Welcome to the Energetic Radio podcast. This episode is brought to you

by the school of play dotco, hosted by Dale Sibonham and

Paul Campbell. Each week, we'll bring to you tips, strategies, and ideas

on how you can bring more joy and happiness into your life and those you

share with. Alrighty, everyone. Welcome back to the

podcast, episode number 342 of the Energetic Radio

Podcast. My name is Dale Cybronom, joined by the one and only Paul Campbell. Good

morning, everyone. How are we? Now before I introduce today's guest, we normally have

a stat lies about the podcast number. Now Okay. This

morning before you rocked up, I reckon there was about 342 paparazzi

out the front that I I had to show off Many. After

last night's goal. Now, obviously, this is going out on, going out on

Monday, but you played last night and kick 1 from, I'd say, 75.

Yeah. Just sailed through. 75. Oh, it's

just amazing. It just wasn't perfect. So

today's guest, crap stat. And I made that up, by the way. There was only

302 It's hard to come up with a stab with that. So,

Liza West, while we're on the podcast, now before we get in, college basketball,

Utah State, flags for Melbourne, the Demons, now

playing at Hawthorne, probably winning the league medal at the moment if you

don't mind. Millions of tackles in and under, just

dominating and obviously goal of the year. Welcome to the podcast.

Thanks guys for having me. Welcome, Lars. Well, just make havoc on your lives when

we just minimize it. Yeah. We can commit to that. We always short memories because

I've got some stats. Yep. Oh. I love Lars. I love some

stats. Oh gosh. Let's hear them. No. These are bloody impressive. From from 1

football to another, I love these guys.

Mate, I'm just you're tackle. You're a machine. Absolute tackle machine.

Some stats for the past 3 seasons. 72 tackles in 2022, 70

tackles in 2023, and already a whopping 53

tackles Wow. In 2024. And that's off 6 games. That's up

my tackle. Yeah. So you went up to a tackle game. You're currently averaging about

10.7 tackles a game, and that's 53 tackles in 6

games. You aren't gonna smash your best tackle tally out of any

season you've had this year if you kick on the way. So no injuries, please.

No shoulders. But, yeah, keep going, mate. You're a little tackle machine. That is

excellent. Thank you. Well done. The other stat that I've dug up

that I think is phenomenal, I'm going back to Utah. We're gonna let you talk

in a bit later today, Sadie. This is about this is about us. Okay, Adrienne.

I won't be able to walk out the door.

Utah State. So Liza played basketball for Utah for Utah State,

and she holds the record for the all time

assists for the Utah State University. It's 457 assists.

Little Aussie Battler. Yep. Battler. You hold you hold sorry. I didn't know. Just

go. The little Aussie weapon. You hold the record for the all

time assist for Utah State University. Yep. That is epic. Yeah. It's

pretty cool. Yeah. That is pretty cool. That's bloody awesome. Yeah. Well Pretty proud of

that one. Yeah. He should be really proud of that one. 100 I think it

was 187 was the most you had in 1 season, most assists and

that he's yeah. And then we got talking about our our days, like, I'm not

sure if you know John Stockton. Yeah. You do. And then we got talking

yesterday because obviously because Utah, John Stockton paid for Utah. And John Stockton

had a Karl Malone, the mailman, and John Stockton would throw up his alleys, and

the mailman ended the alley. So who is your Karl Malone at Utah State? Her

name's Shannon Duffy, but she actually used to just sink threes. Does she? She

she definitely she is a, like, a power forward, but she'd always trail behind me,

and we always had this little connection, and then I just flick it to her

at the back. But, no, I love like, I've always been a pass first point

guard, so I love getting my teammates involved. And so Bloody awesome. Yeah.

How are they gonna sink a few for me? Yeah. Very very similar to footy

as well, like, hands first, in and under, you look after everyone. So

before, obviously and you've already lived 10 lives in your life

already with the things you've done. Where where did this all start? How do you

get picked up to play college basketball? I'm like, not only college basketball, Utah State,

you're bloody good. Like Yeah. What was your childhood like? Were you always a

gun at basketball? Like, do you wanna explain all of that? Always have been into

sport. And I have 2 older brothers, and they both played footy, cricket, basketball, and

everything. And so I guess just followed them from the start. I was

always, in the backyard playing with them. I used to play basketball against them, but

I used to give them tons of rules because I'm the youngest. And I used

to tell my oldest brother, you can't block me, you can't foul me, you can't

get your own rebound, you have to let me shoot, and I used to give

them all these rules. And then eventually, when I got better, the rules were gone,

and I was like, oh, no. Making rules out. Not making rules. That's awesome.

But it'll I guess it just started there with my brothers, and, I've got

really sporty family as well. So we were always just involved in that, and then

I've just always been naturally competitive. And so just sport since I

was young to all the way up until now, I love it to bits. And

so, yeah, just it was mainly basketball, netball growing up, and a bit of touch

rugby as well, and then, but basketball was a priority. And then eventually,

when I was getting a bit older and we were doing well, it kind of,

you know, became something that was an opportunity. Like, do I wanna go overseas to

America? And I had a really good coach, Jay, at the time who had some

connections and was looking out for me. And then once the opportunity came, I was

like, yes. I'll go. Oh, yeah. I wanna leave. And I just, yeah, I didn't

even some people were like, oh, you know, you're 18 and you just go to

another country for 4 years to play. I was so excited. I was like, bye,

everybody. I remember everybody, like, everyone being so sad at the airport, and

I was like, I'm so excited to leave and just go leave another country and

play basketball. Basketball. It was the dream for me, and and it was probably a

good insight into what professional, sport looks like and

being a professional athlete, because that's all you did. We used to train during preseas.

