Peter Forsyth Interview

17th June 2008

My last interview with senior coach Peter Forsyth was very popular accordong to my site statistics. With the Jets travelling well at the half way mark of season 2008, I thought it would be good to check in with him again. I hope you enjoy this interview too.

Chris Mirtschin: This is your second season as senior coach. The arrival of Darren Searle to assist you and Andrew Stenson must be good, especially when playing the Basin. How have you found the role to be so far this year? Has it got any easier?

Peter Forsyth: Some things have become easier like match day and also getting different perspectives of players, and this would definitely would be due to Searle’s involvement. There is far less pressure on me this year towards the teams performance too. However there have been so many other challenges this year with so many quality players to pick from.

CM: You recently played your 100th senior game for the Jets. Do you have any favourite matches or events from that time you’d like to share?

PF: Just playing my 100th game the other day and being chaired off the ground for my first ever time was a fantastic honor. I suppose the match against Eastern Lions last year in the final was pretty special. The feeling as I walked back into the rooms after the game and seeing the look on everybody’s face was something I’ll never forget.

CM: Obviously, last year’s grand final was a disappointment. However, I think the team would have learned a lot about themselves and their potential last season, just for making the finals and knocking off the Basin and Eastern Lions. What are your thoughts on last year?

PF: Last year was like a fairytale. We were never suppose to make the finals and even if we did somehow, we were suppose to be knocked out straight away. I know the guys learnt so much about themselves and what self belief and confidence can do. I firmly believe that last year is a big part of why we are traveling the way we are now.

CM: Have you made any major changes to the training structure this year to try and get the guys even better prepared than they were last year?

PF: Definitely. We are really starting to ramp things up now to try and peak towards the finals. I want to make sure that we are the fittest side in the comp and that we will run games out to the end.

CM: What were your thoughts to the media suggesting ‘No Aitken – No Heathmont’ and that we’d only finish 6th on the ladder?

PF: Media do what media does best and that’s make headings that appeal to others. Aitken is such a freak of a player that he warrants such a head line, however it was a bit disappointing to hear because I know how much quality there is in the rest of the group.

CM: Have you kept in touch with Mick at all? How is he going? Would he get a spot now that we have Danny Baker doing so well for us?

PF: Yeah, Wal speaks to Mick quite often and he’s doing great. He’s playing great football for the Redland Bombers up in Queensland and enjoying the sun.

CM: Scott Wishart was injured during the first game and only returned to the reserves last week. How far away is he from getting back to the seniors?

PF: Well I would like to bring Scott back in straight away but am struggling to fit him into a side where everyone is playing so well. I never thought I’d have any trouble bringing back Scott Wishart into the side. I’m sure that it won’t be long, as I rate him as one of the best in the club.

CM: The team is on a roll at the moment with 8 wins straight. How is the morale amongst the senior squad at the moment?

PF: The morale is great and confidence is rising. I feel we are getting better and better each week and we still can improve more yet. I’m sure if all the players at the club can stay focused on what we need to do to continue to improve, then we should be able to see a lot more wins yet.

CM: Some new players that have made their mark this year are Leigh Odermatt, Josh Byerlee and Lance Matthews. Can you give us a rundown on each of these and any other new players at the club?

PF: Lance is a bit of a smooth mover and tends to sneak under the radar. He has been giving us great use of the ball and really working hard across the half forward line. Josh seems to be getting better as weeks go by. I think his fitness is really starting to pick up and he seems impossible for the opposition to tackle. As for DJ Oders (Leigh), he has been a revelation across half forward. He’s so strong overhead and has a massive left foot which comes in handy from long range. I’m not sure if it’s the transformer tatts or the abnormally large head he carries around, but I think he’s becoming our oppositions biggest worry!

CM: How do you rate some of the younger guys from the colts who have come through, such as Ali Knudsen, Kevin Clark, Dylan Sverns and Rob Savory?

PF: All of these guys will be superstars for the HFC in the future. Kev and Dylan have been amazing pick ups for the senior side so far this year. With the amount of goals and goal assists they have provided, they are a large reason why the seniors have had no problems kicking high scores this year. Ali has made such an impact once he made his debut appearance in round 5. He’s given us the hardness of a much older, stronger player, and been so versatile through the midfield or backline.

Robbie started so strong and lost his confidence after a few quiet games. But as I hoped though, he’s gone back down and is really starting to play some fantastic football again. All of these guys are making this club so exciting to watch now and in the future.

CM: Which of the established players has stood out improvement wise so far this year?

PF: Well Levi is having a great year and really leading the way with his class. I think all of us older guys have improved this year and are motivated by the younger guys who are really stepping things up like, the Villa’s and Sinders and of course the Cleo bachelor of the year, Jono.

CM: How do you see the leadership group evolving over the coming years? Is there anyone ready to take over from Levi as captain when the time comes?

PF: This is a bit of a hard one as there is so many future leaders coming through at the moment. I think that Jono could be a great leader in the future.

CM: How is the strength of our list looking for this year?

PF: There are so many players to pick from each week and there is so much depth in the list. I think that shows as the reserves are traveling along quite well also. There is honestly about 31 players I want to play in the seniors each week, so I find it hard to select only 21.

CM: What on earth possessed you go face to face and stare down David Mazins a couple of weeks ago? Are you courageous, or just lacking a will to live?

PF: I think it looks more courageous than it really is. It doesn’t really concern me, and I just see him as another full forward who’s getting beaten. I’ve had a few full forwards get pretty angry with now and I think that's cause Chopper does such a good job on them, they get very frustrated. But then strangely they want to take it out on me.

CM: Who do you rate as the main contenders for 4th division this year, and specifically, how do you think Heathmont will go?

PF: I think the main contenders are Eastern and Chirnside, along with ourselves. I firmly believe that we can win it this year, but we will need to make sure that we remain injury free and keep working hard.

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