# 269: Bradley Hill, Jarman Impey & Maurice Rioli Junior (Part B)

An episode of [The Howie Games](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1146329262), 20 May 2026, 56 min.

Audio: https://enrichment.soundstack.com/4vjqq8/episode.flightcast.com/b1issa1wdx53yeocn30kdrne.mp3

Three of footy’s most exciting First Nations stars come together for a special edition of The Howie Games celebrating Sir Doug Nicholls Round. This is a conversation built on moments, connections and stories. From family ties and cultural pride to the influence of mentors, teammates and communities - and no shortage of CYRIL! The boys reflect on what it means to represent First Nations people on the AFL stage and why their impact stretches far beyond football. In a powerful and at times hilarious chat, they open up on identity, belonging, growing up with the game, and the joy and responsibility that comes with inspiring the next generation. Because First Nations excellence is more than football ability — it’s resilience, culture, connection and community. And when these boys shine, the game becomes stronger, richer and more meaningful for everyone. This is a highlight of the Howie Games so far! *** Follow the Howie Games on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehowiegamespod/ Follow the Howie Games on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehowiegames See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

[0:02] A listener production.
[0:07] You are listening to episode 269 of the Howie Games, part B, featuring Brad Hill, Jarman Impey and Morris Rioli Jr. On we go, Tommy.
[0:17] We'll get to first goals in a minute, but first game.
[0:19] Bradley Hill debuted round two 2012 versus the West Coast Eagles.
[0:24] Now, I was shocked.
[0:26] Give me a game.
[0:26] Give me a game.
[0:30] Nearest the pin for you two, how many disposals did Healy have in his first game?
[0:34] 20-plus.
[0:35] 20-plus?
[0:36] Jars?
[0:37] He's looking at me.
[0:39] I'm going to say 20-plus, but no, I'm going to go eight.
[0:42] Can I give you something as well?
[0:43] We're going to play five or six minutes.
[0:46] It was back in the sub rules that David Hayes came off real late last quarter.
[0:49] So a couple of touches.
[0:51] The high-flying Eagles face their toughest test of 2012 against a Hawks side believing they have the cattle to break the latter leaders' 12-match home ground winning streak, rain producing slippery conditions and few points.
[1:04] Jack Darling has got it 50 out.
[1:06] What's your memories?
[1:07] I think one of my touches was a turnover and they kicked the goal and won the game.
[1:12] I don't know.
[1:13] Oh, what do I remember from the game?
[1:17] Actually, I remember Cyril kicked an unreal dribbler from the left pocket.
[1:21] And just when the 40,000 of Paterson's thought they were home, a Bob Cyril.
[1:25] Rioli near the boundary line.
[1:28] Something special, and he's got it.
[1:30] Rioli's got the impossible goal.
[1:32] Working along the ground.
[1:34] Sensational.
[1:35] Rioli single-handedly breathing new life into the Hawks, taking control of their forward line.
[1:41] What was it like playing with him when you've grown up?
[1:43] Oh, it was unreal.
[1:45] But the first game I remember, I remember running out, and everything got so blurry and I started getting a bit dizzy.
[1:50] I was like, I couldn't feel my legs.
[1:53] I was growing up a West Coast fan.
[1:55] And I think, you know, Clarko sort of gave me the game because we're going back home and sort of let me go back around family and just give me a few minutes of running around on the pitch.
[2:02] And, yeah, I just remember it was a crazy feeling being out there.
[2:06] And I just, yeah, like I just felt like I couldn't even feel my legs.
[2:10] It was just a weird feeling.
[2:11] But, yeah, in my first year, I pretty much played sub every game but I won against GWS.
[2:17] But, yeah, it was an awesome experience.
[2:20] Your first game, Jars.
[2:21] I've got it written down here.
[2:22] Yeah, it was Carlton.
[2:22] You can tell me.
[2:24] Carlton, round one.
[2:25] So straight in.
[2:26] Yeah, and I was lucky enough to, you know, be straight in, which was cool.
[2:29] Well, no sub.
[2:30] No sub, guys.
[2:31] No sub.
[2:32] That's rigged.
[2:33] No sub.
[2:34] No sub.
[2:35] Yeah, no, it was cool.
[2:36] It was at Marvel.
[2:37] Not to panic and make sure that he didn't give it up and he didn't have to.
[2:40] Impinny's first game, out to the wing.
[2:42] Schiltz has a little look sideways to see where Jamison was trying to go.
[2:45] And it was cool from everyone from Shepparton to come down.
[2:48] And, yeah, it was a great experience, clearly.
[2:52] And we got the win, which was amazing.
[2:54] I remember the roar and it just was so loud and I didn't hear anything like that in the past.
[3:00] So, yeah, it was a good experience and we got the win and got to sing the song, which was great.
[3:05] And what about your first game, which would have been such a special moment for everyone in your community and your mum and your family, MJ?
[3:10] Yeah, unfortunately not.