It was 6 days a week where you're trained Monday to Saturday, and you had

Sunday off, and it was 3 hour sessions every day. And then on top of

that, you'd have morning conditioning, morning weights, and then you go to class in between.

But And I'll be intrigued because you see lots of movies. Right? We watch lots

of movies about college things. Do they do they look after the sports stars, like,

in class and stuff and you get looked after? Yes. They do. They So take

the piss.

I

yeah. What what I wanna say is I used to not go to a lot

of classes. And, like, I have training, and they're, like, yep. That's

fine. Or, if you were traveling, you would just tell your teacher, oh, I'm traveling

on these dates. I need an extension. And they're like, well, that's not due until

3 months. I need an extension. So, like like, you just, you know, you just

tell them, like and they were very caring. And then the students,

were also pretty excited when they found out you were an athlete. Like, oh, my

god. But Then there'd be some students who were like, we're paying for you. Yes.

Yeah. Yeah. So there'd be a bit of a device. Yeah. Yeah. It was a

bit of a device. Yeah. Some loved the sports side of it and loved all

the athletes, and then others were just like, we a part of what we pay

to come to this school is for you athletes. Yeah. I can imagine. Yeah. And

then I like I know. I was like, oh, they're they're probably not paying. Their

parents probably are anyway. Yeah. Parents. They're not you. Your parents. Yeah. Oh,

but you look at that too. I know in the states, they end up with

huge, uni bills, don't they? Like, their uni degree bills are massive, aren't they?

So I think they came off for years years years years, but, no. Scholarships.

They don't know. They don't know. Yeah. By your 4th year, by, like, your senior

year, do you sign an autograph as you're walking down the hallway? Is that what

no. Not that not that level? It still was very, like I wanna say,

like, the there was still kind of a divide between, like, the men men's

and women's. So I I would definitely say throughout my career, the men's were deaf

were the they were the highlight. So basketball, football, they

were kind of the superstars. And then if we were doing well, then we were

known. But if we weren't doing well, then it was like me. Who

were they? Yeah. I also got mistaken for a soccer player or a

gymnast all the time. Everyone's like, oh, what sport are you? Gymnastics?

Yeah. A little pocket record, right? Yeah. I'm like, no, guys. Yeah. Basketball. That's

awesome. That's awesome. What about gear? Would you get looked after with all of your

gear? Oh, so much gear. So much. Yeah. Yeah. We

got playing shoes galore, training shoes, whatever

whatever you wanted, you got kind of thing. And it was when we'd start our

pre season, it'd be Christmas in August because you just got you walk into a

locker room and your locker was just decked out with so good. Like, every time

any any every clothes you wore, just a new nice to remember. You'd be the

same when you play representative stuff. I used to love it. Yeah. I used to

love getting the gift. Jacket though. So It wasn't it wasn't the same? It wasn't

Nike. It wasn't Nike bars or merch merch on ribs, but Yeah. All the Nike

merch was so sick. And then you do a tournament and you get clothes for

that too. And then sometimes they just do random, like, shopping hauls and you get

more clothes in your locker. Yeah. It'd be a nice little surprise sometimes. Yeah. That's

it. If you're going back to the states, like, when you said you're super excited

to go, would you just recommend going just for the travel purposes and just how

did it change you as a person? Like how did the, obviously the sports side

of things would change you massively in the skills you learned. What about is it

like your characteristics and your personal traits? How do you reckon that influence that

sort of things? I probably became a bit more independent,

and I was probably ready to take that step as well when I left. And

you kind of, because you're living with your teammates, you're just creating more friendships. So

I guess just being out there amongst different cultures, different people I was

in Utah, so I was with all the Mormons. Yeah. So that was a whole

new life for me to I remember one of my teammates, she's

Mormon, and, people knocked in our door, and they were like, do you have any

LDS students? And I went, nope, and just shut the door. But LDS is

Latter day Saints, which is Mormon, and I didn't know at the time. And I

just, like, got told these Mormons to leave, but they wanted they wanted my roommate

because she's Mormon. I just had no idea, and I was like, oh my god.

Like, I just thought you're saying some funny letters. But just completely different,

and so I guess a bit eye opening with how America is and

all of that. And I've visited America with my family before, but to actually live

there was something else. Yeah. I know. But I was everything was probably still a

bit gloss though because, you know, I was in the

college life, so you weren't really living in America.

So I couldn't imagine myself ever living in America Yeah. Okay.

Actually. Yeah. So you lived on campus Yeah. Though you did? Yeah. 1st year, I

lived on campus, and then my other years, I lived in a house with the

other Australians. So it was actually 5 Aussies, and we all lived together.

Really? Yeah. That would've been that would've been radon. Yeah. It was really fun. Are

any of them still, like, playing basketball? Didn't he go on to the w

Yeah. Yeah? So Rachel Brewster went to WML. I taught Rachel

Brewster. Really? Yeah. Small world. Yeah. She's like one of my

best friends. Haven't she had? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They knocked her out. I've yep. Got

it right out of there. I taught Rachel Brewster, Revel Sports Academy. Oh, really? There

you go. It was a small world. Yeah. She's an legend. She is great. So

she played WML for maybe, like, 6 years, and then

now she's retired just, you know, bit worn out from it all. And

then but played with her. Shannon Duffy is still

playing. So she actually stayed in America for a little bit while

after and then only came back maybe last year, but she's still playing. I think

she just played at, Diamond Valley Eagles last in Beyond 1 season.

And then Liv West from Tassie, not sure. She's undecided.

No. No, cousin. But I know how random was she. So

random. And, yeah, she's not, she played last

season, but I don't think she's this year. I think she's going back to study

up in Queensland. Yeah. Right. And then Steph Gorman's playing for Perth Links. Yeah. Cool.

