Since my first initial move to the Bendigo Pioneers the support I’ve had from my family, friends and community has been outstanding. Without the support from my parents I doubt I would be living my dream of being an AFL player. For those who don’t know my parents, John & Leanne, they are proud parents of four boys. They gave us the best upbringing any country kids could ask for. We didn’t have all the great toys or the best bikes in town but we had all the love and care you could want and I know I can speak for the four of us on this because all of us wouldn’t be the men we are today without the great role models our parents were.
Being one of four boys and having a dream of playing AFL meant that my parents had choices to make - could they afford to send me to Bendigo; could they put me through school; could they afford weekends away to watch me play, or would it be spoiling one child and putting me before the other boys? With all that they still chose to support me and let me go to Bendigo. One thing they didn’t do was deprive the other boys of the support parents should give to all their children. They would divide their weekends watching the Pioneers and Wenty Roos, spending weekends with Shaun and his two beautiful boys Zane and Levi, and also supporting Jason and his motorbike riding or whatever activity he put himself into. The commitment they made for all of us was amazing.
For me, if they hadn’t made the decision to support my dream - which to them at the time might have seemed impossible - I don’t know what I would be doing today. Now that I sit and reflect, I think they knew I had the commitment and determination to achieve whatever I put my mind to. But as a 16 year old boy I barely knew the meaning of those things - I just wanted to play AFL. Little did I know that the road to the top was going to be harder than I thought and that I would turn to my parents for support more than I’d expected.
After the Pioneers, I wasn’t drafted as I hoped. Playing for the Pioneers doesn’t guarantee you’ll be drafted, and this is something I want to say to all the young boys who have the dream of one day playing AFL. There are many paths and if you want it badly enough then you’ll find a way to give yourself an opportunity. If it then doesn’t come to anything, at least you’ll know you gave it your best and you can hold your head high and be proud of yourself for going further than most.
This was my dilemma after the U’18s. Was I going to accept failure, or was I going to keep persisting? There was a part of me that felt I wasn’t good enough to play AFL, and I was too small. I had all those doubts, but I had to give it another go for my parents who supported me so much during those two years in Bendigo.
So I decided to move to Melbourne to play for Box Hill Hawks in the VFL, and I spent the next two years there. Even though I was even further away, my parents still made the effort to come and watch me and support me.
In Melbourne I found support from another Dareton boy, Richie Vandenberg, who is now a great friend and mentor. Richie had been playing AFL for many years and had also received great support from his family. I asked Richie if I could move in with him and he took me in and gave me the support of an older brother, something I will always appreciate. He didn’t have to go out of his way for me, but that’s the person he is and that’s what made Richie the captain of an AFL team. He would always put others before himself.
I believe my hard-working attitude today was formed during the two years I lived with Richie. We have similar football abilities, but back then I was far from the dedicated, committed person and footballer that Richie was. I learnt so much just watching how he went about things. Not just how to be a professional athlete but how to value my family, friends and people around me. He showed me I was representing not just myself, but my family, friends and our community. People have the utmost respect for Richie. I wanted to be seen like that.
I had the passion and drive but didn’t know how hard I could push myself. I found out when I was given the opportunity to do a pre-season with the Hawks, which led to me being rookie-listed. During that pre-season I put myself up against Shane Crawford, Timmy Clarke and Richie, who were the top runners.
Each week I found myself getting closer to them and my work rate was improving. That pre-season set the standard I put on myself every time I train and play to this day. Modelling myself on Richie has made me the person/footballer I am today, but if Richie had not gone out of his way to support me, my journey to being an AFL player might never have been.
Playing my first game of AFL for the Hawks, in round 10, 2006 against the Western Bulldogs, was the proudest day of my life. For me it was about all the hard work I’d put in over the years, and finally my dream had come true. For Mum and Dad there was the great joy of seeing their son achieve his dream. So that day was just as special for them as it was for me, and I couldn’t have done it without their support.
I’m forever grateful to them for the sacrifices they made for me. The support I got that day didn’t just come from my parents and brothers. My extended family, friends and local community members, all made the effort to come and support me, and I was proud to represent them all.
My family and myself have been very lucky to have such great support from our community, right through my junior football years, and still to this day. It makes me proud to be part of such a supportive group of people.
After four years at Hawthorn, at the end of the 2009 season, I was faced with a decision that was possibly the toughest I’ve had to make - should I move clubs? Once again during this period of my journey I couldn’t have made the decision without the support of my family and my beautiful girlfriend, Hannah. You always want to be a one-club player, but these days that is becoming more rare.
Hawthorn made it clear I wasn’t high on their priority list and were only offering me a one-year contract. My initial reaction was disappointment. I felt I deserved more from the Hawks. Yes, they gave me four great years in the AFL, but I also gave them four committed years and had to earn every game I played. And I’m not afraid to say I gave 100 per cent every time I put the jumper on. So my manager Tom Petroro sought out other opportunities. Sydney had let us know they were interested and were offering more security. Talks with Sydney started to become regular and for Hannah it started to become reality. We both were shocked this was happening - it’s something you don’t expect or think would happen to you.
Hannah was upset by the prospect of moving interstate, but the more we spoke about it and spoke about our future, the more we leaned towards me leaving the Hawks.
Sydney had offered me a three year deal and the security was something we were after. It meant that my footy career would continue longer than I’d ever expected and it would help set up Hannah and I for the future. Hannah made a big sacrifice, leaving her friends and family behind. Without her support I may never have made the decision. I can’t thank her enough.
As you can assume my parents wanted only the best for me. They were always there if I needed to talk or vent and I knew they would support any decision I made.
I’m now a Sydney Swans footballer and entering a new phase of my journey and still have the continuing support from my family, friends and community.
I’ve been so impressed by the culture here at the Swans. Other AFL clubs speak highly of Sydney’s team-first culture and now that I’m a part of it, I can see for myself how strong it is.
I’m looking forward to earning my place as a member of the Bloods. I know the persistence and hard-working attitude that I learnt from my parents, my community and people like Richie, will stand me in good stead for the future.
Go Swans!
Article first published in the Sunraysia Daily.
Games at the SCG are electricfying. See the Swans take on Richmond next Saturday night. Grab your tickets now at www.ticketek.com.au. Please note first bounce for our Round 3 fixture Sydney Swans v Richmond is 7.10pm. Gates open at 3.45pm.
