WE ALL LOVED BAILEY

Q Your old mob Melbourne Demons have earned their place in the AFL final series for the first time since 2006. You played in their last final. What are your memories from the game?

A The last game was against Fremantle. We had a good side, David Neitz and Byron Pickett (right). I sit back now and think about the champions I played with, those guys I just mentioned, Jeff White, Adam Yze, Russell Robertson and coached by amazing persons like Neil Daniher. He was such a mentor for me in the early days. Then later on we had Dean Bailey and he was massive for my football and my development. I could name heaps of guys who I was proud to play with.

Q Dean Bailey seemed to be so loved by the playing group but became the face of the tanking saga at Melbourne after he was sacked. What are your memories of being under him at the club?

A Everyone did love Bails. He was like a teacher to us players. Daniher kept it simple but when Bails came in, he taught us and we became his students. I started to think about coaching from him, I started to look at the game differently. I won the best and fairest under him. I was blessed to have both of them. Bails was doing a very good job for the football club and he did the best he could. It all comes back to playing your role. He was the coach and it all became a bit too political. Eventually that is what happens when you do not play your role, things get out of line. Bails was hard done by and it was sad what happened to him in the back end of his career at Melbourne. It was sad what happened at Adelaide. He was a great man.