Text Interviews

Here you will find some older interviews done before I acquired my digital voice recorder. I've retained them on the site for historical reference.

Peter Forsyth - 17th April 2007

I thought it would be good to hear from the new senior coach, Peter Forsyth, on how the club is travelling as we head into round one, and to learn a bit about his football history. I hope you enjoy this interview.

Chris Mirtschin: Can you tell us a bit about your football history, which teams you’ve played with from your junior years onwards, what are the highlights so far, etc?

Peter Forsyth: I started playing in 1991 as a 10 year old for Springvale Districts in U/12, where I never bothered the stats man for about 2 years. I later moved to Noble Park in U/16’s played there for 4 years.

I then moved to Ringwood and joined Heathmont and have been with the Jets for the past 6 years. In 2005 I played with Springvale Scorpions for most of the year and only played 4 games with Heathmont.

My football highlights so far have been the grand finals and of course the premiership in 2004. I remember Michael Voss speaking about the high of winning of a grand final and that it’s the most incredible feeling which is unexplainable. He was right!

CM: This is your first season as senior coach. How have you found the role to be through the pre-season?

PF: The role is tough as I expected, it’s very hard to please 70 blokes at the same time. I feel that most of the guys have enjoyed the pre-season and definitely got themselves to a level of fitness I’m content with.

CM: How have you found the ground surface down at HE Parker, given the drought situation?

PF: The drought has caused some issues over pre-season where we haven’t always been able to do what our normal pre-season would consist of. However, I think the other coaches and myself have been able to make training interesting, enjoyable and different to past years.

CM: The morale at the club seems to have lifted a fair bit since last season. What’s your perception of this and what do you think has caused it?

PF: I think it started towards the end of last season when our fan club starting really supporting us in the pocket near the tennis courts. I really believe that this gave us seniors a real boost as we started feeding off their enthusiasm.

The seniors started realizing how much fun these U/18s were and vice versa. We had a great start to pre-season as well, with a very successful fundraiser that saw us get all new equipment for training. From the first night, the numbers have been great and therefore encouraged more to come down.

CM: Can you give us a rundown on some of the new players at the club?

PF: I’d struggle to go through each new player as there seems to be quite a few, but the few I’ll mention are, the Witkowski boys who have been great so far with support and enthusiasm to make Heathmont a better club. Others would be Dan who has had a couple of years off, but looks like might be a secret weapon against opposition. Darin Turfrey will be fantastic as a solid, experienced defender too.

There is so much talent in the U/18s as well, that I feel that there is probably a dozen that could play seniors and also be new players to the side.

CM: Which of the established players has stood out improvement wise during the pre-season?

PF: I think that a few players that have put up their hand during pre-season are Brock, Jonno, Sinders, Wish and Darren Paul. These guys seem to be extremely fit and keen to have a huge impact this year.

CM: We had a good group of colts last season. Tell us about a few of them that have moved up to the senior list and their chances to play 1sts.

PF: Last year we had a really young U/18s list that didn’t see too many come up into the seniors. There are two clear standouts of the guys coming up for me, and each for different reasons. The first is Leachy because I firmly believe he’s going to be one of our best and most damaging players in the seniors this year. He’s got great skills and has pace to burn. He also actually has his own fan club.

Todd Lucas is the other. Todd’s enthusiasm and rapport with the younger guys is one of the main reasons why I think we have so many U/18s at the club. He also played in the practice match and showed that he’s going to be a future leader of the club.

CM: Aside from Sonny Gill with his shoulder injury, are there any other major injury concerns at this stage of the year?

PF: None, touch wood! I think they way we have conducted pre-season, and also the fact that we haven’t played too many practice matches, we have come into round 1 with a full list to choose from. Which to be honest is a headache as we have about 70 players keen to play seniors. However it’s a good headache to have.

CM: How’s Dean Thomas looking this year? I recall he kicked a lot of goals alongside Lee Hartman in our 2004 premiership year?