[3:11] There was no role because it was during COVID.
[3:13] Yeah, it was.
[3:14] The MCG was pretty dead, but obviously I got Daniel to present the – well, they got Daniel to present the jumper to me, so that was pretty special, I guess.
[3:21] You're going to play your first game on Saturday night?
[3:27] I was so excited to give you the opportunity to work so hard
[3:34] Couldn't be proud of you.
[3:35] Could not be proud of you.
[3:37] We love the way you play, and we can't wait to watch you play.
[3:42] Yeah, enjoy the moment, all right?
[3:44] When you finish here, go with your faith.
[3:46] It was just a joy and a delight to be able to go along and watch him.
[3:50] And now that they've got his son playing at a Richmond jumper, it's hard to imagine the excitement.
[3:54] And anything that happens today will be a bonus from this point forward, but I think it's going to be exciting to watch.
[4:00] And yeah, yeah.
[4:02] And obviously there was no crowd, but it was still amazing, like the feeling to walk out on the G. Yeah, and it was just amazing to debut on the day and it was no better place than the G, I guess.
[4:15] We've got each of your first goals, but MJ gets to go first here because of the three of you, he's the only one that gets a goal in his first game.
[4:24] Yeah, buddy.
[4:25] So let's have a look at it, Tommy.
[4:27] So this is in COVID.
[4:28] I was watching this, and I remember how bizarre the time was.
[4:31] But here we go.
[4:33] You talk to Stuart Jars.
[4:34] MCG crowd is packed.
[4:36] We've got little...
[4:39] Morales there from the side Here we go Brioli puts it through And the widest smiling footy And then straight through the big sticks Anthony Hudson was calling Easy first goal What's yours from the boundary?
[4:55] Set shot Everyone getting around you How did it make you feel?
[5:00] Yeah, it was pretty special I guess I don't know if everyone got around me I don't know about the key backs It was not a set shot
[5:08] But, yeah, it was pretty special just playing on instinct.
[5:10] And I was talking about, you know, the biggest smile in footy and it's really, really cool.
[5:14] So that was you.
[5:15] Well, you talked about, let's have a look at Hilly's next because he looks six.
[5:19] Who's that?
[5:20] He's Hilly's first goal.
[5:22] Let's have a look at him.
[5:23] He's 30 out.
[5:23] Not a premise at all there.
[5:26] He's on the board.
[5:28] How are you feeling?
[5:29] Did you know it was going to go through?
[5:31] As I was saying, my first game, I couldn't feel my legs.
[5:33] My next game I played, I was a sub as well.
[5:35] I had a bit more time, game time.
[5:37] And I remember Ruffy kicked me the ball and I tripped over.
[5:42] When the ball was coming, I was just like so blurry.
[5:44] You know, you've got so much nerves in your first few games.
[5:47] I was just like, oh, I can't see the footy.
[5:49] Anyways, I took the mark and went back and kicked the goal.
[5:52] And then, yeah, it's the best feeling when you kick a goal and everyone gets around you.
[5:57] All right, Jars.
[5:57] We've got your first goal.
[5:58] I'll show you a good goal here, bros.
[6:00] Yes, it is.
[6:00] You talk us through it here, Jars.
[6:01] Go on.
[6:02] This is versus Brisbane.
[6:04] Yeah, I don't know.
[6:04] I would have probably been playing back, actually.
[6:06] Just watch him steam through it.
[6:08] O'Shea, Ebert, who's next?
[6:11] It's Impey.
[6:12] It's his turn.
[6:13] 40 metres out.
[6:15] Jarvan Impey's on the ball.
[6:16] Oh, young players.
[6:18] Yeah, instincts as well, just hunting the footy, and then we'll up by a little bit here, which was nice, and able to put it through the big sticks, which is pretty cool.
[6:28] 45 on the run.
[6:29] Special moments of the first goal, aren't they?
[6:30] It's...
[6:32] They certainly are.
[6:33] You do remember them clearly.
[6:35] So, no, I was wrapped to put that one through.
[6:38] Hilly, these boys opposite you are still chasing the ultimate NFL football, and I'm sure they'll both get there as far as premierships.
[6:46] You've won three of them.
[6:49] Number 10, Bradley Hill.
[6:54] My memory is you on one wing and Isaac Hill on the other.
[6:58] Isaac Hill.
[6:58] Isaac Smith on the other, just running up and down that wing all day, every day.
[7:05] Yeah, no, it was awesome.
[7:06] Me and him had a great connection.
[7:07] And I think even the way we played as well, like, you know,
[7:11] Even now, some blokes, you're on one wing, you just stay on that wing.
[7:14] But me and Isaac used to cross all the time.
[7:16] And it's like, if I saw him on there, I'll just, yep, and then I'll just move on to the other wing.
[7:20] So we just had a great connection and worked really well with each other.
[7:23] And, yeah, I just really loved the way Isaac went about it.
[7:26] He's just always happy, big smile on his face.
