FD36a Docker JUL05-REV.indd - Fremantle Football Club

2005 DEBUTANTSMICHAEL JOHNSONDebut: Round 4, v Richmond at the MCGHow did you feel when you were selected?I travelled with the team to Melbourne but hadn’tbeen named to play. On the morning of the gameMatthew Carr was ruled out through illness andChris said I was playing. There were still a few hoursbefore the game started and I felt pretty nervous.What was it like playing at the MCG?I remember clearly my first goal. It was withmy third kick of the game and I didn’t know if Ishould have a shot or pass it off but I went backand can still see it going through the big sticks.Unfortunately we lost the game and I rememberevery word of the meeting after the game.Did anything unusual happen for your first game?The guys told me that I missed out on having tocarry Peter Bell’s bags from the airport to the busand to his hotel room which you’re supposed to dowhen you’re on your debut.You enjoyed a win in your second game did youget the traditional drenching?The boys were trying to push me in there but thecamera man and all the photographers were inthe way so I didn’t have to get drenched.DAVID MUNDYDebut: Round 6, v Melbourne at the MCGWere you surprised by your selection?It did come as a bit of a surprise but I was over themoon to get my opportunity to play AFL which Ihad dreamt about since I was a kid. We were in ameeting and Chris told me in front of all the boys andthey were all really happy for me which was great.How did you feel in the lead-up to the game?I was more excited than nervous and was reallylooking forward to getting out there and hopingthat I would get a few kicks.Were you daunted by the MCG?They call it the home of football so it’s a goodplace to make your debut and it was even betterbecause we had a good win in the end. I hadplayed at the MCG in under 18’s before an AFLGrand Final which was a great experience and abig crowd but they weren’t there to support us.Did you know the words to the song?I had heard the song in the change rooms after winsat Subiaco so I knew the words. The boys pushedme into the middle but I managed to hide behindthe photographers and avoided getting too wet.RYAN CROWLEYDebut: Round 10, v Geelong at Skilled StadiumHow did you feel when you were selected?I was rapt and felt pretty nervous straight away.I rang my Mum and she almost had a heartattack I think. She couldn’t believe it and didn’tspeak for about five minutes and finally managedto say how proud she was.Was it like you expected?I knew it was going to be quick and it was, thatwas the biggest thing I had to get used to.Was Geelong a tough place to make your debut?Looking at our record at the ground it seemedlike a pretty daunting task but I had played thereas a junior so it wasn’t totally unfamiliar and thebest thing was that we came away with a win.What did it feel like in the middle of the song?I thought I was going to get showered but I didn’tbecause the boys hadn’t grabbed their Poweradeyet. I had heard the song plenty of times beforeand the words aren’t too hard to remember soI was fine singing away in the middle.AFLSports ReadyMORE THAN A DECADE ago Essendon CoachKevin Sheedy in conjunction with the AFLinitiated an education programme to ensureyoung players were prepared for life afterfootball. Today that programme has expandedacross the country and now enriches the livesof many beyond the footy field.Fremantle midfielder Troy Cook is the publicface of AFL Sports Ready in WA and hasactively promoted the programme for more thanthree years. Troy believes it is an invaluableresource for young footballers most of whomare drafted into the AFL system directly out ofhigh school and have limited work experience.“It keeps them busy when they’re away fromthe club and keeps their mind active. It givesthese younger guys some knowledge of whatthey might like to do into the future,” he said.The success of the AFL Sports Readyprogramme has helped it expand at a rapidrate and has moved outside the AFL realm andnow incorporates traineeships for high schoolstudents. In WA alone more than 100 traineesare involved with AFL Sports Ready and itcontinues to grow.“Everyone is different and it’s a greatopportunity for someone that may not be thatinterested in school but can get involved in atraineeship that will see them through highschool and hopefully lead to a full time jobdown the track,” said Troy.Swan View high school student Kirk Dorizziis one of the program’s trainees and spendstwo days a week at Whiteman Park learningthe ropes in what he hopes will lead him to acareer in conservation and land management.Assisting that dream is a mentor systemwhere Troy visits the teenager and chats abouteverything from work to footy.BRETT PEAKEDebut: Round 13, v Kangaroos at SubiacoHow did you feel when you were told you weregoing to play?Chris pulled me aside and told me I was playing.After he was finished I ran to the car and phonedDad, he was really happy for me and then I gothome and told Mum and my sister and they wereeven more excited I think.How did you feel in the lead-up to the game?It didn’t hit me straight away but as the gamegot closer the nerves started come. I tried tofocus on doing the right things and prepare well.Travelling to Sydney with the team the weekbefore gave me a great insight into how the guysgo about getting ready to play a the top level.News“If Kirk has any problems he might feel morecomfortable speaking to me about thoseproblems than anyone else.“I’m basically here to make sure everythingis going ok and to visit him every now andthen. If he wants to talk about any problemsat school, work or even at home I’m happy tolisten and help him out,” Troy said.“He’s very encouraging and talks to me a lot,”said Kirk. “It shows us they (AFL players) arenormal people except can play footy betterthan most of us,” he said with a smile.A budding young footballer himself, Kirkacknowledges the programme has opened hiseyes to a career that he hadn’t even considered.“I didn’t expect to work in this area, I wanted tobe a mechanic but after coming to WhitemanPark it has changed my mind,” he said.While it’s obvious the kids get a buzz out ofTroy’s involvement in the programme it is amajor time commitment for an AFL footballerbut one he’s more than willing to do. Troy’s offfield work also includes an ambassador role forthe Cerebral Palsy Association which is one ofFremantle’s two aligned charities in 2005.“You just have to organise your time well,” saidTroy. “Football is first and foremost but it’sgood to be involved with things outside of footybecause it takes your mind off it for a while.You can get a bit caught up in the daily footballgrind so to have a break from it and helpothers is something I really enjoy.”The tough midfielder has a heart as big off thefield as he does on it and won’t even let crosstown rivalries get in the way.Troy chuckled while admitting some of thetrainees, like Kirk, barrack for the Eagles butsaid he “won’t hold that against them!”What was it like running onto Subiaco Oval?It was a huge thrill and the noise of the crowd wasamazing. I had a touch early in the first quarterwhich was important and it was game on fromthere. I can’t wait to play for Fremantle again andI hope I can keep contributing to the team.How does it feel to be Fremantle’s only father-sonselection?It’s a great honour to be the first person selectedunder the father-son rule for Fremantle. Dad hasbeen a great support throughout my footballcareer but has always said to be my own personand I will be out to make a name for myself.It was great to have him in the stands to see meplay my first AFL game.fremantlefc.com.au July 2005 Docker 5