PF: Thommo’s a class player. He’s had an interrupted pre-season and has missed a fair bit of it, however his natural ability will definitely cause the opposition some headaches. If he’s having a set shot, he rarely misses……kind of opposite to myself.

CM: Another premiership player to return is Kristian McCarthy, a strong defensive player from 2004. How’s he going at the moment?

PF: Kristian is looking fantastic as always. I think regardless what position Macca plays….he’ll make sure he wont be beaten.

CM: Who do you think will be handling the main ruck duties this year?

PF: There’s no doubt with Brendan not playing anymore that it’s a gap to fill, however I think Rade is keen to make his mark on the ground and not just at functions. He has worked so hard over pre-season and is probably our choice at this stage.

I think that there are a few other tall options that could also step up to cement their spot too. Guys like Pat Danaher, Frysie and Mat Welch could find themselves playing their part.

CM: You’ve always been one of the fitter players at our club. Have you improved the fitness training during the pre-season to get the guys spot on for the new season?

PF: We have tried to slowly build up the level of intensity of training over the past couple of months. This way guys don’t break down with injury and fall behind. The results of the beep test the other night were very pleasing with most of the senior squad getting up around the high 12s and upwards. The feedback so far is that the guys are feeling fitter than they have in a long time which is great for the confidence.

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

PF: I think we will have a very successful year. I’m confident we can make the top four and really cause some damage come finals time. We are a very young list when compared to the others sides. I know that this will be a great strength for us later on in the year when the older blokes starting tired.

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 Basin are going to be the side to beat. They recruited well and have a lot of experience in their side. I watched The Basin last weekend in a practice match and they look good but far from unbeatable. There’s no reason why Heathmont can’t win the premiership this year, but only time will tell.

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Wally Galbraith - 8th May 2007

After the success of the first interview with Peter Forsyth, I thought it would be good to also hear from reserves coach, Wally Galbraith, on how the reserves are travelling at this point in the year. Thanks very much to Wally for taking the time to respond to my questions. I hope you enjoy this interview too.

Chris Mirtschin: Can you tell us a bit about your football history, which teams you’ve played with from your junior years onwards, what are the highlights so far etc?

Wally Galbraith: I don’t have a huge history of junior football due to the fact that I grew up near the beach and was into surfing more than anything else (school included). I did however play one year of under 15’s for South Barwon Football club and one year of under 16’s for the Torquay Tigers Football club. Both years were lots of fun and I enjoyed playing with and against some of my best mates from school.”

CM: How have you found the coaching role to be so far? What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had in the gig so far?

WG: I’m really enjoying the coaching role so far. I was a little skeptical at first when it was mentioned to me last year, but the support that was shown from the club and my teammates really helped me make the decision.

The hardest thing so far is definitely selection, with a list of 40+ players to choose from, it creates a real headache on Thursday nights. It’s really hard to keep everyone interested and motivated to keep on training etc when a lot of the time they won’t get a game.

CM: We’ve had a little bit of rain. How have you found the ground surface down at HE Parker, given the drought situation?

WG: The grounds are slowly getting better but the situation during pre-season was a real challenge for all of the coaching staff. Due to the council restrictions, other training alternatives had to be put in place which made things a little more complicated than normal. To the credit of Pete though, we got through pre-season better than a lot of clubs. I guess time will tell weather the grounds will affect us with many injuries this year or not.

CM: How’s the morale amongst the reserves players at the moment, especially with such large numbers to choose from and knowing that a certain amount will miss out each week?

WG: Morale among the reserve players is pretty good considering. I guess all the guys are really trying to do everything to ensure there spot in the side, but I guess it’s not hard to figure out that 45 players won’t fit into a side of 22.

Having said that though, I give full credit to the players who miss out and the way that they take the news. A lot of them will be the first ones to put there hands up to volunteer to help out on the side lines which is really good. I suppose that everyone understands the situation and that I can’t keep everyone happy all the time, but I can imagine that it must still be frustrating for a lot players.