[7:28] And I think...
[7:29] I sort of took that on as well just to bring the energy as a younger player.
[7:33] And I think the older boys loved it.
[7:35] I used to be a bit of a shit-stirer.
[7:36] But, yeah, I was very lucky just to get in that side at such a young age.
[7:41] And it probably worked pretty well for me at the time as well as in –
[7:45] Chance Bateman retired, he was playing on the wing.
[7:48] Clinton Young went to Collingwood and there wasn't really anyone on the wing besides Isaac.
[7:54] So I was a pretty good runner.
[7:55] So I think Clarko first year gave me a couple of games and from my second year on, I didn't really miss a game.
[8:01] And yeah, very fortunate to be part of that team.
[8:05] And yeah, some of the things that we were able to achieve is, even looking back now, I'm like, I can't believe how lucky I was to be there and to do that.
[8:13] And
[8:14] It's a bit of a blur.
[8:16] Like, you know, you're so young and you're just enjoying the moment and you're just thinking, how good is this?
[8:20] And now that I'm older and I just think, like, if I was to win one now, like, it would be sort of completely different and I would take it all in a lot more.
[8:29] And, yeah, it's incredible.
[8:32] It's the best feeling.
[8:34] And, yeah, time just goes pretty fast.
[8:36] I'm interested in something that's all right.
[8:39] Go, Jeff.
[8:40] Go.
[8:40] You're obviously a superstar of the game, bros. And you spoke about your nerves, like not being able to feel your legs and you're so nervous.
[8:48] When did you feel like you belonged out there, bro?
[8:50] When was that inner belief where you're like…
[8:53] Great team.
[8:53] You know what I'm trying to say?
[8:54] Yeah.
[8:55] So nervous.
[8:55] And then when did you feel comfortable?
[8:57] Well, my first – I had the first game in 2012 against Giants.
[9:01] And I sort of – I wasn't ready in my first year, and Clarko knew that.
[9:04] And then I had a pretty – I was still growing.
[9:06] I was pretty small.
[9:07] I was like 67 kilos in my first year.
[9:09] And then – 67 kilos?
[9:12] And, you know, in my second year, I had a really good preseason.
[9:15] And then we used to pick the teams, you know, and everyone had me in the team.
[9:18] And I was like, geez, I might be playing round one here.
[9:21] And I felt I've done pretty good this preseason.
[9:24] But even then, my first – in 2013, like my first four or five games, like I was still so nervous.
[9:31] And I remember like we played Geelong Easter Monday round one 2013.
[9:34] Yeah.
[9:35] And I was just running and running.
[9:37] And like at halftime, I started full body cramping.
[9:40] Five minutes into the third quarter, I had to get subbed out.
[9:43] I just couldn't move.
[9:44] So I think I had so much excitement and nerves.
[9:46] Easily my first like –
[9:48] First year, 2013, I was always quite nervous.
[9:51] I think even just the excitement with the crowd, you said it's like, look at it like, how lucky am I?
[9:56] I still do it now, but I do it all the time.
[10:01] I reckon 2014 is when I started being like, yeah, I belong out here.
[10:04] Yeah, I think I can play good footy at the highest level.
[10:09] So 2013, you come up in a grand final.
[10:13] And remarkably, your brother is on the opposition.
[10:16] And I had a look at this.
[10:17] That had only happened once before.
[10:20] So in 1912, Alan and Vic Belcher come up against each other.
[10:25] Alan was the Essendon skipper and he defeated his brother Vic from South Melbourne by 14 points.
[10:31] So in 100 years, it hadn't happened.
[10:34] And then you're up against your brother.
[10:38] But there's everything to take on with the grand final.
[10:40] But then your brother and one of your great mates is on the opposition.
[10:43] How was that?
[10:43] Yeah.
[10:44] No, it was pretty cool.
[10:45] We actually were talking about this the other day because we actually did a little interview.
[10:48] And there's two different ways me and him were preparing for that game.
[10:52] Stephen was, you know, didn't talk to me.
[10:55] Real serious.
[10:55] I was just this young kid with too much energy.
[10:59] laughing like I can't wait to meet you like you know just giving him a little bit of shit and Stephen actually didn't message me didn't talk to me before the game like even on the field we started on the wing like was like trying to hit me and I was like trying to have a chat with him and I think the cool thing was just like you know all our all our family having like me and my brother playing my mum coming over she had the split Guernsey with um both teams on there and yeah it was just a really special time for our family and um
[11:26] Even the game in itself, I think the emotions for me, like how happy I was to win it, but then also seeing my brother, like how sad and how emotional he was, and that sort of hurt me a little bit as well, like I felt for him.
[11:40] But, yeah, it was an awesome day for our family, and, yeah, I'm glad I got on top.
[11:45] Should we have a look at a goal for him?
[11:47] Let's have a look at it.
[11:48] So this is, you mentioned your mum directly after you kicked this, we see your mum.
