FULL SPEED AHEAD FOR FALCON MATES

NICK WADE: Fresh off the MCG last Sunday for Vic Country against Vic Metro, is that the first time you boys have played there?

NED McHENRY: It was my second but I think it felt like my first, just because it was the first time with the Vic Country boys. It’s obviously a little bit different to playing on the other grounds but once you get out there and the ball gets thrown up, it’s just another piece of grass, so you forget about it a little bit.

OSCAR BROWNLESS: It was my first time playing on there and it was probably something you’ll never forget, really. Just walking up the race, wearing the Vic Country jumper, seeing the crowd, even though there were a few empty seats at that time. But it was a special moment. But as Ned said, once the ball gets thrown up, you just focus on the game.

NW: No time to rest. You’re either on a plane somewhere or, this week, suiting up again today at GMHBA Stadium for the next round of the championships.

OB: It’s pretty full on. Obviously we just played on Sunday and playing on Friday this week, but having said that, recovery is pretty important for us these days at both our clubs. Here at Vic Country, that recovery is drilled into us pretty well.

NW: Now, you two are pretty close on and off the field. You two went to school together at Geelong College, but different year levels, didn’t you?

NMc: Oscar captained College last year so from a football perspective that was awesome, I learnt a lot from him. He was a brilliant captain last year, one of the best captains I’ve played under. But outside of footy he’s like my dad, he drives me around a bit, gives me a bit of advice about a few things. He’s a little bit older than me, so he likes to tell me what to do (laughs). I think we’re pretty close. Footy is a part of that, but it’s certainly not everything.

OB: I think we’re lucky we live pretty close to each other. Normally I’ll be picking him up or dropping him off to training. Even just that 5-10 minutes in the car, you can relax a little, talk about other things. We have a good bond.

NMc: He’s on his Ps, I’m still 17 so he’s my chauffeur — my Uber driver (laughs).

NW: How have you found the co-captaincy of the Falcons this year with Sam Walsh, Oscar?

OB: It’s been a good responsibility to have, especially having Walshy as my counterpart. Couldn’t ask for anyone better, really, both on and off the field. He sets and maintains really high standards. I’m lucky I have a good bond with him outside of footy too, so it makes it easier when it comes to making decisions around the team.

NW: You were joking offcamera before that it’s not an Addy photoshoot without Walshy in it. The talk is that he’s not only the best midfielder in the draft, but potentially the No. 1 pick. What type of player is he, really?

NMc: We can’t really say much more about him than what’s already said from a footy perspective, because everyone knows how clean he is, how hard he works, how skilful he is. But from a guy perspective, just knowing him and being his friend, we just know him so well. In terms of his leadership and as a person, he’s just so genuine and honest. That probably is the most important thing we can say about him, because we spend so much time with him.

OB: He is just one of those Dealing with the hype of being Bill Brownless’ son: “I mean, obviously it is always going to be there. I try to ignore it and just focus on my footy. People tend to get carried away sometimes ... It’s always something that’s going to be there but at the end of the day I’m my own player and I try to focus on that.” On being a potential father-son: “It would be a dream come true. I know it sounds cliche, but these are the things you dream of as a kid and I think to have the opportunity to play footy anywhere, no matter what the level, is pretty special.” people you want in your team — at training, in a game or outside of footy. You wouldn’t know he’s being touted as one of the best draft picks this year, because he doesn’t talk about it. He’s so humble and modest. Great bloke, really.

NW: So Oscar, on that, how do you go with the hype of being a potential fatherson pick at the Cats, two decades after your old man Billy roamed the forward line?

OB: I mean, obviously it (the hype) is always going to be there. I try to ignore it and just focus on my footy. People tend to get carried away sometimes. I’ve got good support staff and a group of friends around me who I can always relax with. It’s always something that’s going to be there but at the end of the day I’m my own player and I try to focus on that.

NW: And you’re a completely different player too.

OB: Exactly. I think I can run a bit more than the old man, which isn’t hard to do (laughs), but I play more midfield time. He never really got the chance to do that.

NW: How much influence does he have? Is he hands on? Does he stand back and let the coaches do what they have to do?

OB: Dad’s been really good. I think he understands that the coaches know a lot more than he does (laughs). The game has changed a lot since back in the days when he was kicking the footy in Jerilderie (in New South Wales). He likes to sit back. I’ll always go to him when I need support or have questions, and he’s more than willing to help. He’s good, he knows his place — the coaches do know what they’re doing.

NW: Both of you are in the draft mix. Father-son is a realistic prospect for you, Oscar — if you got picked up by the Cats, what would that mean for you?

OB: Oh, it would be a dream come true. I know it sounds cliched, but these are the things you dream of as a kid and I think to have the opportunity to play footy anywhere, no matter what the level, is pretty special.

NW: What about you, Ned?

NMc: It would be awesome. We’ll just have to wait and see. You can’t afford to get ahead of yourself. Week by week. And if it happens, it happens.

NW: A quick look at the stats shows you guys and S Sam Walsh are topping the Being a pressure player “You never want to define yourself on just one thing. You can always get better on some things and grow in others, but my pressure, workrate, competitiveness and my intent to harass the opposition are certainly things I pride myself on.” His mate Oscar “Oscar captained College last year so from a football perspective that was awesome, I learnt a lot off him. He was a brilliant captain last year, one of the best captains I’ve played under.” pressure stats and endurance numbers in Vic Country games. Some Falcons players are running 12 and 13km a game, which is huge in only short quarters. In one game, the five Falcons nearly accounted for 50 per cent of the total pressure applied by VC. What sets you guys apart?

NMc: It’s a credit to the high performance team at the Falcons, Critch (Matt Critchley) and the team down there get us ready so well, and we’re so lucky to have the facilities down there. They get us set up for the games.

OB: It almost became a competition between me, Ned and Walshy in the pre-season. We’d push ourselves in a good way and push each other to get the best out of ourselves and you can notice the difference on game day.

NW: Do you both pride yourself on your endurance?

OB: I think for both of our positions it’s a key component you need to have, especially in the modern game. Everyone needs to be able to run and get to those extra places to really help their team out.

NW: Ned, were you the No. 1 pressure player in the first few Vic Country games?

NMc: Ummm, maybe, not sure, I think so. OB: You know so (laughs). NW: Is that what you define yourself by as a player — your pressure? You had 10 tackles alone against Metro.

NMc: You never want to define yourself on just one thing. You can always get better on some things and grow in others, but my pressure, workrate, competitiveness and my intent to harass the opposition are certainly things I pride myself on and it’s been good to be able to do it in a few games this year.

NW: There is a lot of attention on the national carnival. But recruiters aren’t just looking at these games — they want the body of work over a season. What do you hope to get out of the series?

OB: As you said, it’s not just these games, but the whole season that they’re looking at. Being here you have the opportunity to be around some really good coaches, but at the end of the day it doesn’t stray too far from what we want to do at our local and TAC Cup clubs. Always striving to get better and be your best.

NMc: You want to show your strengths at the champs, but at the end of the day, if you’re being selfish or not playing your team role, it’s going to really stand out.