Next Game

AFL Round 1 – Fri 26th Mar 2010

Essendon Bombers vs.

Geelong

at MCG 7:40pm

Last Game

NAB Challenge – Sat 13th Mar 2010

Essendon 23.9 (147)

Richmond 11.6 (72)

Match Review

BomberBlitz.com Exclusive Interview - Henry Slattery

BomberBlitz – Tell us about your journey so far! Where did you first play football and what has been the path to the EFC?
Henry Slattery – I started when I was about 6… my brother was playing, and Mum asked the coach if I could join in
BB – Were you standing there going “I want to play!!! I want to play!!”
HS – grins No, Mum just liked us kids to be involved!
BB – cool!
HS – So I played for a few different clubs – some local clubs, some school footy – school footy being the priority – then ended up at Essendon!
BB – And you were at West Adelaide just before Essendon?
HS – Yes

BB – Who did you follow as a kid? Who were your heroes?
HS – Followed the Crows. Heroes… probably the Jarmans….
BB – Did you have footy posters up on the wall of your room?!
HS – No, no posters actually!
BB – So the Jarmans…
HS – yeah, and… who else… Modra… Michael Long….
BB – Was there anyone who you then tried to model yourself on?
HS – Probably, back then, but not that I can think of now! Probably would have been people like Ablett and Carey, great players.

BB – What where your perceptions about the club before you were drafted?
HS – Growing up, I always saw Essendon as being a strong club.. something about them, seemingly unbeatable at times. A lot of pride and history.

BB – Would you go home? Do you miss coaching cricket?!
HS – I wouldn’t go back to play footy, no, I’ll be staying here! Obviously it’s nice to go back and catchup with the family every now and then. And yes, I love my cricket, really miss that!
BB – Where did you coach?
HS – An under 8’s team!
BB – oh cool!!!

BB – How are you finding life as an EFC player?
HS – Love it! The opportunity is amazing. It took a while to get used to it at first…
BB – I guess it’s the same for a lot of guys your age – moving to a new city, when you’ve only lived at home with your family at first.
HS – Yeah… the most difficult thing was not knowing people… I made sure I made an effort to meet people and get a group of friends here. I don’t get homesick though!

BB – Were you and Gussy “Gustav” Monfries friends back in SA? Do you hang out with each other now?
HS – chuckles actually we were enemies!! Played on opposite teams quite a few times over the years!
BB – So you knew of each other, but didn’t actually know each other?
HS – Yeah
BB – Did you ever actually play on him during any games?
HS – Yes, played on him in school footy for about 5 minutes one time… tried to hurt him grins
BB – laughs He’s a tenacious players, isn’t he!
HS – Sure is… very frustrating…. Kept getting all these free kicks!
BB – And the two of you hang out together now?
HS – Yes!

BB – How’s it being GO’D‘s lookalike? Bolts says he feels sorry for you!
HS – is that as in Mark?
BB – yeah!
HS – chuckles I don’t hear too much about it now… worn off a bit. I don’t actually think we look that much alike!

Editor’s note – what do you think?!

BB – Were you expecting a game in your first season?
HS – I wasn’t really expecting anything – just wanted to play a good year of footy!

BB – How was it playing on Dal Santo in your debut game? When did you know you would be tagging him and what were your thoughts at the time (did you study any videos on him)?
HS – He was a good test opponent – someone of a similar age, and a good player. I didn’t know until game time that I’d be playing on him..
BB – So obviously no time to stop and study videos!
HS – no!! I tried not to focus too much on it being him, anyway – concentrated on how I was going to play my own game and how to play on them, not on who they were.

BB – How did it feel kicking a goal with your first kick in AFL football?
HS – I didn’t actually realise at first that it was my first kick – it didn’t register!
BB – Then all the players came up…
HS – yeah! was a good feeling… well, it always is when you kick a goal! I was very happy!

BB – Did you feel a bit jipped having to share your first match with Lloydy’s 200th as you didn’t get all of the attention?!!
HS – laughs no, not at all!!

BB – Did you prepare any differently to a Bendigo game (ie routine)?
HS – Not really…
BB – For Bendigo you guys travel up the day before don’t you?
HS – Yeah, stay up there. I just have a quiet night, clean my boots…
BB – Well actually, that ties in with the next question! Do you have any superstitions/pre-match habits? Obviously cleaning your boots the night before?!
HS – grins Yes! Um… what else… I don’t like to drive to the game! Prefer to be concentrating on the task ahead, focussing… I always wear a mouth guard, wouldn’t play without one…
BB – No hassles with running through or around banners or anything like that….
HS – No, not fussed about that! Have done both, it doesn’t really matter!