Nice. WML. So, yeah, still people playing. I love that. Now And then now, Super

Bowl. Yeah. Yeah. We're gonna get to that. I'm interested. Like, you obviously said

about the college, like, how much emphasis is on training. Yeah. How much is

on the mental side? Like, do you is that a big thing over there? I

know, obviously, we'll talk about Yeah. With footy and everything in Australia, it's massive now.

You know, all clubs well, you will play well-being at Collingwood, and all clubs have

got things like this. Yeah. What was it like over there? I don't remember

any mental None. Nothing. Wow. Nothing. Wow. That blows me away.

That's crazy. I mean, it was 20 16 to 2020, so I still

feel like it wasn't a huge thing. Yeah. I'm pretty sure we did have access

to sports psychs. I don't know can't remember. And then,

we had, like, just, like, school people

helping us with classes and stuff if you needed any help in that sense,

but, like, tutors and all that, but nothing on the mental side for sport.

Yeah. So we tried a lot Visualization stuff. None of that. And a lot of

people did come in. Like, I know, a few of the odd because

here, when you're playing basketball, you train Tuesday, Thursday, play Saturday. You only do 2

trainings a week. Whether you actually do from 3 to 6 PM every

day, Monday to Friday, and then Saturday as well on for pre season.

So it is a big change, but I remember I just love training, so I

it didn't paze me at the time. I was like, yes. I get to train

every day kind of thing. Where I remember some of the like, when Steph first

came in, she's a bit younger. She was like, why are we training every day?

Like, this is too much kind of thing. So I guess you can like,

some people coming in, it is a lot for them, and it's, like, it just

depends on the person and everything. But we never no no nothing was ever

mentioned about the mental side of it. Visualization, mindfulness. Isn't

it? Nothing. Nothing. You just had to kind of cop it. Yeah.

You roll your ankle. You have to go train anyways. There was no, like, are

you okay? It was like, get on the court. Tough job. Yeah. Yeah. And that

yeah. That's been a big difference from footy as well. Like, football's so cautious with

your injuries and managing your body. I found when I was overseas,

there was no management. It was like, you're fine. Go play. Wow. Suck

it up. Yeah. Yeah. It was very, like old school mentality off you. And that's

not that long ago when you're saying, by 20 20. No. Like, that's a

bit behind. Yeah. And you and also when I think back to it being

younger, you didn't really know. You kind of were just like, yeah. I

will suck it up and do it kinda thing, where I feel like if that

was me now, I'd be like, no. I'm injured. Yeah. I'm just saying you know

right. Yeah. Let's speak out. I can't keep training. Yeah. This is not

okay. Yeah. I love that.

Now, obviously, you look back at your basketball career. Couple of questions.

What are you most proud of, and what made you just stop

after playing, like, your whole life being very good at

holding all these records. I wanna know the highlight, but then what was the

decision that you just stopped playing? My

highlight that's so there's been a lot of like, a few when I

was really, like, a lot younger, maybe 17, 18 here, we had a

really strong VJBL year where we won, like, country champs,

the classic, and the VC. Like, we won all 3, and it was Southern

Peninsula Sharks, which is, like, at the time, was just like a nobody club. And

so that was pretty we're pretty proud of that group to do that, and then

and then I would say, like, another highlight would have to just be my whole

America journey, because I think that was really special for me, and I'm, like, proud

that I went overseas and did that, and I loved it so much. Made

so many friendships, you know, just got probably got a lot out of myself,

outside of sport, you know, as well as being, like, on the

court and playing as well. So I think that whole part of it was

a, highlight for me. But then when I stopped

I know. It was so random. I remember when when you started training at the

gym, and you're like, I should play college basketball. Ness plays I'm like, woah. Yeah.

Woah. Yeah. How does that stop? I never grew up playing football. So

my brothers played, and my dad played. And I used to just watch them play,

and I thought that's the boys' sport. I don't play that. I just play basketball,

netball. And then when I got back from America, the I

the Melbourne list manager reached out and asked if I wanted to give footy a

go, and I was like, yeah. Sure. Like, I'll give it a go, see, like,

see what happens. And I went for a first of all, my brothers and my

dad took me for a kick at Mornington Oval because they were like, she can't

kick. So so you have to, like, teach her how to kick in one day

because she has to kick tomorrow. And then At an AFL club. Oh,

yeah. Yeah. It was, oh my god. It's horrendous. I my

and my brother bought me, Sharon, like, a red. Sauce. Yeah. Though

he bought me a proper football straight away, and he's like, this is happening. And

then, my whole shin was red because I just kept

kicking my like, hitting the ball with my shin. I didn't know what to do,

and my leg was sore the next day. And I was like, oh, this is

just atrocious. And when they left over, they're like, oh, she's got no hope.

Like, this is this is just stick to basketball. And

then, I went and did the kick with the, like, the d's

coach and the list manager, and they liked my footwork and

my hand eye coordination skills and all that. And they're like, the kicking is something

we can work on. So but we're kind of interested in you

to see how you go. And then so at this point, I was also still

playing basketball, so I played NBL one for Knox for 2 seasons. So I came

back to play NBL one. And probably and I did wanna play WNBL

as, like, a end goal, but for now, the stepping stone was NBL one

to start there. And then, and so I did this kick

around with the these people, and then they were like, yep. We don't mind you.

They went into COVID. And then they're like, but we're not gonna take a chance

on you for the this upcoming season because of COVID and everything,

whatever. Can't remember. Blah blah blah. And they're, like, but if you wanna keep giving

footy a go, you can play for Casey Demons Yep. And or try out for

Casey Demons and do that. So that was in December I think the

tryouts were December 2020 or even January

2021. So I throughout COVID, we'll go kick the football with my

dad and my brother, not really getting that much better. It was it was still

very questionable. It was just there was a lot of anger, like, my dad

telling me how to kick, and I'd be like, I don't know what you mean.