[11:52] But this is pretty much seen as the sealer.
[11:55] So Hawthorne's 70, Fremantle's 46.
[11:56] There's 12 minutes to go.
[11:58] Johnson back to Poppy, going towards goal.
[12:01] Dangerous.
[12:02] Hill, Munns of the right, what a right.
[12:06] There she is.
[12:07] And look at Hilly just running into an open goal square.
[12:10] And I love this next shot.
[12:11] Good run.
[12:12] There's your mum.
[12:13] So it's got to be a tough day for her as well.
[12:15] Yeah, it has to be.
[12:16] Yeah, she definitely would have felt a bit sad for Stephen.
[12:20] Obviously, one of us missed.
[12:22] But at the end of the day, one of her sons won it.
[12:24] But looking back now that I've got three, she probably wished Stephen got the one of them.
[12:32] But, yeah, no, it was great memories.
[12:34] And, yeah, we don't really talk about it too much.
[12:38] We've had a couple of conversations where he gets a bit chirpy, and I'll bring that up.
[12:43] Let's have a look at 2015 because I want to show you a goal here where Cyril gives it to you.
[12:49] So this is Hawthorne versus West Coast.
[12:51] Raffi's got Cyril.
[12:57] And that's how you can expose the web.
[12:59] Cyril's got Hill, and Hill's going to kick their fifth.
[13:03] Look, I'm just running down the wing.
[13:06] So this is your hero.
[13:07] You talked about him.
[13:08] This is when he obviously lit it up with the Norm Smith.
[13:10] He just finds you in the pocket and you stroll in to give Hawthorne a 30 to 11 point lead in the first quarter in front of 100,000 at MCG.
[13:17] Yeah.
[13:18] No, it's obviously special.
[13:20] Obviously, as you touched on, you know, Cyril, the player I looked up to.
[13:25] He's my big brother.
[13:26] I was always with him.
[13:27] We did everything together.
[13:28] You know, he's even a good one in 2014 when I kick one and I'll jump straight on him, hug him and that.
[13:33] From about 70 metres out, sends it down to Wurts, full forward, going back, Grundy got a fist on it, dangerous spot though, he'll ample time, turns around and kicks the goal.
[13:44] Even the photos and stuff you get out of them, being able to put them on frames and things like that.
[13:49] Yeah, we had a special connection and bond and, yeah, I cherish those moments.
[13:53] Have you got a tattoo involving a few people in your journey, including Cyril?
[13:56] Yeah, I do.
[13:57] I do have a few tattoos.
[13:58] Yeah, I've got, like, some names and stuff on here.
[14:01] Like, I've got, like, you know, Cyril.
[14:02] I've got Shawnee Burgoyne.
[14:04] Yeah, there's a few people.
[14:05] You got Ruffy on there as well?
[14:06] Yeah, I got Ruffy on there.
[14:07] I got, so Jermaine Miller-Lewis, he's the one who designed it.
[14:10] He was at Hawthorne at the time too.
[14:12] Yeah, and then I got like my brother on there and a couple of other mates.
[14:16] So he mentioned the 20th.
[14:17] I've got 33 tattooed on my ankle.
[14:19] Have you?
[14:19] Cyril's 33.
[14:20] Yeah, for Cyril.
[14:21] I like that.
[14:22] And I've got my brother there, 32.
[14:24] I like that.
[14:25] So Healy mentioned the 2014 grand final.
[14:28] We could just keep showing highlights of Healy in grand final.
[14:30] Love to see him.
[14:32] That's good.
[14:33] It's a three-way discussion.
[14:35] I can see you both smiling as he's talking through it, but...
[14:39] He's achieved what you're both hoping to achieve.
[14:41] What's it like listening to someone who has achieved the ultimate three times for this bloke?
[14:46] Yeah, clearly amazing, right?
[14:48] And we've all looked up to Hilly and what he's been able to achieve and not just the on-field stuff, the off-field stuff as well, just the way that, you know.
[14:57] Explain that.
[14:58] He represents his mob, his people, and he's a loyal man.
[15:02] And I love seeing him play with his children and the way that he is towards his wife, Sam, and his kids.
[15:09] It just brings me with a heap of joy.
[15:11] That's why I clearly love hanging out with him.
[15:13] So he's done so much on and off the field and clearly on it, you know.
[15:19] Hawthorne, premierships, best and fairest.
[15:22] Like he's done a lot for the game.
[15:24] So super proud of him.
[15:26] And yeah, very, very happy to call you a very good friend.
[15:30] And MJ, for you, at this stage, Richmond seems to be a long way away from premiership success, but we see how quickly it turns.
[15:39] Like Hawthorne's a prime example of how quickly it can turn.
[15:43] Do you ever let yourself think about what a premiership would mean
[15:46] for you and your family in the same jumper that your dad wanted in?
[15:51] Yeah, obviously it's hard to think of it at this time and age when obviously we're battling a bit and obviously on a rebuild.
