THE TEAM enters round four in the same position as last year, with an 0-3 win/loss record. Can you look back to 2006 to draw some positives for Sunday's clash against Fremantle?

James McDonald: You can take a bit out of last year, but at the moment you think, 'Where is the light at the end of the tunnel?' But you've just got to keep grinding away and things will change. Hopefully we'll start to get a few players back in the next few weeks. A few young players, like Nathan Jones, are getting games and improving. It's tough at the moment, but we'll stay positive and eventually it'll turn for us.

How hard is it structurally without David Neitz, Russell Robertson, Brock McLean and Jared Rivers?

It is tough, but it's also good for blokes like Paul Johnson to have a good crack at it in the forward or backline. It gives them a chance to show what they're made of.

Externally, fans and the media have placed heat on the club after three losses. How does that affect the players?

It's hard to block it out. Everyone is human and we get pretty disappointed, but we don't go out there to lose. It's not happening for us at the moment and we're trying hard. There is no special ingredient that will turn it around, but we know we've got the ability, as it's a similar list to last year. Hopefully it'll turn for us.

Personally speaking, last year was your best season. You ticked off these boxes: a best and fairest win, All-Australian and Australian representation. How do you reflect on 2006?

At the start of last year, I never set any high expectations or goals. I'm 30 now and getting towards the end of my career, so in my first few matches last year I was starting on the bench before helping out in the midfield rotations. Neale (Daniher) was keen to play the younger blokes, which was fine, but a few of them went down with injuries, so I then had to play a greater role. From there I gained momentum and I got a bit of confidence, which was good.

What was the highlight from those accolades?

The biggest surprise was All-Australian selection. Not that I put myself in that class, but to be included in that side with Barry Hall, Chris Judd, Adam Goodes, Scotty West, Brad Johnson and other champions made it a pretty special night. That was something I never dreamed of achieving.

Can you tell us a little bit about your trip to Ireland?

It was a great trip, especially with guys like Barry Hall and Michael Voss. To be able to play in Michael Voss's final two matches of his career was great. To meet blokes like that and other characters from other teams, you realise they're similar to blokes at Melbourne. And to work under a legend of the coaching game like Kevin Sheedy was great. To see how he works and what makes him tick was really interesting.

What did you take most out of the tour?

In the first game against Ireland, we lost and things weren't looking too flash. We had a few off-field incidents and there was a bit of drama. But guys like Michael Voss and the higher profile leaders on the trip got the group together and stuck through it. We then blitzed Ireland in the second match, showing you've got to keep the faith in yourself.

Would you like to see the series played again?

It was an awesome trip and if it is played again, it'd be great for a lot of the younger blokes to experience. They should do anything to be involved in it. I'd love to see it retained and play in it again. It was a great experience. It was great going to the other side of the world and learning some Irish culture. It's a different game as well, so it's good to learn different skills. I'd highly recommend it.

After returning from Ireland, you were rewarded by being named in Melbourne's leadership group. What does it mean to you to be in this group?

Last year I was able to be a little bit selfish. You've got the luxury of getting your body right each week and not worrying about what is going on with the rest of the group, to a certain extent. As long as I got myself right I was doing my job for the team. But now being in the leadership group, you've got a lot more responsibility. But it's been good. I'm in a lot more meetings. That takes up a bit more time, but you start to understand a few issues you wouldn't take a lot of notice of normally. At the moment it's tough because we've lost the first three games and it hasn't all gone to plan. But it's been good for my development.

How do you rate your own start to the season?

It's been not too bad. It hasn't been outstanding, but I'm just trying to do my role for the team. If we can get everyone contributing – that's what we built our season on last year – then we'll be a better side. I'm not trying to focus on doing anything heroic, I'm just trying to keep it pretty simple and do my role, which is whatever the coach wants me to do.

This is your 11th season at the club after starting on the rookie list in 1997. How do you reflect on your journey at Melbourne?

There's been plenty of ups and downs. I first got picked up on the rookie list for the 1997 season, so I didn't do a pre-season back then. When I first came to the club, I thought if I could stay on the list for five seasons, that'd be great. But I've been able to double that, which has been good. I've met a lot of great blokes along the way and picked up a few achievements along the way. It's been a great experience.

You're a highly respected player among the competition, but what do you believe you'll be remembered for when you eventually retire?

I won't be remembered for my high marking or goals of the year. Hopefully it'll be as someone who had a crack and was a pretty honest player.

On the topic of when you eventually pull stumps, how many more years do you think you've got left?

A couple more years, but it's probably not up to me. It'll be up to the coach and how my form is and what I'm like injury-wise. I'm contracted until the end of 2008, so that'll make me an old man by then. We'll see what happens from there.

Away from footy, what's on your plate at the moment?

I'm finishing off two units on my business degree this semester. I'm struggling a little bit at the moment, but when I finish it, that'll be good. It's a business degree in international trade and from there I'll start preparing for life after football in that field.

That's the area you want to work in once with finish playing?

I'm still not too sure yet. It's a pretty broad area, but I might do something through the AFLPA ‘next goal’ program and get some work experience and take it from there.

Does coaching appeal to you?

I probably haven't got the patience to look after 40-odd whingeing blokes and trying to please everyone. It's a tough job, the coaching game and you've got to take your hat off to them. There aren't too many jobs out there that come under so much public scrutiny, particularly in an AFL nation like Australia. At this stage, it doesn't tickle my fancy.