sammm
Brownlow Medallist
http://www.bordermail.com.au/newsflow/pageitem?page_id=1135462
I came close to quitting: Gehrig
But this to
be lucky
13th year
for Fraser
YOUVE been at this a long time now, how many pre-season campaigns does this make it?
This is my 13th year. My sixth at St Kilda and seven at West Coast. Actually its funny because I really havent done a pre-season at St Kilda before and for the first time I can probably do the training and Im reasonably happy with the way Im going.
Is it hard to keep motivated after so long?
Probably in past seasons I have found it a little monotonous but this year weve got new fitness staff and theyve really broken it up a bit and its a real different set up now which Im really enjoying to tell the truth. I feel probably more energised than Ive been for a while.
Your body seems to have been your own worst enemy, especially in the past couple of years. Have you learned to manage it as youve got older?
Last year I probably didnt have a lot of luck with hand injuries and I did not do any training at the start of the year with my back injury so it took me a long time to get going.
Hopefully this year it will be great to go into a year fresh and reasonably injury free. I mean my injuries will never get back to where they were but theyre going to be a lot better.
You pad them up and get one with it, Im not the only bloke in the AFL who carries injuries. Its something you learn to work with.
Is there an added sense of excitement going into this year? Youre premiership favourites, I think for a second time in as many years.
I think every team can be excited about going into the start of the year and its no different for us. I mean everyone should be aiming to play finals and weve been pretty close to a grand final twice now, so theres definitely some extra incentive, but a lot of hard work ahead of us. We probably need to do a few things differently if were going to take the next step.
There was a heap of talk whether youd play on this season. Were you as close to retirement as what people thought you were?
I think I was. It was a very tough decision and probably during the year I was planning on pulling the pin at the end. I had a good think about it at the end of the year and had a month away from it all and I realised theres still a few things I want to achieve in my career, with this group and personally and fortunately the body is holding up well and Im enjoying it which is the main thing.
Would you be missing it now if youd walked away?
I havent really thought about it, but, yeah I probably would be. The plan was maybe to go overseas after the footy career and do some travelling before I decided on what I wanted to do in life. But as I said Im doing things now at training which I havent been able to do for five years which is totally refreshing to be honest.
From all reports youve started planning for life without footy. What outside interests to you have at the moment?
Ive got a restaurant, a large family restaurant called Michaelangelos on the corner of Springvale and Wells road, Aspendale Gardens. And Max Hudghton and I have joined the developing game and were building a house together and hes about to become a qualified builder, so Im riding on the back of his wave I guess. Ive done a little bit of property developing before and Ill have a crack at most things once.
So if it ended now you could walk away with plenty on your plate?
Yeah. I will probably take a while to get over footy but there are definitely a lot of other things in the world. Ill probably step away from the game for a while and do other things in life and hopefully, pull my head in.
Do you enjoy footy? I ask only because theres probably a perception out there that you dont.
When youve been doing it for a long time there are certain elements about the game which can get tiresome. Im not the sort of guy who will go home and study videos of past matches or my performance or anything like that which I probably did when I was 17 or 18. As you get older youve seen a lot of it. But I still enjoy it.
If I had the choice Id probably prefer to watch a country game and stand on a hill drinking beers and eating pies. But now its a serious game and were training six days a week and Id be lying if I didnt say some of it was a grind, but you wouldnt do it if you didnt love it.
Probably more than any other modern player, youve had an amazing evolution as a AFL player. Has it surprised you?
My role has changed a lot for sure. I was quick and fit and Id run around a lot when I first went to West Coast before I did my knee and my body changed a bit. When I came to St Kilda I deliberately wanted to turn into a back-man and play on the best forward each week, which I did for a couple of years. Then partly due to injuries and partly due to the coaches, I decided to give full-forward a chance, which Id never really done. Ive been fortunate to get a couple of kicks down there but I really do think Im still learning the position and there are a few more goals I want to achieve, more team-based than as an individual.
How do you want to be remembered as an AFL player?