[15:59] Yeah, now that you mention it, like, yeah, obviously it'd be amazing.
[16:02] Obviously Daniel won there and my dad got close to one.
[16:06] And obviously it'd be amazing to win a premiership in the number 17 at Richmond Tigers.
[16:13] Yeah, it'd be pretty special and have my name on the locker next to Daniel.
[16:18] So it'd be, yeah, it'd be amazing.
[16:21] I wanted to show you each a highlight of each of you, a highlight to me that best shows what the three of you bring to the game from sitting up in the commentary box, typical what I would say MJ, Jars or Healy work on the ground.
[16:35] But I had to put two of MJ in.
[16:37] He's only played 55 games.
[16:39] But the man is a freaking human highlight.
[16:41] It's real Jars.
[16:43] So the first one I want to show you.
[16:45] West Coast.
[16:46] Yeah, well, he's not really in shot, and then he is in shot.
[16:50] And to me, this is what MJ brings to the table.
[16:52] So I think it's Hoff, isn't it, 19?
[16:53] Yeah.
[16:54] So you talk me through this one, Hilly, what we're about to see here.
[16:58] Yeah, well, obviously he hasn't given up on the chase, and he's about 30 metres away.
[17:01] The chase about to be run down, and it's got him!
[17:06] What a chase from Rioli!
[17:09] This shows what it means to him and what he does for his team.
[17:13] He puts on that pressure and he never gives up.
[17:16] It's an unreal chase.
[17:18] It's a pretty good one, though, Morris.
[17:19] We're always quick like that.
[17:21] Well, yeah, if you're chasing possums, buffaloes, and wallabies on the islands, yeah, you have to chase them.
[17:28] So I think, yeah, most of us are pretty quick and have to be quick to catch them.
[17:31] And run away from the crocodiles.
[17:34] That's a great highlight.
[17:36] I mentioned we needed two of you, MJ, because, as I said, you've taken a big hanger as well.
[17:41] And when I think of you, I think of blokes trying to take hangers as well.
[17:44] So that's a fair grab, guys, isn't it?
[17:47] That's a big grab too.
[17:48] Yeah.
[17:48] When was that?
[17:49] A few weeks ago.
[17:50] Yeah, a few weeks ago.
[17:51] Yeah, it's not that long ago.
[17:52] Do you have the license now to just jump on shoulders or what?
[17:55] Well, yeah, they give us the confidence too.
[17:57] If you can go, like take your chances, I guess.
[18:00] Yeah, and I was pretty lucky with Kelty there.
[18:03] helping me out.
[18:04] You're trying to get your tackle out.
[18:06] Yeah, you're trying to.
[18:07] It's a mark, mate.
[18:07] Usually with the big grab, were you nervous, like, in front of goal?
[18:10] Were you like, no, I'm going to stop this too?
[18:11] Yeah, I was actually nervous because this would have been for our first goal, so I was pretty nervous.
[18:15] Didn't know what I was doing.
[18:17] I lost my routine going into that kick.
[18:19] I was like, oh, I just went through.
[18:21] Did you kick it?
[18:22] Yeah, I kicked it.
[18:23] Of course you did.
[18:23] Of course you did.
[18:25] Before we get to a highlight of Hilly and New Jars, I don't want to make
[18:29] a generalisation, but if you took the percentage of Indigenous players in the game, and I use the term bums on seats, exciting players, players that can do freaky things on the football field, all players can do it of all different backgrounds and all different dissents, but for some reason...
[18:49] I would say the percentage is much higher for Indigenous players that do these things that are against the structures of the game, do these things that we pay money to go and see.
[18:59] Any explanation in your mind why that is, Jars?
[19:01] Do you know what I'm asking?
[19:02] Yeah, I know what you're asking.
[19:03] I think from us, we're instinctive players.
[19:08] I feel like you get the best out of us when it's on instinct.
[19:11] Why do you think that is?
[19:12] Why?
[19:13] I don't know, that's just hanging around with brothers, sisters, cousins, mob, we were just in the backyard, in the lounge rooms, and the socks to make up a football, and just always just mucking around with a football, right?
[19:26] Down at the park, just playing for hours, is the way you'd always try to take them on, a bit of candy, snapping goals from the boundaries.
[19:36] just doing whatever.
[19:36] And yeah, I think it's just sort of this coaches to say, go, you know, play your way.
[19:40] And obviously there's a lot of ability there.
[19:42] It's got to be in the genes, right?
[19:44] Because other great footballers would probably do the same in terms of like always have the football, but I think it's probably better genes as well to be able to be quick on your feet or have that spring in your step.
[19:54] Or I'll probably go...
[19:55] Back to, yeah, genetics.
[19:57] Genes.
[19:58] Because of the reality.
[19:59] They've just got to keep coming through the system.
[20:01] We just need more reality.
[20:01] They've all got amazing highlights.
[20:04] But throughout this week, there'll be...
[20:05] I think we've got fast twitch.
