You’re drawing towards the end of your first AFL-listed season. How have you found it?
JF: It’s gone quick - very quick! I walked in at the end of last November and it still feels about two weeks ago. But all of a sudden there is one VFL game to go before finals and two AFL matches before finals, so it’s amazing how quick it goes. It really is.
Has your first season at the club been everything you’d imagined?
JF: Some things it’s exactly how I pictured it. Other things are completely different to how I imagined it. It’s a lot more full-on than I thought it would be. I knew coming into the AFL you’d have to work hard, but I didn’t realise it would be every day 9 to 5 or 8 to 5. I thought you’d be at the club for a few hours and then you’d bugger off home, but there are lots of meetings etc. But it’s all been really good.
You’ve had to contend with some injuries in your first year. How have you handled that on top of adjusting to life in the AFL system?
JF: It was a bit hard. I was fine in pre-season. From the time I got to the club through to the first practice match, I missed just one training session. I was really good with my body. I played the first NAB Cup match and then against Essendon in the next practice match. I then played for Casey and then one training session my groins felt really tight. That set me back about four weeks. I made sure I got them right and that it didn’t become OP (osteitis pubis). I missed about four or five weeks and when I returned in the VFL twos, I hurt my shoulder. I had a shoulder subluxation, which is where it dislocates, but pops back in. So I missed another four or five weeks, before I came back in. And then annoyingly, on my first game back from my shoulder, I got a really bad corky. So I played a couple more games in the VFL twos and now I’ve been playing in the VFL seniors.
And how’s everyday life been at Melbourne for you?
JF: All the guys have been really easy to get along with and welcoming. I thought it would be a bit daunting coming in. I thought ‘how do you get along with these guys?’ It helps that it’s a fairly young group. Most of the guys talk about similar stuff. Luckily I knew a few guys I got drafted with and from the year before. A lot of boys like NFL, some like soccer and some music, so there are similar interests outside football.
Have you found football has consumed your first year or have you had time to get away from the game?
JF: I’m still living at home in Werribee, but over the pre-season I found it was really hard to catch up with friends. That was due to the heavy loads and I just wanted to come home and sleep. I didn’t want to do anything else but sleep. So it was a bit hard there. But the more used you get to footy, the better it is. You can still catch up with mates and watch a movie or play Play Station. I finished year 12 last year and then I got into a management marketing degree. I deferred that because I wasn’t sure what my loads would be like. Next year I’ll pick it up part-time. Also through the club, I’m completing a certificate two in sport and recreation. So it’s been busy, but it’s been good.
How have you found the transition from TAC Cup through to VFL seniors?
JF: It’s just different playing against big senior bodies. The philosophies are very similar and sometimes you might do a similar training drill, but you’re going up against blokes who are more skilled, quicker, stronger and fitter and can kick the ball further. It’s different to adapt to and it’s weird playing against blokes who aren’t the same age as you.
As an extension of that, what’s it been like to compete against more mature key talls and rucks?
JF: It’s been hard. When we do contested training and there is me, Matty Warnock, Brad Miller, Mark Jamar, Paul Johnson, James Frawley and Jared Rivers - you tend to get thrown around like a rag doll. It’s like if I’m playing against under 12s. So it’s hard to adapt, but you just learn different ways to try and beat them. It’s the same as competing in the ruck at VFL level - you try not to get caught up in a wrestle, because they can quite easily maneuver you. So I try and use my attributes - agility, speed and jump to try and get around them, so you can hold your own.
Has there been one particular person who has helped you in your first year?
JF: I got put into the forwards group when I first arrived and over the pre-season I followed Millsy (Brad Miller) around like a lost puppy. Every training drill we did, I tried to watch what he did and where he’d go. Josh Mahoney, as the forwards coach, I’ve had a bit to do with him. And later this year I’ve been playing ruck in the VFL, so I’ve had a few chats to Russian (Mark Jamar) and David Loats, who is our ruck coach. So learning off them has been really good.
There are differing views about where you will play long-term. Some believe you are a key forward, others a ruckman or a combination of both. Where do you think you’re best suited long-term?
