FOOTBALL IN GENERAL
What club did you support growing up?
Hawthorn. John Platten was my favourite player.
Using one word, how would you describe the life of an AFL footballer?
Demanding.
What is your favourite team to play against and why?
I like playing against the old team, Port Adelaide. It's always good to beat them, and they've still got a few of my old mates on the list. Not too many now, though.
Is the game becoming too fast?
No, I don't think so. It's just the way it's evolving and the way footy's going, and you've just got to adapt and be ready for it.
What is your favourite football memory?
Probably my first game, which was against Brisbane, when we won by two points, and also the 1991 Grand Final. Dad had a tape of that so I used to watch it all the time. It was between Hawthorn and West Coast, and I know that game pretty much back to front.
What would you call the new Gold Coast and West Sydney teams if you had naming power?
The Gold Coast Pirates and the West Sydney Snakes. That could work.
If you could be any other player, who would you be?
Chris Judd, because of the way he goes about it. I wouldn't mind being Buddy either, and being able to kick freak goals all the time.
THE TEAM
Who's the most annoying player to room with when you go interstate, and why?
I room with Brian Lake, so he's the most annoying. He's not the tidiest bloke going around.
What's the funniest prank any of your teammates have played on you?
The old stink bombs in the car gets a fair run. It happens a bit. There's always payback so I try and stay out of it, because then you don't get done yourself.
Who considers himself the most fashionable at the club?
Probably Gia. He loves his fashion and he's always in the Sunday paper in the Confidential column. Brian thinks he's pretty fashionable as well, but he's got no fashion sense at all. He just looks after his sponsor.
Who would be the most un-fashionable?
Give it to Brian.
Who's got the best singing voice?
Rob Murphy. He goes alright on the guitar, plays a few tunes and we have a sing-along, and also Dylan Addison is one as well. He loves playing the guitar and he knows his songs. He's pretty good too.
What's an amusing fact about one of your teammates that not many people know?
Lindsay Gilbee once asked where the Stawell Gift was run.
If you had to pick one of your teammates to take on a date, who would it be?
Probably one of the South Australians so we'd have something in common and something to talk about, so maybe Adam Cooney. We can talk about little old Adelaide together.
What's the funniest Rocket moment you can think of?
On the weekend in Darwin, he asked one of the players in one of the breaks, "Are you playing or sitting back and smoking cigars?" That was pretty funny.
AT HOME
Who do you live with?
My wife and two kids.
Who does the cooking?
Angela, my wife.
How are you in the kitchen?
Just okay. I've got a couple of dishes and that's about it.
If you were having Rodney Eade around for dinner, what would you cook?
I'd probably have a crack at a roast. It probably wouldn't turn out too well but I'd take a bit of time out and have a go at it. The thought would be there.
Who does the housework at your place?
Half-half. I take some credit there.
What's your most used appliance and why?
Television, because it's couch time then.
Do you have any pets?
A dog, Ella, who's a Maltese-Shitzu.
What is your most annoying habit?
You'd have to ask my wife. Probably snoring. I can snore, apparently.
RANDOM QUESTIONS
Are you generally a cat or dog person?
Dog person.
If you were stuck on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
A phone (so I could get off the island), water, and a football to muck around with.
What's your ideal holiday spot?
Vegas.
What's your idea of a perfect day?
A day at the races. Any race meeting. Good fun.
What action hero would you most like to be, and why?
I'll say my son's favourite and go with Spiderman.
What sort of car do you drive?
A Lexus.
What's the most embarrassing song on your iPod?
They're probably all embarrassing – it depends who you're talking to. Maybe "SexyBack"?
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the club.