I dont want to be remembered in any particular way. Its never really bothered me what outside people think of me. Its only really what family and friends and those involved with the footy club which Ive always cared about. Sometimes it gets you in trouble that you might be perceived in a way by people who dont know you, but fortunately I think those close to me know what Im on about and know what I care about and I try not to think about what people who dont know me think about me.
When it comes to footy I do care about playing footy and making sure my team achieves everything it can.
They all tell me you put on a show at Wodonga Raiders during a Saints function the other night. Were you pretty well received by the old club?
I actually hadnt been back there in an official capacity since they won the flag a few years ago now. Its just great to catch up with boot-studders and volunteers which really make a footy club. Its good to rekindle some old memories and one of my best footy memories is still playing for Raiders when we beat Wodonga for the first time at Martin Park all those years ago. I still look back at that with immense pride and certainly the night was one to remember too.
Im proud of where I come from and I dont really get home as much as Id like. My parents make it down to Melbourne a bit which means I dont have to travel up here all that often, which is a tad disappointing.
What are your aims on a personal level?
Just to keep my fitness and my body at a good level but to be honest its more about the team this year. I want to become a more complete team player. And I think Ive been a pretty good team player in the past. I think that for us to get better we need to become a better team and not just better as individuals.
Thats probably my main goals and weve got a number of areas where we let ourselves down last year and hopefully with a full list we can take that next step.
How much has bad luck played a part?
I think its been tough with injuries at the wrong time of year.
I think during the season at times our football is, if not the best, than at least equal to any team who has played in the past two years.
Unfortunately for whatever reason luck has deserted us but we can blame ourselves in lots of areas too.
Weve had our opportunities and havent taken them and when youve been around as long as me you know that can hurt you. The way the game has become you dont get many and youve got to take them when you get them.
If it comes this year I think well be better prepared to take it.
I sense theres still a bit of hurt from losing that preliminary final to Sydney?
After beating Adelaide in the first final and leading Sydney at half-time to lose that was to miss a great opportunity. Sydney just seemed to have things go their way and they took the opportunity. The boys have got a little bit to make up for obviously last year and maybe the preliminary final loss to Port Adelaide. It still hurts, yeah. But Id be concerned if it didnt. That hurt is what should drive us to the next level.
I came close to quitting: Gehrig
But this to
be lucky
13th year
for Fraser
YOUVE been at this a long time now, how many pre-season campaigns does this make it?
This is my 13th year. My sixth at St Kilda and seven at West Coast. Actually its funny because I really havent done a pre-season at St Kilda before and for the first time I can probably do the training and Im reasonably happy with the way Im going.
Is it hard to keep motivated after so long?
Probably in past seasons I have found it a little monotonous but this year weve got new fitness staff and theyve really broken it up a bit and its a real different set up now which Im really enjoying to tell the truth. I feel probably more energised than Ive been for a while.
Your body seems to have been your own worst enemy, especially in the past couple of years. Have you learned to manage it as youve got older?
Last year I probably didnt have a lot of luck with hand injuries and I did not do any training at the start of the year with my back injury so it took me a long time to get going.
Hopefully this year it will be great to go into a year fresh and reasonably injury free. I mean my injuries will never get back to where they were but theyre going to be a lot better.
You pad them up and get one with it, Im not the only bloke in the AFL who carries injuries. Its something you learn to work with.
Is there an added sense of excitement going into this year? Youre premiership favourites, I think for a second time in as many years.
I think every team can be excited about going into the start of the year and its no different for us. I mean everyone should be aiming to play finals and weve been pretty close to a grand final twice now, so theres definitely some extra incentive, but a lot of hard work ahead of us. We probably need to do a few things differently if were going to take the next step.
There was a heap of talk whether youd play on this season. Were you as close to retirement as what people thought you were?
I think I was. It was a very tough decision and probably during the year I was planning on pulling the pin at the end. I had a good think about it at the end of the year and had a month away from it all and I realised theres still a few things I want to achieve in my career, with this group and personally and fortunately the body is holding up well and Im enjoying it which is the main thing.
Would you be missing it now if youd walked away?
I havent really thought about it, but, yeah I probably would be. The plan was maybe to go overseas after the footy career and do some travelling before I decided on what I wanted to do in life. But as I said Im doing things now at training which I havent been able to do for five years which is totally refreshing to be honest.
