BomberBlitz.com Exclusive Interview - Mark Bolton

BomberBlitz – Where did you play as a youngster?
Mark Bolton – Heatherdale Junior Football Club, then Ringwood in the EFL.

BB – Who was your hero when you were a kid? Whose number did you have on your guernsey?
MB – Had Alan Ezard’s number, and Simon Madden was my hero

BB – If you can remember back to the draft day at the end of 1997, what were your expectations? How did it feel to be selected to play for the club you supported as a kid?
MB – It did feel great, although I can hardly remember that day now! I was relieved I was staying in Melbourne, and it was fantastic to be going to the club I loved.

BB – Who has had the biggest influence on your career?
MB – Sheeds… Noel Bosch, who was a recruiter for Essendon… and my U/18 coach, Brendan Mason.

BB – What position do you most prefer/ most comfortable playing in?
MB – Wing

BB – Sheedy uses you as a spare bits player a lot of the time. Are you comfortable in this role or would you prefer a permanent position?
MB – Don’t mind being thrown around, but yeah, prefer the wing!

BB – You seem to have the measure of a couple of the superstars in the competition in Goodes and Pavlich, what is it about your game that suits playing on them? From memory you also did a decent job on Buckley the day you tagged him….
MB – Probably a good match up – height and athletically

BB – Bolts, its fairly obvious you’re a fairly nice, calm bloke off the field – how do you turn that into aggression once you’ve stepped onto the footy field?
MB – grins You just have to, it’s part of the job!

BB – Being a no. 4 draft pick obviously comes with it’s share of expectations. Sometimes do you wish you were drafted at pick 52 instead of pick 4?
MB – Once you are there at the footy club, there’s not much pressure internally re the draft pick position – all the players are even, and all have even rights to a position in the team. Sometimes there’s pressure from outside, but you don’t worry too much about it. Other times you look back on the people you were drafted with, and see what they’ve done, and some of them have done well, others you never hear about.

BB – Does any criticism you receive in the media and from supposed supporters of the club get you down, or do you try to use it as inspiration to improve your game?
MB – Not really… they have their right to an opinion. Don’t really use it as an inspiration as such. I think if you have to rely on things like that to inspire you, then you’re struggling.

BB – You have been in and out of the side this year both because of injury and form. Are you happy with your form this season and if not in what areas do you hope to improve??
MB – The hamstring injury kept me out four weeks in the middle of the year, which was frustrating… have been trying to work back up to full games, has been a battle

BB – What was your inspiration behind your form towards the end of the 2002 season? It came out of nowhere and it was probably the best group of games you have played
MB – Just concentrating on playing consistent footy, which was probably helped by playing in a pretty settled position.

BB – How fast can you run 3km in? Have you ever worn the GPS device to see how much ground you cover in a game, and if so, how far did you run?
MB – Haven’t worn the GPS device! Fastest time for 3km – well the time trials are 3.2km, and my best time is around 10 ½ minutes for that.

BB – How much do you gain fitness wise from John Quinn being at the club? Do you work with him a lot on your fitness regime? How hard have you worked towards bulking up over the years or has your training been more concentrated on endurance?
MB – A lot of it depends on where I’ve been playing – if it’s been more a backline role, then more weights work, whereas if it’s midfield, more emphasis on endurance.

BB – What do you feel has been your most memorable game for the club and why? Are you excited about your 100th game?
MB – Well, it’s a fair way away now! Think I’ll finish the season on around 97-98 games, so won’t reach 100 games until next year. Most memorable game would probably be the game against Sydney in 2001 where Ces kicked the goal to win. I played against Goodes, and it was probably the first game where I felt like I really had an influence in the overall result.

BB – I remember your first goal at Essendon (i think), was against St Kilda would I be right at the MCG, city end. What has been your favourite piece of play you’ve been a part of and what would be your worse, or the one that gives you the most nightmares?
MB – Good memory, that’s correct! Favourite piece of play… too hard, just any time we win! And for the worst/nightmare game, probably the game against St Kilda last year.

BB – You took a grouse mark under pressure in the dying minutes of the 2001 Prelim against Hawthorn. Do you remember that mark?
MB – chuckles yeah, because it was about the only possession I had all day!

BB – Obviously in hindsight it’s not as bad as it could have been had we won, but how did you take being dropped from the side for the 2001 grand final?
MB – Well, Lloydy had to come back in, so there was not a chance I was going to play. Obviously would have liked to have been part of it, particularly having seen 2000.

BB – Did Carlton really offer you $400k a couple of years backs?
MB – grins Puh-lease!

BB – What’s your routine before a game? Do you have any superstitions?
MB – No superstitions, and I try to get away from routines… some players can get quite caught up in that, what they do down to the hour before hand! Still do the obvious stuff like eat the right things, get enough sleep etc.

BB – How did you feel when Danny Jacobs was traded to Hawthorn knowing that it was nearly you that was the one to be leaving the club?
MB – Yeah, it was really tough, the whole time was. Particularly as I was (and still am) good mates with Danny.

BB – Are you aware Scotty Lucas has a cape that is green, and do you ever consider running past him asking for a dish off when he is within 80m of goal?
MB – chuckles didn’t know about the cape! And no, don’t ask for a pass off, just lay shepherds!

