MS: I know we’re great mates but thanks for giving me some of your time on the eve of your 250th because I know you’re a really busy man … not. What’s the milestone mean to you – is it just a number?
CE: It obviously means you’ve played a lot of footy and I guess you’ve been successful but at the moment it doesn’t mean much because it’s just another game and another number. When I retire and reflect it’s something I’ll be proud of.
MS: Talk about your home town of Kimba in South Australia. It’s not exactly a town anyone’s heard of. Give us your take on growing up in Kimba because I think you had five other students in your Year 12 class.
CE: Correct. Geez, you’ve done your research! It’s just a small country town in SA and just a farming community and my memories are it being a pretty tight-knit community growing up. It was just me and four others in Year 12 and I moved over to Geelong just after I completed my studies. It’s a fantastic little town.
MS: How many girls were in that class?
CE: Two girls and three guys. There wasn’t much to choose from (laughter).
MS: Who have been the biggest influences on your career?
CE: Obviously getting drafted to Geelong, my first coach was Bomber Thompson who was huge influence on me, and Brendan McCartney shaped me as a player and as a person. I’d have to say you were pretty big in getting me to where I wanted to get.
MS: Oh, thanks mate.
CE: Others like Steven King, Tommy Harley and Brenton Sanderson helped me along and I look up to those guys.
MS: Who do you most admire from opposition teams?
CE: That’s a good question. I used to like Andrew McLeod – he was my favourite player. There’s some fantastic players out there, it’s pretty hard to find one.
MS: You’ve got a great record against all sorts of players. Is there anyone over the journey who’s pulled your pants down a bit?
CE: A few. It’s a bit easier to hide these days because you don’t often have an opponent for the whole game.
MS: Don’t sit on the fence, mate. Give us one.
CE: Cyril Rioli’s always hard, Stephen Milne, Eddie Betts. Those type of guys who can change a game pretty quick can be tough.
MS: If you could pick one player right now to come to Geelong, who would it be?
CE: I’m trying to think of a key position or a ruckman. Probably Nic Naitanui, but he’s injured so that’s no good.
MS: How about Buddy Franklin?
CE: He’d be handy, I suppose.
MS: Have you ever thought about going back to South Australia?
CE: Yeah it was tough early on and for the first 18 months I was really homesick and it did take me some time to settle in over in Geelong. There was an opportunity in 2004 to go to Port Adelaide and they were keen and Geelong wanted to get Brad Ottens at the time so there was talk that a deal could have been done. Luckily enough for me it didn’t happen because I didn’t really want to go back by that stage and the club found another way to get the Big Pill (Ottens) on board so it worked out pretty well for everyone.
MS: What’s the best game you’ve played?
CE: Personally, or the team?
MS: Personally.
CE: I remember a final against the Bulldogs. I think it might have been 2007, where I thought I played a pretty good game.
MS: I think we both did (laughter).
MS: Obviously your older brother has had a big influence on you growing up. What was he like as a big brother and how did he help shape the bloke you are today?
CE: We’re pretty tight despite the 10-year age difference. I guess growing up I looked up to him like all younger brothers do. I idolised him and despite the big age gap we forged a really close bond and he’s been there for me the whole way for footy and life and everything really.
MS: Obviously mad Monday is the best day of the year, especially after winning Grand Finals. Do you have a favourite mad Monday? It might be hard for you to remember the Monday after the 2007 premiership.
CE: We changed our game plan after the first mad Monday so we actually got some sleep and had some rest for the Monday celebrations. Now I think of it, the ’07 one was pretty good (laughter). When you win flags they are just fantastic days ... just specials days for the club and players.
MS: Any favourite Grand Final memories? Anything stick out?
CE: Your toe poke.
MS: It was good, wasn’t it?
CE: They were all different for different reasons and that’s why it’s impossible to pick bits out of one and not the others. In 2007 it was just so exciting because it was so new to the footy club and new to the town and history suggests we had the game wrapped up pretty early and got to really enjoy it. In the other two it was close and the 2009 St Kilda one was just an intense day. I remember how gruelling that game was, both mentally and physically.
MS: You’re a very romantic guy and you make us blokes look really bad (laughter). Where did you get that from and what’s been the most romantic occasion you’ve been involved in?
CE: The wife would probably say otherwise. I guess when I proposed was pretty romantic. I left a few notes around Torquay and sent her on a bike ride to find me waiting for her at the end.
MS: That was good by you.
CE: It was one of my finest moments.
MS: Your favourite venue for a beer?
CE: Your bar’s not bad.
MS: Not bad! It’s very good.
CE: There are a few good places around Geelong. The Barwon Club’s not bad. The Commo’s pretty good for a lock in. Lots of laughs there.
MS: Next year I’m going to try and talk you into retiring so you can come and play with me at South Barwon. What are your thoughts on that?
CE: It all depends, doesn’t it? Obviously if I was to retire and to play local footy then South Barwon would be my first choice but we’ll just wait and see how this year goes.
MS: Who are the best five players in the AFL right now?
CE: Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood, Buddy Franklin ... ah.
MS: Yourself?
CE: I wouldn’t say top five.
MS: You’d be six.
CE: I might just miss out. I’m two short. Paddy Dangerfield ... Harry Taylor.
MS: Steve Johnson won’t be happy with you leaving him out. Either will Andrew Mackie.
MS: Some quick ones: Miranda Kerr or Megan Gale?
CE: Miranda Kerr.
MS: Gary Ablett senior or Gary Ablett junior?
CE: Oh, jeez, that’s tough. I’ll say senior ... just.
