RUCKMAN Mark Jamar speaks to melbournefc.com.au editor Matt Burgan in the lead-up to his 100^th AFL match

Congratulations on your 100-game milestone. Can you believe you’re about to reach the ton after almost a decade in the AFL?

MJ: Not really. I don’t worry about it too much. At the end of the day, it’s another game of footy the club needs to win. I know I’ve got to be at my best to help the team win. I’m not getting too carried away with it. But hopefully it gives me a bit of a high on the day and it allows me to play a good game.

It’s been a fair journey for you. After being overlooked in the 2001 AFL Draft, you were claimed as a rookie entering the 2002 season. What was that period like for you?

MJ: That was pretty tough. Coming from South Australia, there were a few of us expected to get drafted. But I think the reality of it was that I was too fat. I had no education about nutrition. I was playing in the SANFL and I was still in high school, but I had no idea about what I was eating. I was eating pies at lunch and recess. I don’t know if that was my own fault, but I only had myself to blame. That was the main reason I put it down to, because I had a good carnival. But the clubs must have thought I was unprofessional and a big eater and that put them off. Clubs were looking at the athlete, so it put them off. I was disappointed at the time, but I got on with it and trained with Adelaide and then on rookie draft day, I got the call I was going to Melbourne. I didn’t expect to come to Melbourne, but Adelaide said they might grab me as a rookie, so I put my eggs into that basket. But when Melbourne grabbed me, I haven’t looked back since.

For much of your career, Jeff White was the No.1 ruckman at Melbourne. And you were also competing with Darren Jolly early on and then with Paul Johnson for the second ruck position. Can you talk about that time, when you were the No.2 ruckman?

MJ: Jeff was very established when I first got to the club. I look up to Jeff a lot and I admired the way he went about his footy. He’s a top guy. When I was 18, 19, 20 or 21, I was never going to be as good as Jeff, so I just had to put in a lot of hard work. I was given a few opportunities to back Jeff up and that probably made Darren think: ‘if they’re going to give Mark a go, I may as well look elsewhere’. Darren was ready to be that No.1 ruckman, it’s just that we had Jeff. So Darren moved on and became successful at Sydney straight away. He became a very good player and still is to this day. It was the right time for him to take that challenge. Then the club got Paul Johnson and then it was Paul and I competing and we were back and forth in the side or we’d be injured. So it was a bit of an arm wrestle, but I stuck at it. I had to change a few things and now I’m in the position I’m in now. I just love football at the moment. I want to do it as long as I can.

You touched on battling injury and form fluctuations. How did you deal with those situations?

MJ: It wasn’t easy. I’ve had a lot of kicks in the guts along the way and not many pats on the back. I’ve taken my career into my own hands and started self-coaching outside of what I was receiving. And then Dean [Bailey] came in and put a lot of new systems in place and Chris Connolly made us more professional and Jimmy Stynes and Schwabby (Cameron Schwab) got us right off the field. And David Loats is my ruck coach at the moment and very dedicated with the time he spends with us. He always watches the tape with me and talks to me during the breaks at the game. So there is a really good club feel and everything is working. That helps all of the players. AFL has changed a lot over the years and I reckon we’ve got the best mix at the club now for the players.

Your 2009 season was an interesting year. Injuries limited you to just seven matches, but your form was very good when you played. In many respects it launched your outstanding 2010. How do you reflect on that season?

MJ: Playing those seven games gave me enormous confidence. I was coming up against good opposition and I was finding myself very competitive against them. It made me think I could do it and my game against Carlton, after missing three games helped me. I spoke to Dean before the game and he said: ‘just get some run in your legs up forward in preparation for the last game’. That’s when we sending off a few of the boys like ‘Wheaters’ (Paul Wheatley). So I played forward and kicked a goal. Then I wanted to play in the ruck, but at half-time, Dean gave me a spray and said: ‘what are you doing, where did I tell you to play?’ I said: ‘forward’. So I stayed forward and then a few things fell my way and I ended up kicking five goals. I was pinching myself and that gave me enormous confidence. But I didn’t have a base fitness that year, because of niggles, so I made do with the best base I had at the time.

But at the end of the 2009 season, you almost headed to Port Adelaide. How do you look back on that time?

MJ: At the end of the year, for whatever reason, I didn’t feel like Melbourne was interested in me. After the form I showed and what I could do, I thought it was a bit rough. It turned out there were a few communication errors and I’ve since changed management and sorted a few things out on that front. When I spoke to Dean, I said: ‘where do I sit in your plans?’ He said: ‘in my best 22, you’re my best ruckman.’ I said: ‘that’s all I need to hear mate.’ I should’ve made the call earlier, but I didn’t have the courage to ring the coach earlier. You usually let your manager worry about that, but if I had my time again, I would’ve rang Dean straight away and that would’ve made my decision much easier.

Were you really close to going to Port Adelaide?

MJ: I don’t really dwell on that. I’m a Melbourne player. I’m a one-club player and I want to stay that way. They (Port Adelaide) offered me a two-year deal and Melbourne offered me a one-year deal, so I stayed at Melbourne. That showed where my dedicated was.

And then in 2010, it came together for you. You had an outstanding season and received All-Australian selection. What did that mean to you?

MJ: Going to an award night with a lot of guns in the AFL, I was thinking: ‘do I deserve to be here’. It was a bit overwhelming. I was able to hold my head high and I was shocked. For the hard work and dedication [it was a great reward]. People still think we rock up to training for a couple of hours and then go home. We’re full-time. For example, we can be at the club from 7.30am to 4.30pm - that’s a full-time job. We don’t get weekends off, because we’re playing and recovering, so we are putting in a lot of work. So for me, [the All-Australian award] was a nice feeling to get a bit of recognition for a lot of hard work. And that’s not just for me - but for all of the players. It was a nice pat on the back, but there are more kicks in the guts along the way, so you take them when they come and then move on. But that was last year and everyone is trying to be the best this year. I’m striving to compete with the best again this year and give my team the best opportunity to win first possession with my hit outs and give a real contest - that’s what I’m in the team for.

How did you feel entering 2011 knowing that you’re a reigning All-Australian?

MJ: People expect you to have a good game every week. I did it last year, so there is no reason why you can’t back it up. It’s just another challenge each week. Expectation is always there and when you’re playing in the AFL - that’s always there. I just tried to take on more responsibility by setting the boys up around the ground or being more vocal. I just go about my business.

You turn 28 years old in August. Ideally, how many more years would you like to play in the AFL for?

MJ: I’d say forever if I could. But if I could play until I was 32 or 33 that’d be amazing. I’d love that.

Footy is your focus now, but you’re also keeping an eye to the future with your health and fitness business. How’s that going?

MJ: I do some personal training. I train a lady once a week and that keeps my mind off things a bit. I’m doing a trip to Thailand at the end of the season. Along with a few other friends who are trainers, we’re taking a group of 20 people over there to train. I’m also studying some building. I’m doing some work experience and trying to get skilled up to become a registered builder, so I’m keeping my options open off-field. It’s good to have some options.

And finally, how do you reflect on your time at Melbourne?

MJ: It’s been a great time of my life being at Melbourne. A lot has changed over the years and things change every year, but I’ve played in two finals. I’ve won one and lost one. Unfortunately, the one we won, I broke my foot against St Kilda and didn’t get to play the following week against Fremantle. That still hurts that we didn’t advance in the finals. They were highlights for me. Every time we win is a highlight. Getting around in the circle with the boys is a bit of a reward for effort. Everyone is trying hard, so to get a reward is special.