LOOKING AHEAD

Q

What are the biggest challenges facing schoolboy footballers today?

A

Putting all their eggs in one basket is my biggest concern. (Melbourne NRL coach) Craig Bellamy makes his boys go to work to appreciate returning to something they love. The challenges we work on is boys have got to add a second string to their bow in case of injury and you have to do something. We don’t want boys to fall back on pushing shopping trolleys when times are hard. You need to keep them focused on making the NRL because there’s more money now than 20 years ago, it’s winning lotto, but they still need to be a chippie or hairdresser, that’s my biggest concern. You’ve got to work until 70 and you finish football around 30. Not everyone’s on a contract like Payne Haas. Next thing at 24 they have to feed a family and that’s what worries me the most. Q

Are there any improvements to the system you’d make to help boys reach their potential?

A

I’d love to see more support for the junior ranks financially. The cost to run programs is percentagewise a drop in the ocean to what they’re paying players but the junior schools and clubs are where they poach from. Financial hardship is holding the game under a bit. It’s something the AFL does much better, where you sign-on to get your jersey for practically free. There’s a big new broadcast deal coming and you could do some damage by dedicating 10 per cent of that to supporting clubs in the country. It skews too much to the top end at present.