I don't know what you want from me. Like This is so foreign. Yeah. Like,

I'm just trying, and everyone laughing at me. I was This is so foreign. Yeah.

I kept trying, and everyone laughing at me. And then,

and then, eventually, tried it for Casey, made that team, and then played that whole

season. And then after that, that first season, which is

probably really good for me that I went through Casey and didn't go straight into

being picked up by Dee's because I got to play every game, and so I

got to learn through playing and whatnot. And so after that season, I was picked

up as a rookie from Dee's. Yeah. Awesome. And then still was playing basketball,

and then did one stop the last season stopped, footy season

happened, and then going to the next one, I kind of realized I can't

do both. And I didn't wanna do both, and at that point, I was really

excited with football. I love playing it. Even though I still sucked

and still was learning how to play the game every game, every training

session, still could barely kick. Just it was really it was challenging,

but it was an really exciting challenge, and I thought I could be better. And

so I was excited by that, and I was like, you know what? I

actually like football more than basketball, which is so random, and I think I

felt guilty about that because I was like, dang, like, I've played this game my

whole life, and now I don't wanna play anymore, and I don't even feel bad,

like, about not wanting to play. But it made it was the right decision though.

Right? Didn't feel bad that it's the right decision? So you were torn? Yeah.

No. I wasn't like I was like, oh, I didn't even I just I felt

more bad that I I felt guilty that I didn't feel bad about it. And

I was like, oh, I don't even miss basketball. And people always asking that. They're

like, do you miss basketball? I'm like, nah. I'm like, I actually don't.

It's crazy, isn't it? I think there's something about footy, the camaraderie. Yeah. Footy is

next level. I don't think you get that in any other sport. We've both played

numerous sports as well. And but footy, the camaraderie Oh, it's sexy. Even just

run your 1st walk lap as a group. You know what I mean? Tapping each

other bummed those sort of things. It's the best, isn't it? It's unreal. No. I

agree. And so just as soon as I stopped and then as soon as I

stopped also, I was able to put those hours that I was spending on basketball,

on football, and then that was probably the year where I had a big jump

of improvement, and that was the year we won the flag.

Nice.

So it's worth it. And how's it how's it kicking now? It's gone so much

better. So it's better? So Lefty from outside lefty. Didn't think it's down on a

75 meter tour. I was like, wow. Nice. I

pretty much have my eyes closed. Looking, maybe that's a spare. Yeah. Sorry. You put

2 footies over the fence in 3 kicks this morning. So at

the demons, did you, you thrive obviously on

a challenge, like, because obviously you could have stayed in Australia going to

America, you know, developing basketball, all that. That's a challenge. You're putting

yourself out there. It's easier not to do it. Same as footy. Like, you're starting

at the bottom of a game, but it sounds like instead of thinking, I can't

kick, I'm no good. Yeah. You're like, I can get better. I want to. Have

you like, who taught you that? Because a lot of, you know, a lot of

things we do these days, we want people to try things and fail because

failures are good. But everyone's so worried about failing. What people think about them, I

don't wanna try because then you're not gonna go through that failure. Yeah. Who

taught you that mentality? Because I think it's you gotta have role

models to do that. Yeah. And more importantly, like, do you think you're a bit

of a unicorn because of that? Like, what you just said, you know, you left

Basco, you achieved amazing things with it. You're very proud. Now you wanna give

something else a go, and you weren't very good, but you knew you're gonna get

better if you tried. Yeah. I I didn't

really have any, like, sports icons growing

up on the female side that I loved. I grew up a tag supporter, so

I loved certain players from Richmond. But

I reckon that side of it probably came from my parents. They've always been really

encouraging and supportive of everything, but they're also very critical

and happy to tell me when I've done an awful job and whatnot. I still

hear after yesterday's game. My dad was like, I have things I

wanna tell you about. And you go, I have things you tell. You

seem like golf balls. I know. So great. And so they're very,

yeah. But but always done in a supportive way. I know they want me to

get the most out of myself. And so I think because they've always done that

to me, it's always pushed me to wanna get the most out of myself and

kind of have set high standards, but also not be,

you know, flattened by mistakes or anything like that. I just don't think there's any

room in sport to be like that. I even even especially with football, that's nothing

I love about it is it's a game full of mistakes. And it's like, who

cares if you make a mistake? I can't even I couldn't even tell you a

mistake I made yesterday. I don't remember. Yep. You probably didn't. Yeah. I I did.

When I reached it, I was like, whoops. Whoops. But,

like, at the time, like, you have to have a goldfish memory when you're

playing sport because if you dwell on your mistakes, then it leads

into the next moment that you have when you where your team needs you to

step up in that moment, but you're too busy worrying about that you fumbled the

ball or something like that. Like, there's just no room in sport for that, and

I think that's a good lesson also just for life in general. Like, you're gonna

make mistakes or do bad things, but it's like, just move on and make a

better decision in your next one. And, yeah, you're not really defined by your

mistakes, and just people don't even remember. Yeah. Like, even at

even at the gym, if you mess up if I mess up in the talk

time I'll tell you. You would tell me. But then you know what? No one

else will remember. Does he tell you? Come on now. He does. So

they'll they'll bloody complain if I go over in the talk time. He doesn't get

stretching time. Yes. But yeah. Oghany, The

stories I've heard, it's I don't think you're you own that. He

does. He goes rogue. He does his he does his own work. He has he

doesn't follow the plan. Okay. He's a crush accent.

