THE NEXT CHAPTER

Q Your Western Sydney contract expired last month. What are you up to now?

A It’s June now so I’m able to train in the team environment and also just by myself I’ve been ticking over to get the fitness back to a good level and see what comes up, both ALeague and overseas, but it’s probably got to be a short-term thing because I don’t want to be spending a big time away from my family like I have. I’ve had one training session with (Gold Coast United) but it’s more helping them with some defensive coaching. That’s something I’m looking to do more on the Coast.

Q So is coaching where you would like to end up when your playing career is over?

A Obviously I’ve started up my mentoring company, That’s Football, and I’m also doing some (coaching) stuff in schools. Sydney University flew me down to Sydney for the Blue and Gold Dinner (last week) for higher sports honours and I did my first talk about my mentoring company. I’m looking to slowly build that and get into schools around the Gold Coast and Australia. My aim is to help athletes transition into and out of professional sport, to help guide them and tell them what it’s like to be professional and give them that networking platform. I want to change the perception that sport is only about earning as much as you can and playing for as long as you can. I’m looking to build that on the side but I’m looking for an on-field role as well because that’s going to be mainly off-field. I’m definitely looking to broaden my horizons while I’m here so I want to get into schools and clubs and even the corporate world with my mentoring.