WHEN not sprinting one-hundred hundreds at training and pin-pointingplayers with kicks during a game, Lindsay Gilbee can be seen spooling throughinvestment magazines and stock market figures in a bid to find the next ‘goodbuy’.
"We are encouraged to do things on our day off,"said Gilbee, while sipping his regular nectar at his favorite café.
"At the moment I am learning about the stock market andhave started up a small business with a few different people.
"Currently, we are trying to get that up and going andit will probably be more of a focus for me once I finish football."
The future Gordon Gekko (from the Holywood film Wall Street) firmly believes allfootballers should take up the opportunity to "explore differentavenues" which he says can help both on and off-field performance.
"Footy is probably 95 per cent above your shoulders, soif you can find something to combat thinking about it, I have no doubt itcertainly helps you play better football," said Gilbee.
Mental strength is something the 25-year-old has worked hardon this year, the talented Bulldog forced to come to grips with a role given tohim by opposition coaches.
"Pretty much every week I get taken back to the goalsquare, so that is something I am still getting used to," he said.
"I talk to a number of people about it but it is partand parcel of the game and something I have to accept. However, as long as theteam is winning and doing well it does not really bother me if I do not get akick.
"Fortunately, we have other guys down there like JordanMcMahon, Ryan Hargrave and Brian Harris who can take over my role if I am notdoing what I should be."
Now in his eighth year with the club, Gilbee continues to beone of the most consistent players in the team and is looking forward torunning the opposition off its feet, something the entire competition is nowstarting to do.
"The way we play is a very taxing brand of football.Footy is certainly getting a lot faster and players are getting a lot fitterand stronger – it’s just evolving that way," he said.
However, according to Gilbee, what is unlikely to evolvemuch further is his technique for recovering from countless sprints up and downthe ground during a game.
"I just get on my haunches and suck as much air in aspossible," said Gilbee.
Bulldog Barking
What will you be doingfor your birthday on Sunday? Lunch with my girlfriend and family.
What would you like asa present? A win against Port on Saturday.
What areas of fashionneed to be improved? I think there should be a better selection casualshoes; there is not much to choose from at the moment.
Name one movie thatbrings back a lot of memories for you? 'GoodWill Hunting' reminds me of my last year of school and a lot of my matesback home.
Where is back home?Coldstream in the Yarra Valley.
