FOOTBALL IN GENERAL
What club did you support growing up?
Essendon.
Using one word, how would you describe the life of an AFL footballer?
Pretty sweet. I know that’s two, but...
What is your favourite team to play against and why?
Essendon, because I supported them as a kid.
Is the game becoming too fast?
I like it faster!
What is your favourite football memory?
My first game was also Chris Grant’s 300th, and we won as well. It was a massive, massive night and to win just made it even sweeter.
What would you call the new Gold Coast and West Sydney teams if you had naming power?
I don’t know – I don’t want to get in any trouble! Does it have to be an animal?
If you could be any other player, who would you be?
I’d like to kick a few goals. I’ve only ever kicked one in my whole career. So probably Brad Johnson, and everyone looks up to him too.
THE TEAM
Who's the most annoying player to room with when you go interstate and why?
I’ve been rooming with Jason Akermanis at the moment and he loves a bit of a chat. However, on one of the footy trips, he was sleepwalking and ended up jumping into my bed - he was clothed, fortunately! I sort of turned over and thought ‘What’s going on here’? He eventually realised and said ‘This isn’t my bed!’
What's the funniest prank any of your teammates have played on you?
I haven’t had many other pranks played on me. Just the other day, Sam Reid was hiding in my locker and when I opened it he burst out. But that’s about it.
Who considers himself the most fashionable at the club?
Daniel Giansiracusa. Yeah, definitely ‘Gia’.
Who would be the most unfashionable?
Will Minson. He’s always wearing these weird vests and colours that don’t match – tight pleated pants, you name it. I don’t know what’s going through his head. He wears some weird and wonderful things.
Who's got the best singing voice?
Probably Robert Murphy. Wighty (Cam Wight) likes to think he can belt out a tune, but it’s never quite in the right key.
What's an amusing fact about one of your teammates that not many people know?
I’m hoping the Aker thing was a one-off, but apart from that, I’m not sure about the others. I know I like to wear the same jocks every week for the game.
If you had to pick one of your teammates to take on a date, who would it be?
Will Minson. He’s a nice guy, he knows a lot of good restaurants and I know I’ll get a good feed. Plus he’s pretty gentle.
What's the funniest Rocket moment you can think of?
Geez, I’d better be very careful here. Over the pre-season, Cam Wight messed up something and Rocket didn’t quite know what to say, so he said ‘Ohhhh Wiiiighty!’ in this particular voice, and now everytime Wighty stuffs up, everyone gives that exact saying back to him. He doesn’t like it, but it’s pretty funny.
AT HOME
Who do you live with?
I live with my fiancée, Gemma. We’ve been living together for nearly two years now, but it’s all going very well and the wedding’s in October, so we’re looking forward to that.
Who does the cooking?
She does. She’s an awesome cook. I wouldn’t dare go in there and mix something up if she’s around.
How are you in the kitchen?
I get by. If she’s not around, I won’t get take-out, I do try to make up something or microwave something, but she kills me in the kitchen.
If you were having Rodney Eade around for dinner, what would you cook?
I’d make Gem cook! Her speciality would be some scallop potatoes, and probably the chicken schnitzel with the carbonara sauce. I love it when we have guests because she puts on an unbelievable meal – and a massive dessert as well.
Who does the housework at your place?
We share that. She does the washing and cooking and I try to do the outdoors things, but we share the indoors duties.
What's your most used appliance and why?
The oven, because I’m a hungry man. That or the fridge, because it’s always stocked up when I’m looking for food. I tell her off if it’s not stocked up.
Do you have any pets?
Yep, we’ve got a German Shepherd named JJ, and a Jack Russell-cross-Norfolk Terrier named Ernie. He might be smaller, but he runs the show. What he lacks in height he makes up for in fight. He’s awesome.
What is your most annoying habit?
If you ask Gem, she probably says my flatulence. It’s all the protein I’m eating!
RANDOM QUESTIONS
Are you generally a cat or dog person?
I was a cat person, but since Gem and I have got together, I’ve become a dog person because she’s allergic to cats.
If you were stuck on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
I’d want Gem so she can cook my food, the Dogs so I’ve got something to play with and a nice little bungalow for us to be happy in.
What's your ideal holiday spot?
Gem and I have been a bit too busy to get away lately, but she loves going to the Gold Coast, so she’d probably want to go there – gotta keep her happy.
What's your idea of a perfect day?
The sun’s out, for one. I sleep in, with Gem making me breakfast in bed. Definitely bacon and eggs. Then just lazing around, no plans, doing whatever we want, just hanging out together and then maybe a nice dinner and a movie that night. I might sound a bit mushy after all this...
What action hero would you most like to be, and why?
Superman, he can do everything. Walking through walls, you name it. It also wouldn’t matter what Gem was wearing, I could see through it. There’s no obstacle to big or small for that guy.
What sort of car do you drive?
A Mitsubishi Outlander.
What's the most embarrassing song on your iPod?
I’ve just been listening to my iPod as well and there’s a few songs I’ve been skipping. That Mambo No. 5 – who’s that by? Lou...? Lou Bega. I don’t know how it got on there. I think I’ll be taking that one off.