CM: How does it feel to have two solid wins already? The confidence would be lifted a fair bit…

WG: The first two rounds were great!! It was exactly the start that I wanted for the club and it shows how talented the side is. Round 1 was a bit of an unknown due to the fact that we had never played against Glen Waverley Hawks before, but we dominated that game right through. Surrey Park was another game that we controlled for 90% of the game, and came out with another strong win.

We knew that Forest Hill was going to be tough, and they were. Unfortunately we went down, but we went down fighting and showed some really positive signs against a strong opposition. I think that confidence is reasonably high in the team which is a good sign, but as a team we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves either.

CM: Can you give us a rundown on some of the new players at the club who have played in the reserves?

WG: There are a number of new players this year that have played reserves. Some players who have been promoted from last year’s under 18’s are Todd Lucas who is the reserves deputy vice captain, Jason Newbury, Joel Batten and Patrick Danaher. Other new players are Tim Holman, Paul Lamanna, Simon Kawanishi and Simon Gray.

The club has also welcomed back Andy Rodwell, Brenton Pearce and Haydn Judge. All of these players have made valuable additions to the side when given there chances. Its such a good sign for the club to have a number of new faces playing this year, it just adds to the depth of the side overall.

CM: Which of the established reserves players has stood out improvement wise during the pre-season?

WG: I think it’s hard to point out one or two players that have stood out more than others. Ryan Condron has really put his hand up throughout the pre season and was named the reserves captain due to his commitment and experience. He had a very strong pre-season and has already shown some very good game day performances.

Andy Woodcock is another that worked hard throughout pre season and the team is really benefiting from him being in some great form. Cameron Browne and Matt Welch also had solid pre seasons and both are performing well.

CM: We had a good group of colts last season. Tell us about a few of them that have moved up to play in the reserves.

WG: As I mentioned earlier, Todd Lucas, Jason Newbury, Joel Batten and Patrick Danaher have all come up this year to play at open age level. Each of them has played in the reserves so far and have been a great addition to the side. Due to the selection process they all haven’t played every game, but the games that they have played have been very commendable. Certainly, they all seem to have made the step from under 18’s to a senior level which is very pleasing and will in time strengthen our side even more.

CM: How’s Matt Welch going since his return to the club?

WG: Matt Welch is a great return to our club and as I mentioned his pre-season was really good, rarely missing a night. He has kept himself fit in his time out of football, which has put him in the best position for a strong return to the game. He was named vice captain in the reserves because of his commitment and his game experience.

He has had a great start to the year with the first three games all being very strong. He plays in the ruck 90% of the time and he is one of our hardest workers around the ground, he focuses on his job each week and puts everything into it!

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

WG: I think due to the abundance of numbers, we will naturally have a strong list. This has shown in the first two games. We are lucky to have a very broad age range in the reserves as well, with a few 19 year olds at one end and some mid 30’s players at the other. It creates a good balance between young and quick and experience, which will make our side even stronger. We just need to focus on forming a bond within the players group, this is difficult due to the numbers coming in and out each week, but is something that we will be working on in the weeks ahead!!

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

WG: It’s hard to say who will be the main contenders this season, being so early in the year. I think that The Basin will be quite strong, as will Whitehorse and Forest Hill. I rate Heathmont as real top four contenders as well, so I guess that time will tell how we match up against some of these other sides. I’m confident that with the current list we have to choose from, we will be able to match it with any of the reserves sides in 4th division.

CM: What do you think of Cam Browne’s effort in playing his 300th game in the near future?

WG: I think that it’s a fantastic effort, and anyone would agree. He has been in so many ways, the heart and soul of Heathmont footy club over the years and I’m sure that anyone who knows the club would know Brownie!