MS: Fatherhood. How many more kids will you have?
CE: Got my hands full with one [son] at the minute and probably won’t have as many as you [four]. Might try for a couple more. Three would be good.
MS: You had the greatest bucks day – or greatest bucks two days – of all time. Was that a highlight of your life?
CE: Your form was pretty solid from what I remember. I think you took the votes. It was a great little trip away to Cairns organised by Max Rooke. A great little bus trip home, too.
MS: Your favourite beer?
CE: Melbourne Bitter.
MS: Favourite junk food?
CE: Pizza.
MS: From the young crop at Geelong, who do you think will be considered the best player in 10 years time?
CE: Good question because we’ve got a few, but you don’t want to be sitting on the fence. I’ll say George Horlin-Smith.
MS: You’ve obviously got great football knowledge and lots of people think you’re a coach in waiting. Does that interest you?
CE: Yeah, it does. Obviously I’ve been involved in footy for a long time and I’d like to maybe step away for a bit and then hopefully get back into it once I retire.
MS: Senior coach or assistant?
CE: I don’t think the senior coach would be me, but just an assistant role would suit me best.
MS: Give us a few words on these teammates and former teammates: Max Rooke?
CE: Unique, Maxy. He’s one of my best mates and a bit of a crazy cat on and off the field.
MS: Dasher Milburn?
CE: What you see is what you get. He’s fantastic, Dasher.
MS: Brad Sholl?
CE: Very funny man. Had some good times with Brad.
MS: Adam Houlihan?
CE: Once again a unique individual. He’s got the biggest pecs I’ve seen.
MS: Matthew Egan?
CE: Extremely unlucky. A very selfless person who I admire.
MS: Andrew Mackie.
CE: One of the best networkers going around. Talks to anyone as long as there’s a perk involved.
MS: Tom Lonergan?
CE: Ah, old Sicky Sucky. Geez, Domsy. He makes the changerooms funny.
MS: Is he still really hairy all over his back?
CE: Nah, he’s got the laser treatment happening. I think he’s going to pop the question soon, too.
MS: I heard that as well.
MS: What’s your biggest strength as a player and as a person?
CE: Geez, you’ve got some good questions – hard hitting. You’re the next Mike Sheahan. As a player I pride myself on not getting beaten and if I do I make sure it doesn’t happen again. Just hard work is my biggest strength, I reckon.
MS: And as a person? Why did your wife marry you?
CE: Well apart from the obvious (laughter) … the package (more laughter). I think I’m a pretty caring type of person who’s easy-going.
MS: What’s the favourite part of your body?
CE: Oh, jeez what is this?
MS: No, I’m serious. Like those guys
who look after themselves – the metrosexuals. Are you a little bit metro – not much hair down below?
CE: I like my eyes so I can see things.
MS: At our 20-year premiership reunion who will be the heaviest person in the room?
CE: I’d say top three will be you, Steve Johnson and Paul Chapman.
MS: What’s your pub meal?
CED: I’d say the old parmy.
MS: What makes you angry?
CE: I don’t like people that drive slow in the right-hand lane.
MS: Fair enough, too.
MS: What do you do on your day off?
CE: Not much at the moment with the little one. Just catch up on the things that need to be done at home.
MS: Apart from the obvious – Chris Scott – who is your favourite coach in the AFL?
CE: It would probably be rude if I didn’t say Brenton Sanderson or Brendan McCartney or Kenny Hinkley.
MS: What teams do you follow in other sports?
CE: I don’t really have favourite teams. I obviously follow American sports because you got me into it.
MS: You just follow whoever’s winning, don’t you?
CE: That’s a good strategy. I’m a Ravens fan this year – and Miami Heat.
MS: What’s one thing you want to do that you haven’t done in your life?
CE: I actually want to do a cricket tour to the Caribbean.
MS: Can I come?
CE: Maybe.
MS: In 2006 your career really took off. What happened between 2005 and 2006?
CE: It was probably a few things. Obviously injuries played a part early on and I couldn’t get on the track. I lost confidence with that and I started to play a new role having played in the midfield and then I got switched to half back, and looking back that helped me. It made the game in terms of what was required a lot more simple for me.
MS: You’ve missed five games in eight years. How does that come about?
CE: Yeah, I try to do what’s needed to be done to play every week and I don’t like missing games, any games actually.
MS: How would you like to be remembered by Geelong fans?
CE: Just a bloke that did his best and had a go.
MS: I think you’ve got that covered.
CE: A reliable defender.
MS: I think they’ll remember you as more than that.
MS: Now that I’m gone, who do you drive to the games with?
CE: At the moment it’s been just myself.
MS: You’d be enjoying that.
CE: I might try and hit up some of the boys from Torquay, but at the moment I actually quite like driving up by myself.
MS: Do you still have Justin Bieber cranking or are you listening to other stuff now?
CE: You were all that rap and stuff. It was horrid.
MS: Lots of your mates have retired. Do you still enjoy the footy environment at the club as much as you did?
CE: I miss some guys being around, for sure, but the whole environment at all clubs I reckon is just so intense these days. There’s so much scrutiny and with lots of my close mates gone it does make it harder and makes me feel old as well. There’s only me, Chappy and Joel Corey left from that era.
MS: Hope you have a great 250th game and I’ll be hoping you let me run through the banner with you. I’m going to ask the club if I can.
CE: As long as you put me on your shoulders. That’d be great.
MS: Good luck, mate. Fantastic effort and I’ll see you at South Barwon next year.
CE: Great hard-hitting questions, Matthew.
• Reproduced with thanks to Inside Football.