From all reports youve started planning for life without footy. What outside interests to you have at the moment?
Ive got a restaurant, a large family restaurant called Michaelangelos on the corner of Springvale and Wells road, Aspendale Gardens. And Max Hudghton and I have joined the developing game and were building a house together and hes about to become a qualified builder, so Im riding on the back of his wave I guess. Ive done a little bit of property developing before and Ill have a crack at most things once.
So if it ended now you could walk away with plenty on your plate?
Yeah. I will probably take a while to get over footy but there are definitely a lot of other things in the world. Ill probably step away from the game for a while and do other things in life and hopefully, pull my head in.
Do you enjoy footy? I ask only because theres probably a perception out there that you dont.
When youve been doing it for a long time there are certain elements about the game which can get tiresome. Im not the sort of guy who will go home and study videos of past matches or my performance or anything like that which I probably did when I was 17 or 18. As you get older youve seen a lot of it. But I still enjoy it.
If I had the choice Id probably prefer to watch a country game and stand on a hill drinking beers and eating pies. But now its a serious game and were training six days a week and Id be lying if I didnt say some of it was a grind, but you wouldnt do it if you didnt love it.
Probably more than any other modern player, youve had an amazing evolution as a AFL player. Has it surprised you?
My role has changed a lot for sure. I was quick and fit and Id run around a lot when I first went to West Coast before I did my knee and my body changed a bit. When I came to St Kilda I deliberately wanted to turn into a back-man and play on the best forward each week, which I did for a couple of years. Then partly due to injuries and partly due to the coaches, I decided to give full-forward a chance, which Id never really done. Ive been fortunate to get a couple of kicks down there but I really do think Im still learning the position and there are a few more goals I want to achieve, more team-based than as an individual.
How do you want to be remembered as an AFL player?
I dont want to be remembered in any particular way. Its never really bothered me what outside people think of me. Its only really what family and friends and those involved with the footy club which Ive always cared about. Sometimes it gets you in trouble that you might be perceived in a way by people who dont know you, but fortunately I think those close to me know what Im on about and know what I care about and I try not to think about what people who dont know me think about me.
When it comes to footy I do care about playing footy and making sure my team achieves everything it can.
They all tell me you put on a show at Wodonga Raiders during a Saints function the other night. Were you pretty well received by the old club?
I actually hadnt been back there in an official capacity since they won the flag a few years ago now. Its just great to catch up with boot-studders and volunteers which really make a footy club. Its good to rekindle some old memories and one of my best footy memories is still playing for Raiders when we beat Wodonga for the first time at Martin Park all those years ago. I still look back at that with immense pride and certainly the night was one to remember too.
Im proud of where I come from and I dont really get home as much as Id like. My parents make it down to Melbourne a bit which means I dont have to travel up here all that often, which is a tad disappointing.
What are your aims on a personal level?
Just to keep my fitness and my body at a good level but to be honest its more about the team this year. I want to become a more complete team player. And I think Ive been a pretty good team player in the past. I think that for us to get better we need to become a better team and not just better as individuals.
Thats probably my main goals and weve got a number of areas where we let ourselves down last year and hopefully with a full list we can take that next step.
How much has bad luck played a part?
I think its been tough with injuries at the wrong time of year.
I think during the season at times our football is, if not the best, than at least equal to any team who has played in the past two years.
Unfortunately for whatever reason luck has deserted us but we can blame ourselves in lots of areas too.
Weve had our opportunities and havent taken them and when youve been around as long as me you know that can hurt you. The way the game has become you dont get many and youve got to take them when you get them.
If it comes this year I think well be better prepared to take it.
I sense theres still a bit of hurt from losing that preliminary final to Sydney?
After beating Adelaide in the first final and leading Sydney at half-time to lose that was to miss a great opportunity. Sydney just seemed to have things go their way and they took the opportunity. The boys have got a little bit to make up for obviously last year and maybe the preliminary final loss to Port Adelaide. It still hurts, yeah. But Id be concerned if it didnt. That hurt is what should drive us to the next level.