TOM Bugg has been known to ‘shh’ the crowd after kicking a goal and in more recent times, his love of a social media post – but all in good fun. Last week, he sent a post, tagging mate, Bulldog Jason Johannisen, asking him are ‘you ready’. It was a few hours before Melbourne’s clash against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium. Bugg’s Instagram post sparked plenty of debate – and even became a mural in Hosier Lane in Melbourne during the week. But there’s more than social media posts to Bugg, who is determined to make his mark with Melbourne, as he told Matt Burgan …

That Instagram post!

Tom Bugg didn’t mean to cause a stir.

In his eyes, it was merely pre-match banter with a mate, as he explained.

“It’s funny, it’s got a lot of attention. The way things are these days, it’s all through social media, so it blew up. I posted it two to three hours before the game, then put my phone away, so I didn’t actually see anything before the game. After that, I heard it was mentioned a fair bit,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“It was all in good fun – a bit of playful stuff, but it was light hearted. I have a good relationship with Jason [Johannisen] but my conversation with Goody (Simon Goodwin) is that we don’t want it to be the topic of conversation.

“We played a really good game and all of a sudden it becomes a three or four-day talking point. I’ll learn to do it at a more appropriate time, but I still want to show my character and I still want to portray things the way I am.”

Bugg’s tweet was seen in some quarters as fun – before it got blown out of proportion. Others said it was poorly timed. Either way, Bugg said scrutiny was simply the nature of footy today.

“I’ve actually had a lot of positive feedback. I’ve had people reach out –  players, staff from [my former club] the Giants and [people] in general,” he said.

“People are really happy to see people showing a bit of character these days. For me, it was just natural, but because it was a bit out there, it does attract a bit of media attention.”

To talk with Bugg is to listen to an energetic personality.

He provides verve to the team and it’s this approach that helps him remain in the side.

“All the feedback I’m getting from the players is all positive. They love what I’m bringing to the side. The coach is really happy with what I’m doing. As long as they’re happy with it, I’m going to keep bringing it. I think it’s really important to have someone like that in the side to generate energy,” he said.

“I think we lacked a little bit [of personality] in the forward line and I was playing midfield. I came down to the forward line and brought that with me, so I think it’s definitely helping the side. It helps other guys come out of their shell.

“Mitchy Hannan didn’t say too much – I don’t think I heard him speak over the pre-season, but now he’s come out of himself. Wattsy’s (Jack Watts) come out of himself. I just get a lot out of seeing other guys be more vibrant and show a bit more personality in their footy.”

Back in the side

After entering the 2017 season with 83 AFL games under his belt – including 65 with GWS Giants from 2012-15 – Bugg started the year as an emergency against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, which he acknowledged was difficult.  

“It was a challenging, but I’d been through a massive transition in the last six months,” Bugg said.

“Last year, I played fiercely and with a hard-edge, so I feel like that got me some games at times, even when I probably wasn’t warranted some. I played 18 games [in my first year at Melbourne] and externally that looks pretty good, but in my view, I got hit pretty hard from the coaches in terms of my application.

“Right now, I see myself as the most prepared [player] at the club and the hardest worker, and last year I think I was the least prepared and I didn’t work hard at all.”

Bugg returned for his first match of the season against Fremantle at the MCG in round four. Yet he was dropped the following week, before gaining a reprieve for Melbourne’s win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium in round six.

Despite his frustrating start, Bugg didn’t drop his bundle.

“I played the three JLT [Community Series] games and played some decent footy. Then I got dropped in round one, which at the time was tough. I had a choice – I could’ve sooked about it or I could’ve done something about it.

“[Until then] I had played every round one game in my career, so I was really proud of that, but it hurt. I took my ego away from it, and it was all about learning for me.

“I went back to VFL, and I spoke to Goody and the coaches, and I got real clarity on what they wanted me to do, so I could be part of the side, because it’s going to be a great side. I want to be part of the success that comes with it.”

When he was dropped, following Melbourne’s two-point loss to Fremantle, Bugg didn’t take it as a negative, but as a positive.   

“I had 22 touches and I thought I played a team role, but I got dropped the next week. I went back to the VFL to learn and ultimately that held me in good stead. That’s the reason why I believe I’ve come back in the side and stayed there,” he said.

“It was a massive learning curve, taking my ego out [of the equation] and looking at it as a genuine learning opportunity. In turn, I’ve got rewards through respect from coaches and players and I’m playing some really good footy at the moment.”

A lightbulb moment

Bugg has no doubt he’s a changed man.

His habits are different. He can’t pinpoint the exact moment, but he knows the penny has dropped.  