BB – Which position do you think you are best suited to? Do you prefer kicking a goal, setting up a goal, or preventing a goal? Would you prefer being the hunter or the hunted?
HS – Both – of those last two. I like being out on the wing, but also going into the backline, or setting up goals… I tend to leave the goal kicking to the others, and concentrate on the opposition, stopping their run!
BB – During your junior footy days, which position would you have played in the most?
HS – All over the place! But probably mainly half back, and into the centre.

BB – Has the club given you any indication of the style of player they would like you to become? The Kirk/Ling prototype perhaps?
HS – Not really – some have said tagging role, others midfielder

BB – What will be your focus come preseason 2006: strength or fitness?
HS – Well… both! But probably more of the fitness.

BB – How do Sheedy’s and Knight’s coaching styles differ?
HS – They’re fairly similar… Knighters will give you a role, let you know exactly what he’s expecting you to contribute to the team. Can be different in some of the tactics they use, in centre stoppages and ruck setups.
BB – Some of that would probably stem from the players available wouldn’t it? Particularly in terms of rucks this year!
HS – Yes

BB – What are your favourite lollies Merna takes to training and do you share a special bond knowing you have the same surname?!
HS – chuckles I don’t eat too many! Always have the soup and a chocolate milkshake though!

BB – Do you and Henry Playfair get together to laugh at the mediocrity of everyone else’s names?
HS – laughs No, don’t know the bloke actually!!

BB – How’s life in the shared house with Andy and Paul?
HS – I’m not actually living with them now! Ended up with five living there and only one bathroom… it wasn’t going to work!!
BB – Who else was there?
HS – Andy, Paul, Kepler and Paul’s girlfriend. I’m now living with a host family, which I’m really enjoying.

BB – Which commentator do you like the best on radio or TV? Have you ever listened to Rex Hunts fat lady on 3AW?
HS – Haven’t heard the Rex Hunt one… would have to say Denis Cometti – he’s clever, makes things interesting!

BB – Would you be a ring in for the next BomberBlitz footy game?
HS – chuckles The what?
BB – Well, similar to the BomberBlitz forum, other clubs have independent web sites, and back earlier this year we had a game between BomberBlitz and Saintsational! And kicked their butts too!
HS – Oh, ok! Well, yeah, if you need me!!!

BB – Are you single?
HS – Yes

BB – Who would’ve won in a Lightsaber fight – Anakin/Darth or Yoda?
HS – smiles Yoda

BB – Do you think Warney is an idiot, an opportunist, both or neither?
HS – chuckles ummm… both!

BB – This is a question from one of the boys on BomberBlitz – Could you tell Sheeds to draft me?!
HS – I’ll let Sheeds know!!

BB – If you could hold a Guinness World Record, what would it be for?
HS – Ummm… thinks I really don’t know!
BB – We can come back to this one!

BB – In your opinion what is the best movie of all time and why?
HS – Well…. You probably don’t know this one… have you heard of a movie called “Hercules Returns”?
BB – amazed OH MY GOD!!! You know that movie!! Fantastic!! It’s such a classic!!
HS – grins yep! And it was made in Melbourne!
BB – shakes head can’t believe you know it!! That’s great!!!!!
HS – Other than that one, I’d say…. Dead Man Walking… and Shawshank Redemption.
BB – Shawshank is on nearly everyone’s list – I’m yet to hear of someone who didn’t like it. Did you know it was written by Stephen King?
HS – No, I didn’t!
BB – Yeah, was originally called “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption” or something like that. There’s your bit of useless trivia for the day!
HS – grins
BB – And reasons for these movies… well, the first one is one of the funniest movies ever!
HS – yes! And the others… well, both have good acting and story lines.

BB – If you could pick three famous people to have a round of golf with, who would they be?
HS – Megan Gale…. Tiger Woods… and Jerry Seinfeld!

BB – What do you like to do with your spare time?
HS – Catch up with friends… I like to be active, get out there and do something… get out and head out to the country, go camping… Oh, and study for uni, I like studying!

BB – Who would be your favourite singer or group?
HS – U2

BB – If you could pick your theme song, what would it be?
HS – Um… would have to be a U2 song….
BB – we can come back to this one as well if you like!

BB – Are you a cinnamon, iced or jam centred type donut man?
HS – Cinnamon

BB – What would be three words to describe yourself?
HS – Kind…. honest… and friendly!

BB – What is your favourite colour M&M?
HS – Blue

BB – Do you think milk should be added to coffee prior to boiling water or after?
HS – After!

BB – Are you a shorts or pants man?
HS – Shorts

BB – Shoes or thongs?
HS – Shoes

Word associations!

BB – James Hird
HS – Legend

BB – Adelaide
HS – Home

BB – Mark Harvey
HS – Tough

BB – Training
HS – Enjoyable

BB – Charles Slattery
HS – my brother!