He is one of my closest mates and I know for a fact that he lives and breathes to play footy for Heathmont! He won the reserves best and fairest last year and he has started off this year in fine form again, he is one of the fittest blokes at the club and with his years of experience he is also one of the most valuable players we have.

I think that his efforts both on and off the field are due for the highest praise and I will be the first to congratulate him on his amazing milestone!

CM: Do you think you’ll ever reach this milestone yourself?

WG: I think honestly I would have to say no. I think that it’s something that only a very select few have ever reached. I played my 150th game last year and I’m probably sitting on about 160 now, so for me to be just past the half way mark to such a milestone says that I probably won’t reach 300.

For those who do reach it, it’s something that is very special and stems from a huge amount of commitment and sacrifice. Right now I’m committed to coaching a successful side, not to the amount of games I can play!

CM: What’s the best thing about playing at Heathmont Football Club?

WG: There are so many things that I could list here for me. Heathmont is the only senior club that I have been involved in so I can’t really compare to other clubs, but for me it’s been an amazing few years where I have made some friendships that will last forever. From the first time I came down, I was made to feel welcome and ever since then I have tried to make new players feel the same way that I did.

We have such a good playing group now that is supported by a very effective committee that is backed up by a strong, close knit coaching team. The playing group is reasonably young, especially in the seniors, and everyone here gets along together really well. There are no select circles to try and fit in with, everyone is seen as an equal whether it be seniors, under 18’s or reserves.

It’s become a real family orientated club too which is great. It’s somewhere where everyone can feel welcome and at home, something that I think a lot of clubs don’t have! We are looking forward to a good year at Heathmont and everything is in place for us to be successful. Please come and support the club and the boys this year!

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Andrew Stenson - 13th July 2007

The following interview was done just before the come-back win over Forest Hill. Andrew has been assistant to Peter Forsyth this season, and took on sole coaching of the side in Peter's absence for the Glen Waverley Hawks and Ferntree Gully Eagles games. I hope you enjoy this interview.

Chris Mirtschin: Can you tell us a bit about your football history, which teams you’ve played with from your junior years onwards, what are the highlights so far etc?

Andrew Stenson: Began playing footy for Forest Hill at 8 or 9. Played with them until Under 12’s and moved to Vermont to play Under 14’s. Played right through to Seniors winning Under 16’s, 18’s Reserve and Senior Premiership flags.

Along the way, spent a year and half at Hawthorn Under 19’s and represented Metropolitan in the Under 18’s Carnival. I moved up the bush and played in the Mid-Murray League (Swan Hill) where I finished my career after a serious head injury whilst representing the League in an Inter-League game.

Coaching wise, I spent 3 years in the assistant roles at Blackburn, culminating as Assistant Coach winning the Division 2 flag enabling Blackburn to progress to 1st Division. The past three years, I coached the Under 14’s 15’s and 16’s at the JETS Junior FC, with the highlight being the Under 14’s Premiership and the development of these kids.

CM: How have you found the assistant coaching role to be so far?

AS: Enjoyable and frustrating at times. They are a great bunch of blokes with a hell of a lot of potential. I believe and this may sound a bit harsh, with a little bit of application and some real self-belief, this group of guys could go a long way. We have had some great wins and some heartbreaking losses.

CM: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had in the gig so far?

AS: Getting the guys to realise their potential is the biggest challenge. When they play to this they prove they can mix it with the best in the League.

CM: What’s been the most rewarding part of your coaching experience?

AS: I prefer not to answer this question at this stage, as it is still a work in progress and I would rather reflect on it at the end of the season with hopefully the most rewarding time yet to come.

CM: How’s the morale amongst the senior players at the moment?

AS: Probably a little bit low as we have let a few games slip that we really should have won, but the window of opportunity is still open and the next few weeks will tell the tale of the year. There would be nothing worse than to look back at the end of the season and say ‘if only we had of won a couple of more games’, but as I say the opportunity is still there and our destiny is in our hands.