[20:07] What?
[20:07] Yeah.
[20:08] Yeah, us blackfellas, you see, I know.
[20:12] That's how we've always played and always want to take them on.
[20:14] And I think we've always got speed and normally the endurance isn't there, but a couple of us haven't.
[20:19] Yeah, a couple of you.
[20:21] But yeah, I think, yeah, I remember my mum used to always say, and my mum's not Aboriginal, but she used to say, the Aboriginal boys, it's the way they play with freedom and, yeah, this comes naturally.
[20:34] Yeah, it's a hard thing to put your finger on, isn't it?
[20:35] Because this week we'll all see highlight after highlight going into the Fox game or the Seven game of Indigenous players dominating and there'll be these highlights that are genuinely jaw-dropping.
[20:47] Yeah, that's pretty special.
[20:49] And that's why we love the round so much.
[20:50] It's just like we feel like we're able to express ourselves more.
[20:54] It's funny because in the AFL system, it's really diligent on structures and how to, you know...
[21:00] lead this way or do this a certain way.
[21:03] So sometimes that puts an element of, you know, probably stress on us as well because it's just like, oh, we're not used to this, right?
[21:09] So, you know, Sir Doug Nichols' round is an awesome round and we feel like we've got a little bit of leverage to, you know, go for a mark here or there or take them on.
[21:19] Have a bit of fun.
[21:20] Yeah.
[21:20] So the highlight I've shown of you, Healy, because as a Hawthorne fan growing up and watching the three-peat, my memories of you, as I said, were hard, hard running.
[21:31] So there's a goal here where you're playing for Fremantle.
[21:34] And to me, this is everything that's great about Brad Hill.
[21:36] So I think it's Mundy gets it on the wing.
[21:38] Healy's behind him.
[21:40] Look at the speed he's operating at.
[21:41] Perfect man to be going just right past him.
[21:44] And it's Hill.
[21:45] He's got to go alone.
[21:49] And did he do it well?
[21:52] Solo effort from Brad Hill.
[21:54] I always love going on those big runs because I feel like you can, you know, if you keep working out for 100 metres, eventually they'll break and you'll get away from them.
[22:03] I feel like when I was younger I used to go on those a bit longer runs, but now I'm like, I'm only going on those runs if I'm good to get the ball.
[22:13] But, yeah, I used to love, especially at Hawthorne, the way we moved the ball and being on the wings.
[22:19] I used to kick a lot of my goals 15, 20 metres out because I just could read it so easily and just leave my man behind.
[22:25] It's like if I watched Geelong now,
[22:28] Oli Dempsey.
[22:30] He's got that like you have.
[22:31] He just runs up and down, up and down, and he has kicked an enormous percentage of goals within 15 metres.
[22:37] And he has a bit more of a licence too because he'll just go forward, you know, even when it's gone that way a bit.
[22:43] He has that licence, you know, and that stoppage is it.
[22:45] It takes you forward.
[22:46] So even when I play him on the wing, I'm always trying to get like Mason Wood, the taller one because he's quite big and he's so good in the air.
[22:51] So, yeah, he's great at that.
[22:53] Jars, the highlight of you, I think, of you as a running, damaging off halfback.
[22:58] And the perfect highlight for you was on the weekend against the Suns.
[23:02] So let's have a look at – We're talking about this in the car.
[23:04] Yeah, okay.
[23:06] No, I was just saying to him, it was good to see you.
[23:08] You know, have that little – get that one inside.
[23:10] You kick it, you follow up, get the handball back.
[23:12] And, yeah, it was just an awesome goal and he's having a great season.
[23:17] So Ward lays it off after one-two, and you step around Petrarca, and then bang from him.
[23:24] Jarman, arches the back, looks at Christian Petrarca.
[23:28] I've got you covered as well.
[23:30] Yeah, I thought I was going to get run down there.
[23:32] I was like, who is this coming?
[23:33] And then I had to step around him, and then when it left the boot, he goes, gee, that's a good goal.
[23:38] Did he?
[23:40] Petrarca said that.
[23:41] Well, it's pretty hard because he changed the angle hard, and then you have to hook it around the body with the drop punt.
[23:47] More instinct.
[23:47] You don't have to think about it then.
[23:48] Yeah, that's exactly what we're talking about.
[23:50] So like the footy side of things, then it gets to family and two of your fathers, and we've talked about ancestry a little bit.
[24:01] Tell me about your kids, their names and their ages.
[24:02] Yeah, so Harriet's my daughter, so she's nearly four and a half, and Charlie's my son who's two in July.
[24:09] So, yeah, no, it's the best thing ever to be a father.
[24:14] And, yeah, just the amount of love you have from straight away, as you would know, as soon as they come out, it's just like, geez, you know, these are...
[24:23] That's little Harriet there.
[24:24] That was a couple of years ago, I think.
[24:26] She's a fair bit bigger now, a lot more cheeky.