BB – I’ve noticed that you seem to be one of the first to congratulate (especially) the younger guys when they do something good or to reassure players after (for eg) a clanger. Is this something you just do naturally, or has the coaching team asked you to take on this role?
MB – It’s not something I’ve been asked to do… I just do it

BB – We saw the other week who frustrates Hirdy and what he likes to say to them, so who would you like to yell at and what would you say?
MB – Probably Kepler Bradley, and ask him to shut up!

at this point, Doc Reid appears

BB – Hey Doc! What’s up?
Doc Reid – grins What’s this? You being interviewed Bolts!
MB – Yeah mate!
Doc has a bit of a chat with Bolts, steals one of our bread rolls, then heads off

BB – Who are your best mates at the club? Do you keep in contact with former teammates i.e Heffernan, Blumfield etc?
MB – For sure, those guys, Cara, Welly, still catch up with them. At the club, probably those around my age, JJ, MJ, Pev, Hille, but everyone mixes well

BB – You’re contracted until the end of 2006. Knowing that you were an Essendon supporter as a kid, if the club delisted you, would you look for another club or would you simply retire?
MB – Well, obviously I hope it doesn’t come to that. But, if it did shrugs I want to play footy.

BB – How are the contract negotiations coming along for the other players? How much do you guys talk amongst yourselves about them?
MB – We don’t really talk about it much – leave that to the managers!
BB – Are the negotiations later this year? Seem to remember people being contracted earlier last year
MB – Yeah, waiting for the EBA to be finalised I think

BB – Most inspiring player?
MB – Hirdy

BB – Most determined player?
MB – Pev

BB – Most annoying teammate? Yeah ok, I can guess this one. Kepler!
MB – grins

BB – Do you still enjoy playing football, as opposed to playing the game because it’s your job?
MB – Sometimes it’s a fine line, but yeah, I still enjoy it.

BB – I think it’s great to see a footballer who has also successfully completed a university degree. Do you still work in that field (I think it’s science?) or have you had to devote 100% of your time to footy?
MB – I’ve moved fields now, am doing a building course! Worked at the Monash Medical Centre for a few hours a week back in 2003 when I first finished the health science degree, but it was just too hard to fit it in with training.

BB – What would you like to do when you retire? Do you see yourself pursuing a career in the science/research field? Where/what do you see yourself doing in ten years time?
MB – Well, I reckon I’ve got maybe five more years of playing, and I’d then like to head overseas, go travelling. Would probably head back to uni… have been thinking about picking up a subject next year
BB – As a continuation of the building course? What would it mean you could work towards?
MB – I’d be able to head into construction management

BB – What inspires you to achieve so much on off the field?
MB – Need something to get my head out of footy!

BB – If you could play another sport professionally, instead of AFL, what would it be?
MB – chuckles European Handball! We’ve talked about this in the rooms… reckon it’s the one sport we could put a team in for the Olympics in and have a decent crack!

BB – At the end of your career, how would you like to be remembered by the supporters and fans of the Essendon Football Club?
MB – As someone who gave their all to the club

BB – How do you rate your decision-making on a scale of 1-10?
MB – It ranges from 4 – 8!

BB – Do you remember handing out the Sports Awards at Heathmont College in 99? Or opening the Ringwood Catholic Tennis Clubs new clubrooms with Aaron Baddeley?
MB – chuckles yes, remember both of those! I couldn’t get a first serve in against Aaron! And Heathmont College was my first public speaking gig, and I was shitting myself!

BB – How often – if ever – do you visit BB?
MB – No, haven’t been there – as before, in my free time, try and keep my head out of footy!

BB – Which event in the Olympics would you like to win a Gold Medal in? 5000m run?
MB – grins European handball!

BB – If you could live the life of anyone other than your own, it would be??
MB – Well, I wouldn’t change anything about my life… but if I had to choose someone else… it would be someone who is well travelled.

BB – You strike me as a beer man, what is your beverage of choice?
MB – Anything!

BB – No, Really… Why did the chicken cross the road?
MB – To get away from Kepler!

BB – What kind of music do you like? What would be the Mark Bolton theme song?
MB – I love music – have filled my iPod! Theme song – couldn’t pick one, there’s just too many good songs!

BB – Are you an Anthony Callea fan?
MB – Puh-lease!

BB – What are your interests outside footy?
MB – Music… study… travelling

BB – The next question is “ask him if he’s single!”
MB – grins

BB – How long have you been with Alex now?
MB – a long time!

BB – If you could pick 5 people to share your last supper with who would they be, and why??!!
MB – My family – don’t get to see them enough

BB – What’s your favourite movie? If someone made a film of your life, who would you like to play the lead role? Kevin Bacon?!
MB – chuckles yeah, you’ve got Kevin Bacon already! Fave movie is “Usual Suspects”

BB – Are you a cinnamon, iced or jam centred type donut man?
MB – Chocolate iced jam donut!

BB – Three words to describe yourself?
MB – Interested In Stuff!

BB – What is your favourite colour M&M?
MB – the peanut butter ones you get in the US!

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

BB – Shorts or pants man?
MB – Shorts

BB – Shoes or thongs?
MB – Thongs

Word associations!

BB – James Hird
MB – Leader

BB – The National Draft
MB – Lottery

BB – Ted Richards
MB – Hilarious!

BB – Gomez
MB – Fantastic

BB – Dick Reynolds
MB – Legend

BB – BMX Bandits
MB – Piss funny!

BB – Chocolate
MB – yeah!

BB – Gary O’Donnell
MB – Professional

BB – Housework
MB – don’t do it!

BB – Soccer
MB – at a pinch

BB – Breezers
MB – Matty Lloyd

BB – The Family Guy
MB – Best show on TV

BB – Lego
MB – Best thing ever!

BB – Mark Johnson
MB – Energy

BB – Training
MB – Fun at times

BB – Kevin Sheedy
MB – Eccentric

BB – Thanks Bolts! I know Alex is waiting for you, so will let you go and pick her up!
MB – Cheers!

As interview terminates, Doc Reid appears again, steals McDav’s bread roll and throws it to a waiting Matty Lloyd!

Posted 24 August 05 in News