Sometimes I suggest things with Dale as well. Like, oh, no. He wants to do

something fun. But I love that. Now,

obviously, that mentality is so good. Like, don't dwell on things. Yeah.

Like, and I think so many people, they need to hear. And that's why I

love podcasting to hear messages like that.

Obviously, playing at Melbourne, they're very successful you were. What made you

go to Hawthorne? Like, what was what was that like? And, obviously,

Hawthorne, a new club starting out going very well by the by words.

But well, how did that all come about? It was the whole

process was definitely uncomfortable because I felt

like these gave me the opportunity to play football in the first time in the

first chance or the first, yeah, you know, moment of me playing football.

And so it felt a bit weird wanting to leave and even, like, going to

a new club and talking to them about potentially going there. It felt a bit

wrong. But towards the end of the season so after the

premiership's or last season, which was a year after our premiership season,

I don't know. The I felt like the culture at days kind of

slightly shifted. We probably got a bit complacent, thought that if we do the same

things as we did last year, we're gonna get the same result, but that's never

the case. And so I've always I don't think

for me, I don't think I changed my mindset on how I go about things.

I always push to be better and push the standards at training and whatever it

is, or always try to get the most out of myself. And so I felt

like I still try to do that, but just wasn't able to, I

don't know. I just wasn't getting that same response from the energy I was

giving. And so I felt like I want to give more. Let me give more,

but it just wasn't in the way that Yep. You know, suited me, and then

I was didn't really think I got that much better as a player,

and probably felt a bit not, you know I felt like I wasn't given the

opportunity also that I deserved, and I thought, like, you know, I'm cracking in.

Give me more time. Like, it's all I wanna do for you guys is crack

in, get the ball to our players that can use it, like, you know,

superstars. And so I felt like, yeah, I probably felt like

I lost a bit of value. Felt so I felt less valued by them,

and then Hawthorne came to me and were, like, showing

me all the good things I do, and they're, like, we need someone that can

do that for everyone. And I was like, oh, okay.

Yeah. Yeah. But then you feel valued. Yeah. What else? Wow. I should say

more than yeah. But then you feel valued. Right? And and that you and your

your strength is your hand eye coordination. Your strength is your low center of gravity,

so you get your in and under. Right? And you're a you're a clearance machine.

And so when you get to play these strengths, it makes you more excited about

your 40s. Exactly. And it was like, we just want you to play to your

strengths every game Yeah. Because that's what our team needs you to do. And it

was a bit, it was a tough decision as well because they are a new

club, so it's like they're in a building phase. And so that was also another

thing, like, risky or whatnot. But then once again, it's a challenge and opportunity.

It's like, well, now I get to be a part of a club that's trying

to build their, you know, their brand and, you know, create a name for themselves,

and that was like, I wanna be a part of that and a part of

why this team has success because I wanna build that with that group. Yeah.

And then they have, you know, they have Emily Bates who, maybe 3

seasons ago, won the league best and fairest, and she's a superstar. And so she

messaged me, and since she messaged me, I was like, oh my god. Hey. I

was like, oh my god. Hey. They knew what they they knew they knew

what they were doing when they sent her to message me. And then and

then yeah. And so, they've just got they've recruited

well over there. They've only been in the league 3 seasons, and so they've done

well to recruit over those seasons, and have built a

pretty good foundation with the players ahead of the start, like a lot of the

younger ones. And they've got really good young draft picks as well. Like, a lot

of our younger players are exciting. They're still a bit raw and, you

know, need to still bulk up a bit in the gym, but they they've got

skill and they've got so much potential, and it's really exciting to be around as

well. Like, sometimes they do things, and I'm like, wow. Like, gosh. Like, do that

more often and, like, you know? But, yeah. Then we got a new head

coach as well. So actually when I signed, Hawkes didn't have a head coach. But

I just trusted, you know, Max, the

GM, and, like, Kegs and Mitch, they were like, you know, we're gonna find the

best person for the job, and they kind of spoke to me, the person that

they were looking for, and I was like, okay. That sounds like, you know, I'm

I'm gonna commit to that and trust that you guys will do well with the

pick, and they did. They got Daniel Webster, and he is amazing. He's just

yeah. Really good coach. He's so good, and he's so competitive. We get along

really well just because we're both so competitive, and, like, we

played as a basketball ring at the, at in the shed of at the Hawkes

facility, and we always play horse, and then he hates it if I win. And

then, like, he beat me one time, and now we've never been able play again.

Because Did he want to go on top? He's yeah. He's gonna stop it there.

And I'm like, no way. Like, we have to rematch. That's awesome. Yeah.

Can you feel the, can you feel the hunger difference between Hawthorne and Melbourne? Yeah.

You're saying before you got complacent at another decent, which is understandable. They were an

aging list and had a heap of success, then you go to the Hawks and

it's young. Could you feel can you still feel the hunger difference?

Definitely. And I and I I feel a lot of the belief that the group

has about where we can get to. Mhmm. And I think,

Daniel has been a really big part of that because every time he

speaks to us, he talks about, you know, what well, how do we

view ourselves? We always talk about our values, like, what we wanna live

by, the behaviors that they look like, and he's always reiterating them to

the group so we always know what the standards are. And I think when he

does that, he also just talks about, like, the progress we've made and how we

actually haven't proven anything to anybody yet. And it's like, we're 5 and 1. He's

like, but I don't care. Like, we still have these teams to play. We still

haven't proven anything. We haven't ever played finals. We haven't done anything

yet. So he keeps us hungry like that. Yeah. That's good in there. Every time

I don't know how he does it. Sometimes he just whips out these talks and

then comes back down to Earth, Olivia. Yeah. Everything gets you going again. Yeah. But

