How’s the knee?
Going really well! It’s tracking along very nicely. I should be running next week hopefully. But at the moment, I’ve just been in the gym, eating and doing weights. I’ve been enjoying it, actually. But I’m looking forward to running again.
Aim for me, my goal is just (to play) Round one! I’ll be absolutely cherry ripe next year. So that’s my goal. Hopefully we’ll have it all sorted by then!
What’s the best game I’ve played in?
Good questions there! Wow! Obviously I remember the debut, a couple of milestone games, but the Geelong prelim was amazing. The Grand Final was awesome too…for a half. But I actually loved the Grand Final.
How’s the recovery going?
The recovery is going well. Thanks for asking everyone!
Dad life! How’s Dad life going?
Very well! I’ve got two little boys, Bodhi and Sonny. (They) are crazy! But they're awesome! I love spending time with them, I love doing stuff outdoors and getting down the beach - they are probably my favorite things to do!
How good is it that Tex has signed on?
Yes it is very good, the big Texan’s signed on! He’s in the best knick of his life, really at the moment. So Tex will play for many more years, I reckon. As for me, I’m the same! I honestly feel likeI got a whole year to rehab the knee, but a whole year to get fit and healthy, so I reckon I’ll be in the best knick of my career coming into Round One!
What’s your favourite goal you’ve kicked Rory, got to be the first goal of the grand final?
First goal in the grand final is up there with one of my favourite goals! But in the wet against GWS, I got a Goal of the Year nomination for miskicking the ball after taking a few bounces down the wing and snapping on my left. That was up there with my favourite.
If you could convince one current day player to come to the Crows, who would it be?
It’d be Danger, I’d want to get Danger back! I love that man!
Thoughts on Berry?
Love Berry! Sammy Berry is one of my favourite footballers at the moment. We all love his tackle pressure, but he’s just a hard nut! Reminds me of like a hardened, local footballer you’d see back home with the long hair, headband and that kind of thing!
Have you surfed Cactus yet?
No, not yet! Plan is to get over there sometime next year when I’m back surfing.
Who’s your favourite band?
I love the Black Keys at the moment. Probably the one I’m listening to.
How is the new fitness/food regime going?
I’m eating a lot of food, I’m in the gym a lot! Our high performance team is awesome, our physios amazing, our strength coach is awesome. My goal is really is to control what I eat and control my recovery.
Who’s impressed you the most this season?
Jake Soligo, Sammy Berry, Lairdy continue to impress me! He got tagged on the weekend by Luke Parker and I think the way he handled that was incredible.
Who is the most annoying player at the club?
We’ve got a few! Tex is up there. Luke Pedlar. They go at each other too which is very funny to watch!
What’s the toughest part of the ACL recovery?
Watching the boys run out - I normally walk out behind them - and watching the boys run out, that’s probably the toughest bit.
As well as not being able to surf, those are the two that are getting me!
Who’s your favourite team-mate?
I love them all!
Do you see yourself playing forward?
Absolutely! I’ve played forward - I started my career as a half forward. So when I come back I’ll play a bit of mid, a bit wing, bit of forward, bit of everywhere I reckon!
Thoughts on when you think the Crows will be back playing finals?
Next year we’ll make finals, I reckon! That’s gonna be the aim!
Did you get to choose the No.9 guernsey? If so, why?
I kind of did in the end, it was just out of nowhere. I don’t know who said that Rory Sloane should take Tyson Edwards' number. Then I just asked Zooma for it and he said he’d love to give it to me. I’ve got a lot of love for Tys - he was one of my favourite players to watch as I came through and one of my favourite players to learn of as well.
How's the team rebuild going?
I hate that word reuild. The goal is just to be as good as possible for us, and just keep overachieving basically. We want to make sure we’re back playing finals as quickly as we can. I’ve just loved the development of some of our younger guys. And you all watch them. I’m sure you all love Jake Soligo, Sam Berry, Jordon Butts, Nick Murray, Will Hamill. These guys are playing some great footy and they’ve only played a handful of games.
If you could bring back any former Crows player who would it be and why?
Mods. Tony Modra. I love Modra. He’s just God isn’t he?! Yeah, I’d bring back Mods. It’s very hard because I love Scotty Thompson, I love Andrew McLeod, I love Tyson Edwards, I love so many of our past players.
Any advice for an ACL injury?
