LIKE most people involved in footy, I watched the Hall of Fame Tribute Match and, I must say, I really enjoyed it.
I would like to have played, but hopefully there will be something similar down the track and I’ll be able to get across the line then.
It was great to see Fevvy play well on the big stage and I know he was very happy with the whole experience.
I spoke to all three of the Carlton boys who took part and they all said it was a really good thing to be involved with. Not only playing alongside some of the best footballers going around, but also getting a feel for how they train and what they’re like as people.
It would have been great to be involved, but I must admit it I enjoyed a bit of time off. We did our recovery from the Eagles game in Perth on the Saturday and didn’t have to be back at the club until Thursday, which gave us about four days to ourselves.
Some of the interstate guys were able to get home and catch up with family, whereas a local like me could switch off from football and think about something else for a while.
I got the chance to catch up with some school mates and not talk about footy, which you do need from time to time.
But it was good to get back down to business and I’m looking forward to the Brisbane game – an opportunity to be four-and-four and right in the mix for the eight.
We suffered a heavy loss to the Lions last year, but that hasn’t been spoken about. I don’t know the exact team that played that day, but compared to the one that will run out on Saturday night, I would expect it to be fairly different in both personnel and playing style.
A lot has changed since then and we’re just looking forward to being able to press for a top-eight spot against a tough opponent.
Despite the break, there continues to be a good feeling around the club and Ratts and the rest of the coaching staff play a big part in maintaining a positive atmosphere.
Having a former senior coach in Mark Riley as my line coach this year has been a real bonus.
He came from being in charge of a rival club and has been able to give his impressions of the sort of player you’re perceived to be from outside the club. He’s told me a few things about how he saw my strengths and weaknesses when the Demons were planning to play us in round 22 last year, which was useful insight to have.
It gives you a different take, which can be eye opening. Bomber’s been really good for me, he’s got me working on areas of my game that needed some attention. There’s always something you can improve on and he’s very positive in the way he delivers his message.
We had a heap of injuries going into that game and, with Stevo out, I was copping the No.1 tag most weeks. Bomber said he felt the Demons would have a good chance of winning if they just ‘sat’ on me with their fittest player.
I’ve worked hard on that aspect since then and Bomber has helped give me the confidence to know that I can run off a heavy tag and still influence a game.
It’s also been nice to have some past greats of our club coming in to complement the coaching group.
People like Craig Bradley, Greg Williams and even ‘Sticks’ Kernahan are in once or twice a week; they were all great players, not only for the Carlton Football Club, but also legends of the game. (I must admit I haven’t seen Sticks on the track yet!)
The involvement of these people adds to the full-time work being done by our coaches and fitness staff and further highlights the importance on development at Carlton.
It’s been good to have someone like Diesel, who’s done everything there is to do in the game, down working with the development group to help out with basic skills. He volunteered to come down in what is a skills acquisition role and with his great skills we couldn’t get a better person to assist in the area.
As a midfielder it’s always interesting to talk to different people who’ve been successful in my area.
Braddles was more of a runner whereas Ratts and Diesel were probably inside the game a bit more, so there are bits and pieces that you can take and try and implement into your own.