then we're, like, we're ready to play now. What happened there? Get back up. He

does it he does it so well, and then everyone leaves the team meetings for

training, like, ready, like, ah, like, ready to go. And so he's been really

good, for the team and that, and he came in. And when he first came

in, he's like, I have a system. You will play my system, you'll be

disciplined, you'll know what to do, you won't be confused, like, you

know, like he just laid out, you know Yep. And he's how did he

articulate that clearly? Like, do you know him? So well. So good. I mean, like,

you don't give any secrets. That's brilliant. And then even, like, first

review, I love how he goes about his reviews as well. Just he calls

out things that aren't a part of our system or behaviors he doesn't like

or things from a bit from every position group. And I remember just

our 1st inter club, so it was us versus us, and he called me out

for some hours playing on a stoppage at Emily, and I felt so embarrassed. He

called me out in front of the team, and I was like, damn. And I

was like, well, I've never done that again. Yeah. Exactly right. But, like, that's the

thing. Like, he calls out everybody in front of everybody because it's

like, these aren't up to our standards, so everybody knows. And now

you know that no one in our team is gonna do that again, like, you

know, so it's it's good. What's the, and what's around that? What's

the culture like within the team in in terms of calling each other out or

being vulnerable with each other and being open to each other? Is that pretty good

at the Hawks? Yeah. It's it's good, and it's definitely getting better. I think the

older the older girls are definitely better at calling each other out

k. With those things, happy to have a bit of back and forth. I can

know Emily and I always will, and same with Tilly. The older ones

always have goes at each other, but it's all healthy. Like, it's all honest

conversations. And then the younger ones, probably a little bit more

bit more cautious with how you not how you speak to them, but

you wanna make sure that they know that what they'd like, that their their intent

is right Yeah. Kind of thing. Because the young girls are always they

there's no, you know, Nick can never second guess their effort.

They always put in. It's just sometimes with execution and stuff. So it's like,

why would you tell someone off if they're just trying their hardest type thing? So

it's like, we I feel like yeah. For them at the moment, it's just about

making sure they keep backing themselves and keep being courageous with the decisions they make.

You don't want them to go into their shells and be like yeah. Not going

straight it out. Yeah. Exactly. So, probably I feel like I'm not

sure about them. I think they might be having more honest conversations within their little

younger group, but definitely the older ones are. Yeah. And we do with, like, yeah,

the head coach as well. So it's good. I'll I'll love that. And one of

the teams I love lies is All Blacks, and their motto is very simple. Good

people make good All Blacks, and it sounds very similar to what you're talking about

there with, like, coach and Rand Hawthorne. What are your values? What do you when

you talk in front of the team, what do you wanna be known for? Yeah.

Oh, for us, you wanna know our values? No. You. Oh, me? Yeah. You asking.

I was like, Val Hawthorne values. So The real deal, Val Hawthorne values. I wanna

know yours. Carl Wex is like, she knows them well. That's awesome. It's got a

cheat sheet down there. For me, personally,

I I wanna be, like, a lead by example type person. I feel like I've

always tried to be that way with my work ethic. So I

think, I feel like I'm always first at the club

rolling and doing things like that. Always do, doing extra skills and

all that. Like, I'm a big believer in doing the extra work,

in those spare moments that you have. Like, I always would do stuff on the

nets or juggling 2 balls, 3 balls, whatever it is, just to have a get

my eye in, but also I just feel like no one else is doing this.

No one else is doing as much ball work with their hands as I am.

So I know in a game when I get it and I've got quick hands,

it's not a fluke. It's actually because I do it all the time type thing.

Yep. And so a big believer in that, And then I think,

I also do wanna be known as a fierce competitor, like, just competitive

beast. And I think Yeah. So

She she smashed you in high rocks, and she She's doing tag on me as

you come in here. I'm like, oh, the noise. I'm not on my footy. Dad,

you can hear me

That was rogue. That was probably the most rogue thing we've ever done. I don't

know whose idea that was. I was bored at the time. I was like, yeah.

We're gonna do a full High Rocks at 6 AM. On a Sunday morning in

the fold, 2 degrees. And I think Liza's birthday birthday. The streamers just went

out and did it. And every time, Liza just passed me,

like, but keep going, Dale, like, condescending encouragement, like,

flow through. I can't I can't run like that, mate. These are cruel every time.

You hate losing too. No. I didn't hate losing. I was just every time. I

didn't wanna lose a day. But he was he would always beat me on, like,

if you had to do the row or the ski egg. Like, he'd always catch

up, like, on that. And I'd see him leave. I was like, bloody hell. Like,

now I have to catch him on the run again. And then she did. And

after she's chasing him, and then I was happy to beat him though.

Yeah. You too, Grandkid. I have

I

love it. Oh, you're making me sweaty. That's funny. That's true. I love it.

What's the so you've had challenges. Right? So you've obviously basketball, touch

rugby basketball, gone overseas, footy challenge. What's the next what's

I know I know our time yet, but what's the next do you know do

you have any idea what the next challenge is gonna be? I don't know. I

like as yeah. A lot of people are goal setters, and I'm not really.