Do the work! The little stuff makes a big difference. The little knee rehab stuff that might seem annoying from the physio, but definitely get that done because that’s making a massive difference for me.
How much time do you allow Lairdy on the playground?
Haha, that’s a short person joke, don’t mind that!
Of the players on the list who haven't played yet, who do you think is the most promising?
Zac Taylor is one of our first year players, he’s gonna be very handy! Luke Nankervis, very very handy footballer. I reckon he’ll play some footy. Guy’s that have impressed me…our whole backline group in the SANFL have really impressed me. James Borlase, Billy Frampton, Benny Davis, Josh Worrell, all playing great footy!
Have you been surfing since doing your ACL?
Nah, I haven't been surfing yet. My rule is if I’m not playing I’m not really surfing. So I’ll hopefully surf at the start of next year.
What’s your favourite wine region?
Now we’re talking! Probably McLaren Vale. Probably because it’s closer to me, but they’re all amazing! Love the Hills, the Hills remind me of back home, in the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Rangers where I grew up. But when I get the time I love going to the Barossa as well.
What’s your favourite place to visit in South Australia?
I love the Yorke Peninsula. I don’t get a lot of time to get there though, so I spend a lot of time down the Fleurieu Peninsula. The Deep Creek area too is amazing.
Where’s one place you want to travel to in the world?
Italy, my wife’s got family there. So Florence, Tuscany, I’d love to go there. I’d probably love to live there for a year actually. And then sort of branch out from there - Portugal, Spain, that kind of thing, Morocco!
Do you get to watch any of the SANFL?
Yeah I do. When I’m not traveling with the team, I’ll go watch the SANFL boys. Love watching them!
What’s your pre-game diet?
Nothing superstitious or anything like that. I mix it up, sometimes a pasta dish, rice dish, curries. I have a lot of different food. My wifes a very good cook actually, she makes a great gnocchi!
Any chance you might get up to Cairns again?
I’m not sure. I don’t think we’ve got a game there, we definitely don’t have a game there this year, who knows maybe next year.
Where did you get married?
Good question! I got married in the Hinterland Byron. 2016. It was a very very fun week and a very big week.
Do your boys like footy?
They love kicking the footy around. Sonny loves his little Face footy we created! That's a lot of fun for him. But he’s probably more into his cars. That's big for him.
What’s your relationship like with Nicksy?
I have a great relationship with Nicksy. I spend a lot of time in his office chatting about footy. He’s got a very, very smart footy brain! I learn a lot off Nicksy.
Are you ever going to grow that luscious blonde hair out again?
That’s been a thought at the moment, but it’s gone a bit Brown since I’ve grown it back after being short. This summer it might need to be a bit longer and spend some more time in the water and sun.
Would you ever come visit Austin Texas and meet the Austin Crows?
Yeah I’d love to get to Austin.I think Yeti, the brand Yeti was developed in Austin and supports the Austin Crows. That’s why you’ll see all the boys carry around the drink bottles. So there needs to be a trip out there!
What do you miss most about Victoria?
Not the weather! The people, I miss a lot of the people in Victoria. The other place is Wilsons Prom, I miss.
Are you drinking Grange or cask wine?
Probably something in between to be honest, that’s polar opposites there!
Favourite winery in McLaren Vale?
Primo Estate, Samuel's Gorge are up there with my favourites. I love taking the kids to Down the Rabbit Hole. There’s so many down there I love going to!
Why have we gone backwards this year?
I don’t think we’ve gone backwards, if you look at our list and team, it's younger and more experienced than last year. We’re obviously missing myself and Seedo which would help with that experience. Some of the games we've played this year, we should have and could have won but we didn’t. But some of the footy we’ve played this year is setting us up for the years to come.
Weight loss in rehab Sloaney - Seems you've lost a bit ?
I did lose a little bit early on, I probably lost about 4kgs, dropped down to about 78-79kgs. But now I’ve put it back on, I’m up around 83-84kgs. Just did a PB on the bench too!
What are your plans for after footy?
Hopefully, I'm still a few years off that, still. I reckon I am. But plans after, I’m not sure. I mentioned earlier I’d love to get to Italy and spend a bit of time over there.
Where will you live post-career?
South Australia or Victoria. Not sure yet. Been here for so long.
Where is the one place you want to surf?
That’s Jeffreys Bay.