JF: I’m happy just to be playing footy. It honestly doesn’t worry me. I think my best footy is as a deep forward, but having said that, if I’m playing as a ruckman, I’m happy to do that. If I have to go down back as a key defender as well, I’ll do that. Where I contribute best is a deep forward.
Before you were drafted, there was plenty of focus on you suffering chronic fatigue syndrome. But you’ve been able to manage that for more than a year now. Can you update how you are managing that?
JF: I haven’t had a ‘crash’, as we call it, since December 2008, so that’s almost two years. So it’s not an issue really. It’s still something I’m trying to manage, but I make sure I get a decent sleep. I’ve been really lucky and touch wood I’m over it. It’s just something that I’ve always got to keep an eye on, but it shouldn’t give me too many concerns.
You’ve spoken about having to mature quickly, due to your health issues. Can you explain that?
JF: I’ve had to be more mature having to deal with chronic fatigue. That happens when you meet with doctors and you have to listen to what they’re saying. If you’re 15 years old, you hang out and sleep over at your mates’ houses. But I was always in bed earlier, even if my mates gave me a bit of flak for it, although they were really good about it. My mates that I grew up with at home are similar - they’re pretty mature for their age and that helps. I have one mate who can’t digest meat, so we try and stay away from having a BBQ when he’s around. So it helps that those guys are really accepting. And when you are around adults it helps. Although there are thousands of kids who can play footy, not all of them have the right mental attitude [to make it].
With just a few weeks left, what are your goals for the rest of the 2010 season?
JF: Just learning. It’s very clichéd to say that you’re learning every week, especially the last month, where I’ve been playing in the ruck. It’s not something I’ve done too much. I’ve been learning so much off Russian and Loater. I’m just trying to put into practice what they tell you and see improvement each week. They’re the things I’m hoping to get out of it.
And then what’s planned for the break?
JF: I’m keen to go to the grand final. I’ve never been to one. But I have to get my shoulder fixed up at the end of the year. I did it against North Ballarat, so I’m really keen to build up the fitness base and come back to pre-season - and touch wood - have another good one and then hit the ground running.
JF: It’s gone quick - very quick! I walked in at the end of last November and it still feels about two weeks ago. But all of a sudden there is one VFL game to go before finals and two AFL matches before finals, so it’s amazing how quick it goes. It really is.
Has your first season at the club been everything you’d imagined?
JF: Some things it’s exactly how I pictured it. Other things are completely different to how I imagined it. It’s a lot more full-on than I thought it would be. I knew coming into the AFL you’d have to work hard, but I didn’t realise it would be every day 9 to 5 or 8 to 5. I thought you’d be at the club for a few hours and then you’d bugger off home, but there are lots of meetings etc. But it’s all been really good.
You’ve had to contend with some injuries in your first year. How have you handled that on top of adjusting to life in the AFL system?
JF: It was a bit hard. I was fine in pre-season. From the time I got to the club through to the first practice match, I missed just one training session. I was really good with my body. I played the first NAB Cup match and then against Essendon in the next practice match. I then played for Casey and then one training session my groins felt really tight. That set me back about four weeks. I made sure I got them right and that it didn’t become OP (osteitis pubis). I missed about four or five weeks and when I returned in the VFL twos, I hurt my shoulder. I had a shoulder subluxation, which is where it dislocates, but pops back in. So I missed another four or five weeks, before I came back in. And then annoyingly, on my first game back from my shoulder, I got a really bad corky. So I played a couple more games in the VFL twos and now I’ve been playing in the VFL seniors.
And how’s everyday life been at Melbourne for you?
JF: All the guys have been really easy to get along with and welcoming. I thought it would be a bit daunting coming in. I thought ‘how do you get along with these guys?’ It helps that it’s a fairly young group. Most of the guys talk about similar stuff. Luckily I knew a few guys I got drafted with and from the year before. A lot of boys like NFL, some like soccer and some music, so there are similar interests outside football.
Have you found football has consumed your first year or have you had time to get away from the game?