It's so interesting because people do ask me that a lot, like, do I set

personal goals with football and stuff? And I don't, and I never have

with basketball either. I've never thought, oh, I wanna get the assist

record or wanna do things. I feel like my goals are always just more

about the journey or just, like, staying present and getting the most out of

myself and the team with where we are now because then the results will happen

later. And then that's really, like that's the end goal in like, you know,

with it all. Like, we wanna win premiership, so it's not about I'm not thinking

about winning the premiership right now. I'm actually just thinking about that we have Frio

on Sunday, and I wanna watch vision on that and be as best prepared

for that game so that, you know, then we're on to the next game kind

of thing. So it's more about the process for me, but I think just getting

the most out of myself, every day or every session the

best I can Yeah. Is yeah. Probably, that's the challenge. Every

day. But the challenge is to stay present. Right? The challenge is stay in the

road, enjoy enjoy where I'm at because it doesn't last forever. No. And and enjoy

it as much as you can and stay present. And it is really easy to

think ahead and play things out in your head before they've happened,

and that you just don't you'd, like, you're not present in the moment in the

game if you've already played it out in your head and things don't go your

way. Then you look back and you're like, why was I doing that? And it's

because you just weren't you weren't in the moment. Yeah. And so,

yeah. So that's probably the main one for me. And another thing that,

Joel Selwood, we were lucky he came to our club the other day, and he

was talking about that type of same thing as well, and I thought it was

really cool when he was talking about staying present in the moment, and

it's more about that journey. And so when he said that, I was like, oh,

nice. Claciousness. Nice. I'm along with one of the best in and out. I'm

aligned with Dolce. Yeah. I'm aligned with the game we've ever

seen. I know. Yeah. I think you've got him for tackles. Yeah. He's

a he he didn't, he put his head over to get free kicks and tackles

like you do. Yeah. Balance is a word I wanna talk to you about.

Obviously, the AFL w season is not balanced.

Yeah. Like, were you playing like 4 games in 2 weeks or

something in a state where you played last one and you're playing against 3 on

the weekend? Yeah. Like, that's not balanced. You do preseasons. I

remember when you're doing a preseas, and then you're not allowed to play

VFL, like and then you're doing another preseas. And I'm like, this is crazy.

You're working. You're trying to live a life. Yeah. How do you keep

balanced with all that? Because it's so up in the air. It's I reckon it's

pretty unfair compared to the males that it's set in stone all the time. They

know what it is, whereas it's completely not. How do you stay on top of

that? Yeah. It's really, yeah. It's a bit all over the place, and I

feel like we're always waiting for when's the start date of preseason, and then

when's the start date of, you know, actual season. And is there gonna be more

games, gonna be less games? And so for this year, it was really exciting that

we got one more game, but it was one more game in the same 10

weeks. So that's why we're condensed right now because of that,

which we hopefully, people aren't, getting

injured because of it, but I think our club's doing a really good job of

managing everybody. But overall, with that, I

feel, and we get told a lot at the club as well, and it's just

not you can't worry about the things you can't control. And so I think that's

yeah. I feel like that's a big thing that I've been taught at football since

being at D's as well, and it's focusing on what you can control. And those

those other things, the uncontrollables don't, like, don't

pay many attend or you can, but don't let them get to you because what

can you do about it? Nothing. It's like the weather on footy on the game

day. If it starts raining, don't have a cry. Like, you can't control you can't

cry and the rain will stop. Like, you know what I mean? Like, it's just

focus on what you can control and, like, you know, your attitude towards

everything. And so I feel, like, once again, not knowing when pre

season starts and all that, all I can do is train and Yeah. Do

my 6 week training block of running and then move on to the next 6

week one. And then, hopefully, by the time they're done, we hear some news or

whatever it is. But other than that, it's and then with work,

balancing work, I think BFT's been really good with, my schedule and everything.

They knew when they hired me that I was playing football, so Andy's been awesome

with the scheduling. And the other week, I sent him all the dates I wasn't

available, and he was like, jeez, let me talk to your coach. And I was

like, shush, Eddie. Good luck,

Andy. Yeah. Good luck. Come on, mate. Yeah. Alright. Cool. And then,

but yeah. So luckily that they like, Andy and them have been

really great with that. So that's helped me a lot. I don't have I don't

feel stressed about work feeling like I have to work or anything like that.

But, yeah, I guess just that going back to the controllables and all of

that, but, yeah. Yeah. I love that. It's a pretty balanced. I'm not very stressed

about I don't get stressed about my feelings. You're very stressed. Like, you come and

smile on your face. You have no smile. Always smile. It's such a beautiful thing

to say. It is infectious. And very good energy

wise attitude reflects leadership. Right. And here we go. So I love that.

That, so with the fast forward, so the basketball, there wasn't

any mild from this stuff. Do you do much of that at Hawthorne? Is there,

has that in the AFLW now? Do you do a lot about the well-being side

of things about the visualization? Does that has that crept into that? Yeah. Yeah. There's

there's plenty in football. When I was at days, yep, we used to

do, mindfulness sessions with our psychologist every week as a

group. Same thing now at Hawthorne. We did more in the preseason.

So every Monday, we would have, our culture

meetings for, like, an hour, and so that would be sometimes it'd be mindfulness. Sometimes

it would be dealing with stress, dealing with whatever it is, leadership styles, just

everything. We just cover everything that you can cover, in

those sessions as a part of our, culture building as well,

and then you obviously have the psychologist available to you Yeah. If you need to

see her at all. So Yeah. You you we've got plenty of

resources along like, you know, through and through the

program. And if you wanna see PDM, you've got 3 PDMs to pick

from. You've got, you know, you've just we've got resources galore. If you wanna speak

to your coaches, you can speak to someone whenever you want. So you don't ever

feel like you don't have help kinda thing if you need it Yep. Which

is really good. And, yeah, our psychologist is great when she

takes us through all of our things and yeah. Do you you were saying before

about your goal at the moment to stay present. Do you find yourself

actively thinking, this is awesome. Look what I'm doing right now. Do you, do you

not take it for granted? Do you catch yourself, like, having moments of gratitude when

you're at training, when you're do you find yourself having those moments? Sometimes or

sometimes I'm just genuinely so happy to be out there or that yesterday in the

game, I definitely was. I think that was probably one of the most present I've

been in a game for a little while, and I think it was this is

so random, but it was just because I was being really physical. And I don't

know what it is, but, like, the the physicality and, like, bumping and doing stuff

