Serenity now his Hallmark
HE was once known as big, bad and bustling – but these days there’s a softer side to Barry Hall. The former Sydney, St Kilda and Western Bulldogs champion, who is lacing up the boots this afternoon for The Port at Cygnet, is relishing his new, laidback life as a family man.
FOR Barry Hall, football is now about fun and entertainment, not intimidation and assault.
The once big, bad, bustling one is now a family man with two young sons and a brand new outlook on life.
Hall, 42, will be the main attraction at Cygnet Oval today in the SFL as The Port hosts Lindisfarne, with the former AFL star forward with a long list of tribunal appearances to play a one-off game.
“You grow up and once you have kids that sort of changes you a little bit, and certainly the competitive beast is probably gone,” the 289game, 746-goal AFL great said. “I’m not there to be a meathead. “I’m not trying to run through blokes or do anything stupid.
“I’m there to have a bit of fun, hopefully get a kick as that’s always better after the game when you are having a beer and just to support local footy and obviously Cygnet.”
He has played two games so far this year, kicking seven goals for South Burnie in the Darwin Football Association and booting 11 goals from 21 scoring shots in country Victoria recently.
Hall said his fitness was not great and the plan was not to leave the goal square too much.
He also had a message for his opponent for today’s clash with reigning premier Lindisfarne.
“People always ask me about that — do you get a boofhead trying to make a name for themselves and I don’t,” he said. “I’m not there for that. “I go out and shake the hand before the game and say, ‘look after the old fella’ and that sort of lightens the mood a little bit.
“I’m certainly not there to embarrass anyone or do anything stupid or make a name for myself so hopefully they feel the same and we can have a bit of fun and we can have a beer afterwards.”
This change in Hall’s philosophy and outlook from the once raging bull to now life-loving figure was due to the arrival of his two sons, toddler Miller and Houston, born just two months ago.
“It gives you a different perspective on everything,” the 2005 Sydney premiership captain said.
“Stuff I used to care about before that used to bother me and I get wound up about I just don’t anymore.
“You’re right if everything’s all right at home so I’m happy, if just gives you a different perspective on things.
“Even on the footy field I used to get wound up about things and I don’t anymore. It’s changed me quite a bit.” Today’s game starts at 2pm. In the other games, Claremont is at home to Sorell and New Norfolk travels to Shark Park to take on unbeaten Dodges Ferry.