JF: I’m still living at home in Werribee, but over the pre-season I found it was really hard to catch up with friends. That was due to the heavy loads and I just wanted to come home and sleep. I didn’t want to do anything else but sleep. So it was a bit hard there. But the more used you get to footy, the better it is. You can still catch up with mates and watch a movie or play Play Station. I finished year 12 last year and then I got into a management marketing degree. I deferred that because I wasn’t sure what my loads would be like. Next year I’ll pick it up part-time. Also through the club, I’m completing a certificate two in sport and recreation. So it’s been busy, but it’s been good.
How have you found the transition from TAC Cup through to VFL seniors?
JF: It’s just different playing against big senior bodies. The philosophies are very similar and sometimes you might do a similar training drill, but you’re going up against blokes who are more skilled, quicker, stronger and fitter and can kick the ball further. It’s different to adapt to and it’s weird playing against blokes who aren’t the same age as you.
As an extension of that, what’s it been like to compete against more mature key talls and rucks?
JF: It’s been hard. When we do contested training and there is me, Matty Warnock, Brad Miller, Mark Jamar, Paul Johnson, James Frawley and Jared Rivers - you tend to get thrown around like a rag doll. It’s like if I’m playing against under 12s. So it’s hard to adapt, but you just learn different ways to try and beat them. It’s the same as competing in the ruck at VFL level - you try not to get caught up in a wrestle, because they can quite easily maneuver you. So I try and use my attributes - agility, speed and jump to try and get around them, so you can hold your own.
Has there been one particular person who has helped you in your first year?
JF: I got put into the forwards group when I first arrived and over the pre-season I followed Millsy (Brad Miller) around like a lost puppy. Every training drill we did, I tried to watch what he did and where he’d go. Josh Mahoney, as the forwards coach, I’ve had a bit to do with him. And later this year I’ve been playing ruck in the VFL, so I’ve had a few chats to Russian (Mark Jamar) and David Loats, who is our ruck coach. So learning off them has been really good.
There are differing views about where you will play long-term. Some believe you are a key forward, others a ruckman or a combination of both. Where do you think you’re best suited long-term?
JF: I’m happy just to be playing footy. It honestly doesn’t worry me. I think my best footy is as a deep forward, but having said that, if I’m playing as a ruckman, I’m happy to do that. If I have to go down back as a key defender as well, I’ll do that. Where I contribute best is a deep forward.
Before you were drafted, there was plenty of focus on you suffering chronic fatigue syndrome. But you’ve been able to manage that for more than a year now. Can you update how you are managing that?
JF: I haven’t had a ‘crash’, as we call it, since December 2008, so that’s almost two years. So it’s not an issue really. It’s still something I’m trying to manage, but I make sure I get a decent sleep. I’ve been really lucky and touch wood I’m over it. It’s just something that I’ve always got to keep an eye on, but it shouldn’t give me too many concerns.
You’ve spoken about having to mature quickly, due to your health issues. Can you explain that?
JF: I’ve had to be more mature having to deal with chronic fatigue. That happens when you meet with doctors and you have to listen to what they’re saying. If you’re 15 years old, you hang out and sleep over at your mates’ houses. But I was always in bed earlier, even if my mates gave me a bit of flak for it, although they were really good about it. My mates that I grew up with at home are similar - they’re pretty mature for their age and that helps. I have one mate who can’t digest meat, so we try and stay away from having a BBQ when he’s around. So it helps that those guys are really accepting. And when you are around adults it helps. Although there are thousands of kids who can play footy, not all of them have the right mental attitude [to make it].
With just a few weeks left, what are your goals for the rest of the 2010 season?
JF: Just learning. It’s very clichéd to say that you’re learning every week, especially the last month, where I’ve been playing in the ruck. It’s not something I’ve done too much. I’ve been learning so much off Russian and Loater. I’m just trying to put into practice what they tell you and see improvement each week. They’re the things I’m hoping to get out of it.
And then what’s planned for the break?
JF: I’m keen to go to the grand final. I’ve never been to one. But I have to get my shoulder fixed up at the end of the year. I did it against North Ballarat, so I’m really keen to build up the fitness base and come back to pre-season - and touch wood - have another good one and then hit the ground running.
