Q. How hard was 2002 for you?
A. It was very hard - I have never missed a season in my life. I think the most games I have ever missed is three in a row, so it is the worst injury I have ever had. It was very hard mentally to address it. At the start of the year if you had said I was going to do a knee I would not have been able to handle it - I might have retired, or something stupid like that. But I think it has built me as a person and taught me how to deal with these sorts of issues. Life goes on.
Q. Does this type of long-term injury make you appreciate your football career even more?
A. I would be lying if I said I wasn't flat over the last pre-season. I have been playing footy since I was seven and I suppose I became a little flat. Having a year off and being basically helpless on the sidelines, has made me appreciate how lucky I am. Football is a very important thing to me.
Q. It must have been hard knowing you couldn't be apart of the action for the entire 2002 season?
A. I was overseas for the finals and I sat there getting the scores on the BomberLand website. I was just hoping they would win. I was sitting in this cafe cheering every time they kicked a goal - everyone was looking at me! I just was hoping that we would make another grand final. I guess the feeling if we did make the grand final would have been pretty mixed. Dean Rioli and Danny Jacobs - who were really close in 2000, can probably explain what the feeling is like. It would have been a feeling of total helplessness - just wanting to be out there, but I would have been rapt for them if they had made it.
Q. You resumed pre-season training on Monday, have you been doing much training while you have been in London on your break?
A. I have been doing a little bit. Basically the main stretches and strengthening of the knee exercises and also a tiny bit of running. I really wanted to come back and be under the eye of our fitness staff before I started to do too much.
Q. Have you set goals for the 2003 season, or are you just looking as far ahead as Christmas and taking it step by step?
A. I haven't looked too far ahead. I am just going to get to Christmas and hope to be at a certain level and then from Christmas to Round 1 is the next goal. And then I suppose, get back out there and play some good footy.
Q. Are you apprehensive about playing again?
A. There is always that fear in the back of my mind that it is going to happen again. But I am taking the approach that I am not going to worry about it and just try and get back to normal. If it happens again, there is nothing I can do about it. I am looking forward to playing again and I don't think I will be worrying about it when I get back out there again. The more I play the less it will become an issue.
Q. What is the one thing you are most looking forward to about playing again?
A. It is definitely that two hours before the game, building up and being with the guys - revving each other up and Sheeds saying his speech and then we finally run out and through that banner. I think that is when I will realise that I am back.
Q. Do you feel with the player changes around the club and the year you have had - that you will take on a new leadership role in 2003?
A. I suppose you can't help but look at the list in terms of where you are in games played and age and I seem to be towards the top quickly. I guess that extra responsibility comes when you look around at the younger guys and you want to help them as much as you can and they want to push you to the max. This creates a good atmosphere and you take on a leadership role within yourself without even knowing it.
