Q: Matthew, as a young fella, how does it feel to be playing your 200th game?
A: Yeah, very proud, I never thought I’d be lining up for 200, so really proud as are my family and wife Lisa. It is going to be a great moment and hopefully there are many more games after that.
Q: How many games do you think you have left in you?
A: With luck, obviously with injuries and things like that you don’t know what can happen but I hope there’s another 100 games left in me and I’d be pretty happy with that.
Q: Is that a goal of yours, to play 300 games?
A: I wouldn’t say it’s a goal, but at 27 years of age you’re probably a ahead of your time because I was luck I started at 16 years of age and now guys don’t start playing until they’re 18, but it would be a nice figure if I got there.
Q: What are your goals for the rest of your career?
A: I got a Premiership at 21, but loosing just the one game I think I didn’t appreciate it enough becausewe were just expected to win it. If we were to win another one, I think we’d do it the hard way and lose 6 or 7 games throughout the year and it would mean so much as a late 20’s early 30’s type of player and that would be great. I just want to be as consistent as possible and try to get the most out of myself for whatever time I’ve got left.
Q: How do you see the beginning of this season for yourself?
A: Obviously it should only get better I suppose, it has been frustrating. I see the rest of the year for myself and the football club, I’ve got a 10 week season and I just want to have the biggest impact individually and as a team that I possibly can. I feel so much better within myself now, in confidence and body wise and I’ve had a week off, so I am refreshed and can’t wait for Friday night and the rest of the season.
Q: Have you ever given any thought to going anywhere else other than Essendon next year?
A: No it hasn’t because I grew up down the road in Avondale Heights, and when I didn’t go to Carlton under the father son rule and came to Essendon I’ve come to be very happy with my surroundings and everyone around here so not to this stage have I ever looked at or come close to going anywhere else.
Q: What about the Brisbane Lions seeing as you were a supporter?
A: Nah I couldn’t just because of the stability of the club, the people who are here, the players, the captains I’ve had, Bomber Thompson, Gary O’Donnell, James Hird and one coach, Kevin Sheedy and just the way I’ve been given everything in my time here and that’s why I’m so proud to have played at the one club for all my 200 games.
Q: How are you thinking about taking over captaincy next season from James Hird?
A: At the moment it’s probably the furthest thing from my mind, I am just wanting to have a big finish to the season and still thinking finals here, but who’s to say he wont go on again next year and captain the side. But if it does come my way I will do it to the best of my ability and be proud. Our last captains have been Thompson, O’Donnell and Hird if Lloyd was next in line it would be something I would be pretty proud of and keep giving everything to the club like I have over the past 10 years.
To watch Matthew Lloyd's full press conference on Bomber.tv click here.