CM: It’s often said that 90% of footy is mental attitude, and 10% physical activity. How tough is it to keep the side unified and focused on winning matches?

AS: As a coach you can only say so much and put what you believe to be the right structures in place, but at the end of the day, it is up to the individual player whether he takes this on board and puts it into practice.

CM: We’ve copped our fair share of injuries recently. Who’s nearly ready to resume training/playing at the moment?

AS: Pete Forsyth is waiting on doctors instructions. Chris Paver is a week-to-week proposition. As for the others it is just a matter of waiting to see how they come up each week.

CM: Who are some of the Jets players that impress you the most, and why?

AS: There is the obvious answers like Aitken, Levi, and Bulldog but the most exciting thing about this club is the crop of great young players still yet play their best footy even though they are traveling well now. The likes of Shaun Leech, Sinders, Paver, Knudsen and not to mention the exciting Under 18’s, all of whom can hold their heads up high when they have risen to play in the Senior side, will provide a very bright future for this club if we can keep them all together.

CM: Do you think we’ll see more of the colts getting a senior game this year? Who else would you like to bring in, if possible?

AS: Without naming names, there are probably another half dozen along with the ones who have already played Seniors who could be rotated through. However, with finals fast approaching, all three sides need to start playing their strongest selections in readiness for their finals campaigns and therefore it is hard to predict what may happen from week-to-week with regards to injuries and match-ups etc.

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

AS: I believe there are 5 sides in the running for the finals with Heathmont obviously in the mix, we need to win the couple of big games we have coming up. The Basin are a star-studded side; The Pioneers have obviously proved they are worthy favourites, but I truly believe once you make the finals any side could beat another on any given day, it just depends on who has come to play.

CM: What’s the best thing about being involved at Heathmont Football Club?

AS: As I have said earlier, they are a great bunch of guys, they have made me feel very welcome and there is no-one who thinks they are better than anyone else, everyone is treated equally and they have made a 37 year old feel young again, as he did 15 years ago. I obviously can’t keep up with them anymore but I like to think I will go down trying.

This is a young club on the rise with a host of potential champions, but potential is one of the most over-used words in football, it all depends on the make-up of the man in question.

It is an exciting place to be around with a very bright future.

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Peter Forsyth - 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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Duncan Jones - 29th May 2009

Duncan Jones has risen through the ranks of the colts under Gareth Woodcock's coaching in past years and his this year taken the reins as colts coach himself. This interview from May 29th details the up and coming players in the colts now, Duncan's thoughts on coaching and of his more recent opportunity to play in the ruck in the seniors. I hope you enjoy it.

Chris Mirtschin: Can you tell us a bit about your football history, which teams you’ve played with from your junior years onwards, what are the highlights so far etc?

Duncan Jones: My football journey started with South Croydon in under 9s, then I moved to play footy with my brother at East Ringwood in under 13s and in under 15s I decided to make the move to Heathmont simply because of friends that were playing there. I have to say it was a master stroke.

CM: How have you found the colts coaching role so far?

DJ: Definitely challenging, but I have enjoyed every minute of it, the boys are great. I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of blokes to coach, they certainly make it a lot easier.

CM: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had in the role so far?

DJ: I suppose the biggest challenge would be to continually keep the boys interested with what we’re doing. Being young is hard for the boys because if we keep doing the same stuff, their minds wander and they get bored. So I suppose keeping it all fresh is definitely challenging.

CM: I hear you have the guys training on Monday nights as well now – how has that been received, and is it proving beneficial?

DJ: I think that the boys really enjoy Monday night sessions, we break down what happened on the weekend and what we want to work on at training, and then we go out to train. After training, we bring it in and assess what we want to set ourselves and achieve for the up-coming game. It also gives us a chance to bond as a team and do full ground drills which is defiantly beneficial for the boys.

CM: What’s been the most rewarding part of your coaching experience so far?