[24:28] Gorgeous scenes, little Harriet, out there in the middle, in her dad's arms.
[24:32] What a special memory for the Hill family.
[24:36] But, yeah, no, they're great and, you know, that's why I think I have that, you know, going into footy and that now.
[24:41] Like I don't have that stress, you know.
[24:43] I've got my kids and, you know, that's more important than, you know, footy.
[24:47] But I love football but I feel like it just gave me that flexibility and just to switch off and I'm not there and, you know, I've got my kids.
[24:53] And, yeah, my little boy, Charlie, he's a character and he's full of energy.
[24:59] How old is he?
[25:00] He's 2 in July so I think he's got to be a bit like me, you know,
[25:06] have a lot of energy.
[25:07] It's funny, he doesn't even walk anywhere.
[25:10] He just runs everywhere he goes.
[25:11] He's just always on the trot.
[25:12] So we'll start building him to run some of those off-ball wing patterns.
[25:18] But yeah, it's the best thing ever being a dad.
[25:20] And yeah, I love my kids so much.
[25:22] And Jarz, you've got little Zion.
[25:24] Yeah, little Zion.
[25:25] So he's 11 and a half months.
[25:27] So yeah, first birthday next month and everything that Bradley said.
[25:31] So he's just a joy to come home to.
[25:33] And I'm just really looking forward to, you know, building that connection that I had with my father and being able to teach him and just be there for him whenever he needs.
[25:44] This is a goal of you and just wait, wait, wait.
[25:49] A little celebration.
[25:50] I reckon someone was running over doing these ones too.
[25:53] So there's a little reminder, I'm pretty sure.
[25:55] Do you want to build a similar connection that you have with your father?
[25:58] Yeah, I do, certainly.
[25:59] And I think that's just going to come naturally organically as well.
[26:03] So just teaching him everything that I've been taught and then just making him a good person at the end of the day and just letting him know that his parents are always going to be there for him and he doesn't need to play on the MCG.
[26:19] create his own path and we're always going to be here to support him.
[26:23] Nass, and the re-signing with St Kilda, did you – we'll show some vision in a moment how it was announced to the team, but before we get to that, did you speak to him much?
[26:33] Yeah, I was talking to him a lot, but I wasn't putting any pressure on him to stay or saying, you know, I was just –
[26:41] said, just go out there, just keep playing the way you're playing, just enjoy your footy and you'll know what the right decision is and we'll just create a safe environment and a good place for him to come to training and to play and to enjoy his footy and I just kept it the way I do, how my relationship is with him.
[27:03] All us boys are always with each other, I always have the boys around for barbecues, you know,
[27:07] Whenever we're away from footy, we're always with each other as well.
[27:10] So, yeah, we just had a great – we've got a big group of Indigenous boys at our club, so we're all pretty close, and I'm the older one that sort of looks after him.
[27:18] And, you know, I was obviously very happy that he stayed.
[27:21] How did you find out?
[27:22] Did he tell you?
[27:23] Yeah, he told me first.
[27:24] What did he say?
[27:25] No, he just said to me, yeah, I'm staying, I'm signing.
[27:29] And I got pretty excited.
[27:32] And we had Anthony Caminiti with us and I think Liam Henry was there.
[27:37] So, yeah, he told us and then we sort of – we didn't tell anyone else a little bit.
[27:41] I was pretty keen to tell, you know, Ross and everyone else that we got –
[27:46] got him he's staying and um he's a super talent and he's such a great person too he's he's pretty quiet but when he gets in that footy field he's he's he's confident and he can you know he's he can be loud out there and um you know the the way he plays foot is special as he's he's got to be a superstar and you know already he's one of the one of the best players i've played alongside with
[28:09] And we've got the vision here of you got your daughter up.
[28:12] She was a bit reluctant to make the announcement, but this was sort of the boys.
[28:15] It's funny because before this we played a game and I was doing a radio thing and the lady asked Harriet to ask, Naz, are you staying or not?
[28:23] You know, and then she said, he said, you can ask Harriet to see and I'll stay or whatever.
[28:29] So then when we announced it, we got Harriet to do it.
[28:31] Tell everyone the news.
[28:32] Harriet loves Naz.
[28:33] They're always at our house and, yeah, she loves all the boys.
[28:36] Can you say the name?
[28:37] Yes.
[28:38] No.
[28:39] Naz is down.
[28:43] You mentioned a term there, Hilly, and I'm really, again, Jars, I don't want to wander into areas that I don't have an understanding with, but Hilly used the term a safe place at the footy club, and we've seen probably in the last 10 years football clubs have really changed
[28:59] tried to make culturally relevant positions, for want of a better term, inside a footy club.
[29:05] What does that mean to you as an Indigenous man and how does it play out in day to day?
[29:09] Yeah, no, it's a big part of our lives and, you know, for us we're –
[29:16] As Hilly said before, we're always connected to one another.
[29:18] And I think, not I think, I know you get the best out of us when we feel connected and we feel safe.
