A. No – because I think the games is really starting to get to where it should be going and that is getting onto the world stage. As the telecommunications continue to develop around the world I think a lot of people will start to enjoy AFL more so in the next 20 years. You have America and India that will be able to see AFL on 24-hour sports channels in the future. I think that is a fantastic opportunity for the AFL if they can achieve this. For so many years we have probably been negated by a producer somewhere in another country that says it is not right for us in this time slot and put AFL on in the middle of the night. I just think we have a real opportunity now for people to see this game – so it is pretty exciting.
Q. What about coverage into some parts of Australia.
A. It is very disappointing because we have worked very, very hard to get that Australian view of our game. I think the AFL will be working on it and they have to. We are here to try and send the game around Australia and we are not doing that good enough at the moment with what has happened. We have moved teams out of Melbourne to get it done, we have brought teams in from West Australia and South Australia – so after that 20 year plan you would hope the AFL and TV would get it right – they have to get better and that is common sense.
Q. Is coaching more rewarding for you than playing?
A. I think it has – it has been twice my playing career. You would have to honestly say yes now – because you can actually say it is your life. For the first half of my playing career I was working. So this last career as a coach has been full-time.
Q. Is it more rewarding to coach or play in a premiership?
A. It is very difficult that one. I would have to say that to coach you are getting into the final 12 – in the VFL days. As a player there is 20 players, 12 teams, 240 players – then you actually come down to 12 men who are going after a premiership and trying to develop the best team in the nation. That is just about test cricket. I reckon that is a pretty tough gig.
With drafting and trading now – the early trips to America were very beneficial. Early in my coaching career I went to America to find out the ins and outs of trading and drafting. People never take into account the difficulty to win premierships with the system we have had in place the last 15 years since trading and drafting have been in. It is very difficult with all of the concessions to try and keep your career a float and trying to win a premiership when you know that the head-office don’t really want you to be there that often. I think that has been a very difficult path to follow.
As coaches now we really have to look at American coaching from the point of view of trading and drafting. We can’t really be compared to soccer because they just go and buy the best players for 10-15 million pounds. You go and pinch a player from South America you can – we can’t do that. I believe American Grid-Iron is the only sport we can compare our coaching deeds with.
Q. Do you think we have a good draft system?
A. I think we have a good system because we are seeing lots of clubs win Grand Finals and have opportunities to win it. From an overall point of view and not being selfish about it – I think it is fantastic for the game. Brisbane won last year and that is pretty good for AFL footy – not good for Essendon or myself but overall the game has been sensational.
Q. What was your first salary at the club?
A. I think it was $31,000. I actually said at the time to get the job I will take the lowest bid. I was getting $35,000 at the time as skills coach at Richmond but to come to Essendon I think it was about $32,000. My last salary was a pretty good salary. I actually don’t get it – my wife gets it I just see it go to her.
Q. Is it true Geraldine doesn’t want you to go back to Richmond after the way they treated you at the end of your career?
A. Most women most feel that when their husbands get told to think about retiring – which is exactly what happened to me. Geraldine just loves Essendon. She has always been an Essendon fan. Everytime I used to play against Essendon I tried to physically kill them – physically and mentally. It used to irritate her parents and they weren’t too impressed when I rocked up at the front door to take her out. I actually thought her mother was her sister at that time –she just looked that young, that is what I am saying.
Q. Do you have any ambition to be president?
A. No – that would not be the right position for me. I am probably person who will be a coterie member at Richmond and at Essendon. My time when I leave – I will be on two coteries.
Q. How long do you want to coach for?
A. I think that somewhere between now and 60. Only if I don’t get too tired in the next few years. Hopefully I am still valuable – if I am not valuable there is no point being a coach.
Q. Does it bother you that people think you are eccentric?
A. No it doesn’t bother me. It is fun. I just think there are always other ways to coach rather than just your normal coach. Sometimes we just need to get out there and develop new ideas. If some of them don’t work and people think you are a bit over the top or eccentric – to me you try and put a bit of fun in the game.
I remember – my own family didn’t realise that I was dressed up as Zig and Zag on the footy show that night about five years ago. We did that gig on the Tuesday and I sat down at home on the Thursday and never told them. If you could see the enjoyment I got watching my family look deeply into the TV saying – “No, it’s not you – it couldn’t be you – you are here,” and then the eyeballs are stuck on the screen. If you can honestly enjoy a moment with your own kids – it was one of the funniest three minutes I have seen with my family. It was a good way to do it – not tell them. Sit there with a bowl of fruit salad and laugh. There are some fantastic moments in your life that you do have.
Q. If it ended tomorrow how would you like to be remembered?
A. As a person who has contributed to the game and put in. Over the years I have probably done over 2000 footy clinics – everyone talks about your playing and your coaching but I would have to honestly say that the clinics that I have done all around Australia have been a fantastic part of my life. To sit there and talk to mums and dads and kids – to try and put a dream into a kids mind that it could be you. Peverill is a great story for kids and so is Gary Moorcroft - to win mark of the year. You see a little freckled face kid playing footy. You have to leave that dream in their mind so they have that opportunity.
Q. Have you lived your dream?
A. Yes and I still am.
Q. Do you think there is room for 10 teams in Melbourne?
A. It is going to struggle – there is no doubt about it. Financially it is probably bursting a bit at the moment. I think supporters of their respective clubs need to purchase memberships. There is a huge difference between a barracker and a supporter. A supporter buys a membership and that is going to be the difference sooner or later. The TV rights have been huge and put money into the clubs and the AFL but you need a balance.
Q.Where do you see yourself contract wise with the Bombers?
A. I will sit down with the club over the next month and discuss it. Eventually it will get down. I have managed it six times in my life so there shouldn’t be any major hassles hopefully.
Q. Are you approaching this game as just another game?
A. We are going up to Brisbane because last years Grand Finalist are going to play a game. Both teams are really competitive units – both coaches and it is great for the game that it is in Queensland.
Q. So you haven’t thought about the milestone?
A. No not really – I know it is there but I you are thinking about who you are going to play on this player and a whole lot of other things take over. I know it is a special game because my family are coming up.