“I figured out why I was doing what I was doing. Like we all do sometimes, you wake up, work, go to sleep and do the same thing over and over again. You’re almost unconscious to what you’re doing and just rolling through this repetitive state. I decided I’m not going to do that anymore,” he said.

“So why play football? I play to make my family proud; my parents, my sisters – I have three beautiful sisters, who all come to the games every week. I go out there to make them proud.

“Off-field, I have business endeavours. Ultimately [I want] to be financially set-up, so I can set them up and they don’t have to do anything for the rest of their life. I’ve got goals and I’ve got ambition. I’ve got things that motivate me every single day, so when I wake up in the morning I have a vision board. I look at what drives me, so every day becomes important.”

Utility-turned-forward

Throughout his AFL career, Bugg has been the traditional utility.

Able to play down back, in the midfield, on the wing or tag, Bugg has played a variety of positions. But now the flexible Demon is ready to give it a genuine crack in attack.

“I’ve always been that versatile player … but I see myself up forward now as I really think I bring a lot to the forward line. I play instinctive. I’m good on the wing too, because I’m fit. You have to be fit to play that role. It’s a team orientated role, so there’s a lot of communication,” he said.

“But I’m loving my time down forward.”

Although he conceded several opportunities in front of goal had gone begging this season – he has kicked 6.11 so far – the flipside was that he was averaging slightly more than two scores per match.

“[In rounds nine and 10], I kicked seven behinds over two weeks and I hadn’t even scored a goal. But I see that as the same challenge as getting dropped at VFL – it’s a mental challenge,” he said.

“I’m working as hard as I can and practising that aspect of the game. I’m getting in the right positions – the goals will come.”

Days at Gembrook, time with Bucks and life as a Giant

Claimed as a 17-year-old access selection by GWS Giants, Bugg, who grew up at Pakenham Upper, played at Gembrook-Cockatoo as a junior – a club that remains close to him today.  

“It means a lot to me because my grandpa played there. In terms of Gembrook, it’s the country and it’s good. The grass is green, there’s lots of trees around and I just like the environment,” he said.

“It makes you grateful to be able to step on the MCG every second and play in front of 70,000.”

Bugg, who went to Caulfield Grammar, also represented the AIS-AFL academy, Gippsland Power and Vic Country, when he was coming through the ranks. In 2009, he was coached by Nathan Buckley, who headed up the under-16 Vic Country team at the time. Bugg said it was a memorable, but hectic time, as he relished the opportunity to be guided by the Collingwood great.

“I moved out of home at 16 and boarded at Caulfield Grammar. A lot was going on – you’re playing TAC cup, school footy, Vic country, AIS – there’s four different teams. It’s challenging, as you’re all over the place, and I had my family back home as well,” he said.

“Back then, it was‘just go out and have a bit of fun’ – there wasn’t too much strategy to your game. Getting coached by Bucks was an amazing experience. I still remember watching him growing up. I was an Essendon supporter, so he used to hurt us a lot.

“To learn off someone who’s played at that level, held me in really good stead. I always keep a keen interest in how Bucks Is going – he’s gone through some hard times, but I love the way he carries himself and his drive.”

As for his days as a Giant? Bugg has no doubt he didn’t fulfil his promise.

“I wasted my time up there, in terms of applying myself. When I used to get challenged, I responded as good as anyone. It might’ve been a four-week response and then I’d drop off,” he said.

“Up at the Giants, I was in and out of the side. I played a few good weeks and then I dropped off. Although I played 65 games – and I’m really grateful for my time up there – I’ve just taken that experience and learned a lot from it.

“That’s all you can do with stuff from the past – learn from it, build and implement it at Melbourne.”

A big second half of the season

Bugg is fully aware of the opportunities that lie ahead – if snapped up by the team. Personally, he is also determined to keep his spot.

“We’re sitting fifth – everyone’s excited. The supporters are excited, the club’s excited, the players are excited and I’m excited. I’m all about embracing the position you’re in and we’ve done so much hard work to get where we are, so I think we should be celebrating the little wins,” he said.

“We know the challenge in front of us … ultimately, we’re there to win a premiership. if you’re not aiming to win the premiership, then I don’t know why you’re playing each week.

“We understand it’s a process and we’ve implemented little strategies to help us keep focused on it. But ultimately we want to win a premiership and break the drought.”

And he now also knows the fine line to walk.

“There’s a couple of times I’ve probably crossed it in my career. But I love it. I think footy needs a bit more of that these days – sometimes it gets boring,” he said.

“I can’t even listen to interviews with players and coaches anymore because it’s just so standard. You can almost pick what they’re going to say before the interview.

“I’m a little bit out there, but it’s really natural for me. I’m a really social guy, but also very team orientated. It’s a fine line but you get brought back pretty quickly.”