it takes to become good footballers and fall in love with the game. Teaching them the skills and the ways of the game, from tactics and strategies, to simple game plans and styles, I hope to help them grow their abilities and gain the same kind of mateships I've enjoyed in my life. It sounds a lot for a 12 year old to take on, but football is a very simple game. Learn it right and play for life.

What are you looking forward to with the 2025 season? 

The growth of the team has been incredible. What Daniel took on at the start of 2024 was quite a daunting task. We thought if we win 1 it'll be our GF, but then to miss out on finals by 10 points shows how much these kids grew last year. This year is about consolidating on that growth. More skill and game style development. We have our game plan this year and so far it has done us well. We'll continue to improve on that and introduce new aspects and give the kids more weapons for their kit bags. By the time they hit the next level, they'll be fully equipped football machines!! We have set our sights on a finals game to give them some experience at the pointy end of the season, however there is no pressure on them. I just want them to continue to develop. Premierships will come. We just need to be patient and let them grow into that premiership winning team the I know they can be.