like that kind of brings you into it, and you're like, oh my god. Like

Yep. You got a bit crazy and, like And how good is that for a

first for young footballs out there, any footballs. Right? Like, if like, if you're not

getting a a touch, just be physical. You can always have an impact in the

game. Right? And and and insert yourself in other ways rather than giving 20 odd

touches. But 100%. Yeah. But I definitely have those moments where I'm like, gosh, I'm

lucky to be here. I That's great. Yeah. Even in meetings, going over game

review. Like, I can't complain about my life at all because

I'm Yep. A professional athlete and that's what I wanted to be ever since, you

know, going going overseas to America. I was like, this is the

lifestyle I want. I just wanna train, and I wanna play and do all these

things, and now I get to do that. So I feel really grateful for that

as a whole. Yeah. That's brilliant. Do you reckon post career, whenever that

time comes, you'll still try and work in it? Obviously, you're working perfectly.

Yeah. Never mind. Not happy with this. Don't ever get rid of me.

But once you're I'll somehow find a way. Yeah. It's interesting. The knowledge

and experience you've got, right, in in different levels and different environments, it's

invaluable. So passing them on to the next generation would be unreal, wouldn't it? Yeah.

No. It'd be amazing. And even now, just seeing young young girls and

boys come to our games and be excited to see us or just be just

wanna come and watch and Mhmm. All of that is really special. And, yeah, doing

school visits as well, yeah, all of that, you

don't realize how much the younger generations look up to you and

see what you're doing and all of that. So it's pretty cool. Yeah. It's awesome.

I love that. Now, I'm interested here. You're a superstar at everything, and I even

did a little bit more digging. Last year, you won Victorian Parallel

Parker of the Year. Like, you won so many I'm

actually so good at parallel parking. I'm so

intrigued by this. Did you say you played touch footy for, like, Victoria?

Like, done everything. Yeah. Because you represent a high level of touch rugby, didn't you?

Yeah. Yeah. So this is what I mean. Is there anything you're not good at?

Like, is she not good at parallel parking? You know what? I would my guy.

I just sort of made that up. I just that's good, though. Didn't know you've

got a parallel parking? Yeah. I'm Pretty confident with it. Oh,

don't. You're driving both cars. You're pretty.

Yeah. If I wasn't parallel parking that little bad boy, you'd be concerned. You'd be

you'd be concerned. Is there anything you're not good at or that you

just really battle at? Yeah. Probably like doing the dishes,

doing chores. No one's good at that. Chores. Chores.

Just like cleaning, like, you know, it's I don't even know.

Yeah. Just little things maybe. I feel like, yeah.

I probably lose out a bit with being a bit tidy sometimes. It's easy to

just be like, oh, just chuck that on the bed and look up, like, till

later later I'll clean it or something like that, but

definitely gotten better at it. Okay. But, you know, I don't know. Probably that's the

last school you can develop that. Sorry. You've got another last school that you're looking

for. That's not that important. No. No. And maybe

I don't even know. Just not good at volleyball, to be honest.

Oh. Interesting. Yeah. I hate volleyball. You have good hand eye coordination. Yeah. What do

you like? I'm digging him up. Yeah. Maybe good diggity. Yeah. Or maybe I just

don't like it. A little Libros. Is it Libro in the middle? A little Libros

in different colors. Yeah. I picture you being a little Libro in the darkening. I'm

not good at a lot of things. I don't wanna admit all.

Come on. Yeah. We've all we've all got our weaknesses, don't we? We do now.

But I don't know. I've got one to go, Campbell. If you could look

back, obviously, you're not that old. But when you were

18, leaving Melbourne to go over to America, play basketball,

play basketball, come back, play footy, done all these amazing things, train awesome people at

the gym. What advice would you thank

you. That's the highlight. What advice if you could go back and tell

18 year old lies? What one bit of advice would you give yourself from everything

you've learned? I like that. Gosh. That's good. One bit of This is the last

question too, so make it good. These are what people listen to just for this

question at the end. This is one thing. Yes. Last bit of advice. I'll try

to stall there for a bit for weeks. More times. I don't know. I feel

like it's probably stuff that I've always touched on

or actually, no. Probably a bit more of

to just probably make sure I stay true stay true to, like, the

things you wanna do and who you are. And it's really

easy, especially, like, in those younger years to not go do an

extra session because you wanna go hang out or wanna do something.

So it'd probably be to don't, you know, give up

who you are and what you wanna do for, you know, to be liked or

stuff like that. You know? You don't have to be liked by everybody. Yep. You

know? Not everyone has to love you, and I think that's something we struggle with

a lot is you don't wanna upset people because you don't want them to think

badly of you or not like you for whatever reason. But it's like,

no. Be who you are, and people can like you or not, but that's

on them because you gotta really stay true to yourself type thing. I love

that. Oh, yeah. Because you Signals. Because you can transfer that. I

know. You can transfer that into life as well. That's a quote I'm just gonna

quote. Because that can get that can get transferred into life. It doesn't need to

be in the sporting sense. Like young people out there, especially when you're

teenage, all you give a shit about is your how you

perceived and what other people think about you when you are I truly believe

that you're at your happiest when you stop giving a shit about what other people

think about you and you're true to yourself. And it's not worth it to what

it is. Yes. But I think you develop the skills especially by our age.

We should have it by our age. But yeah, I guess you can transfer them

to life as well. Right? So the young people that are listening, yeah, stop caring

so much what other people think and just be true to yourself and I love

that. That's super powerful. Mic drop sort of stuff. Now,

Lars, thank you so much for being on the show. Absolute blast.