DJ: The most rewarding part so far is seeing the boys improve, each week they come out and impress me. Especially their enthusiasm on the track, they actually want to improve and become better footballers.

CM: You have Glen Wilson as an assistant this year to provide advice. How’s that going?

DJ: Glen has been a massive help, me being a first time coach certainly needed a person like Glen to help me out, without him I’m sure I’d be suspended for abusing the umpire. I’d like to think of him of more as a co-coach than an assistant.

CM: Which players are showing leadership potential at the moment?

DJ: Well the four I picked for leadership Jake Sherriff, Chris Wilson, Dyson Baker and Jack Batchelor are certainly standing up at the moment, but people like Nick Anderson and Jayden Himmerman are also beginning to stand up and become leaders of the team. The boys look up to all these players and to their credit, they’re doing a fantastic job.

CM: Who has stood out improvement wise amongst the playing group so far this season?

DJ: The person that has stood out the most would be Blake Leipper, his form the last 3 or 4 weeks has been amazing. His ability to find space and get the footy is great and I couldn’t be happier with the way he is going. Lachlan Goodey, being a under 16 has been one of our best players so far this year, the way he goes about his footy is fantastic he always gives everything for the team and it’s a pleasure having him play in the side.

CM: Can you give us a rundown on some of the newer players at the club who people may be unfamiliar with?

DJ: Yeah, new players like Joe Morrison and Tom Peddie. I saw their best form at the 80s night. A solid effort put in by these two and they’re great lads, they’re worth getting to know because they’re good blokes and amazing party animals.

CM: Are there any colts players pushing for senior selection at the moment?

DJ: At the moment I would say no, although players I could see playing ones this year would be Jack Batchelor, Jayden Himmerman, Jake Sherriff and Chris Wilson. When our bye comes around, I will be encouraging players who I think are ready to play seniors or reserves to train when we have the week off and to give themselves a red hot crack at being picked.

CM: Are there any long term injuries to colts players at the moment?

DJ: At the moment both our main rucks are out. Although Nick Jeffs and Nathan Grayson are expected to return in about 3 weeks. Simon Minson has an ongoing Achilles problem and he is getting that assessed this week but I expect he will be out for a least 2 – 3 more weeks.

CM: How’s the morale amongst the colts players at the moment?

DJ: I think the morale is pretty good at the moment, even though we're not winning as many games as we would like to, the guys know that we are improving and if we continue to improve we all know that the wins will come.

CM: Who do you rate as the main contenders for 3rd division colts this year, and specifically, how do you think Heathmont will go?

DJ: The top two sides in 3rd division colts will be North Ringwood and UFTG. They’re the benchmark and it will be very tough for anyone to beat these teams. Heathmont do have the potential to be a very good side and I think the second half of the season will begin to show that. The boys are getting use to the speed and physicality of colts footy compared to under 16s and I think by the end of the year we can have more wins than losses.

CM: You’re starting to hold a regular spot in the seniors now, and improving with your ruck work from week to week. Are you enjoying your playing at the moment?

DJ: Yeah, definitely. This year I am really enjoying my footy and being given a chance in the seniors is fantastic, so hopefully I can keep playing well and cement a permanent spot.

CM: Do you enjoy playing in the ruck, or would you prefer to play a different role in the side?

DJ: Yeah I love playing in the ruck, I use to play it a lot when I was in juniors at East Ringwood and when I first came to Heathmont, but I stopped because of a few knee injuries. Rucking at a senior level is a great learning experience. As for playing a different role, I do enjoy playing down back but at the moment ruck seems to be working for me so I’m happy to stay there. Wherever the team needs me to play, I’ll play.

CM: Finally, do you have any funny football incidents to share?

DJ: HA! Yeah there is one that stands out. Playing my first year of under 18s footy and Jason Newbury got the ball out of the middle ran the wrong way, had a bounce and bombed it long into our back line. Probably the funniest thing I have ever seen in footy.

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