[29:24] And, you know, for me, it's really special to have our liaison officer, Indigenous liaison officer for every club that is, and have an Indigenous room where we can, you know, go in there and relax and see different artifacts and have our own, you know, safe space if you like.
[29:42] Can you describe physically what that room is?
[29:43] to me?
[29:44] Yeah, so pretty much it's the carpets, like an Indigenous designed carpet is pretty cool at the Hawks and we've got different artifacts where it's, you know, I know that St Kilda before games have given Hawthorne Football Club some clapsticks or something from their club.
[30:02] So we've got that on the wall, we've got different players and our different guernseys over the year, Indigenous guernseys.
[30:09] So yeah, there's just so many things that are in that
[30:13] that room where we can connect and feel safe.
[30:16] But not only that, Hawthorne, we've got like different languages in our everyday use.
[30:22] So a lot of clubs, they say Captain's Run, where we say Barajama, which is, it means Captain's Run.
[30:30] I think...
[30:32] Yeah, it's from a little bit of Noongar language and a bit of Yoriyora language as well.
[30:37] And then we have our leadership group, which is the Murijkura.
[30:41] So that's just our brotherhood.
[30:42] So we've got these different languages that are, you know, within the Hawthorne Football Club.
[30:46] So, yeah, it's about creating that safe space.
[30:49] And when you have a – like anyway, when you have a safe space, that's when you get the best out of that individual or individuals.
[30:56] When you use that term safe space, so for me, as a –
[30:59] Anglo dude, sadly just past 50, Hilly, but anyway, you thought you were old.
[31:05] So safe space to me is surrounded by my family.
[31:08] That's what safety is to me.
[31:10] What does the term safety mean for you, MJ?
[31:13] Just, yeah, a quiet place.
[31:15] Well, a place where you can be yourself, I guess, and if you're in an environment that's put a lot of stress or whatever it is and just going in with all your brothers, like all the black fellas,
[31:26] just in a room, just having a laugh, just yawning, just whatever it is, or it's another safe place is being back home on your country where you can just refresh, regenerate and just do the things that you love doing.
[31:39] That's a great explanation.
[31:40] What about for you, Hilly?
[31:41] Um, yeah.
[31:43] Oh, it's interesting.
[31:44] Like, I know I've had, I feel like there's been times where even when I was younger, like, you know, you're going through, you're not playing good footy or you're struggling a little bit off field or, you know what I mean?
[31:54] And you, you know, you come to the club and you feel like there's pressure on you or, you know, stuff like that.
[31:59] Like...
[32:00] And then, you know, all your emotions and, you know, mentally you sort of feel like you don't want to be there and whatnot.
[32:07] And, you know, and that's not even just Indigenous players, but, you know, I feel like most of the Indigenous boys are probably from interstate as well or not from Melbourne.
[32:15] So, you know, I think this creating a...
[32:19] I don't know, I feel like now that I'm older, for the younger boys, like I'm the support for them.
[32:23] If they are struggling with anything, they can come to me and then I'll be the one that will go and have chats to people up higher.
[32:32] So they don't have to be doing that or don't have to do it on their own.
[32:34] I'll go with them or, you know, I feel like...
[32:38] I've had stages where I didn't really, you know, probably early days at St Kilda where I sort of was struggling with probably I wasn't performing and, you know, all those sorts of things.
[32:47] And you sort of, you know, feel like you don't have that much support.
[32:51] And I think that's the role that I try to play now just to be there for that younger group and make it easier for them.
[32:57] Yeah.
[32:59] Yeah, so just an environment where you can come in.
[33:01] And I think our footy club has created a real estate environment.
[33:04] And, you know, even, like, you know, the coaching group and, you know, Lenny Hayes and that, they're so easy to work with.
[33:10] And you're always trying to make the place enjoyable.
[33:14] More of this episode in a tick.
[33:16] My favourite AFL player of all time, Cyril Rioli.
[33:21] Cyril joined the show way back on episode 56.
[33:24] Jeez, well, we pumped to have him on.
[33:27] Wonderful to see you, Ciz.
[33:28] No, it's been a bit of a...
[33:31] Bit of a rollercoaster in the way the last few months around their retirement and, you know, what was going to happen and all that.
[33:36] I've had a really relaxing few months when I finished and just got back home and just, you know, get back home and sort of get grounded and enjoy the life back up there.
[33:47] What does that mean, mate, to get grounded back up there?
[33:49] I think it's the best way to describe it.
[33:51] I've lived this, you know, in terms of footy, you know, I've lived this lifestyle for so long and it's completely different up there and up and around communities or up and down.
[34:02] And the fact that, you know, people sort of look at you as if you're someone and I just want to be me, I just want to be a junior boy again, you know.
[34:12] My name's Cyril Rioli, but, you know, growing up, I was always junior boy and, you know, I want to get back to just living the Darwin lifestyle again or the NT lifestyle again, you know.
[34:24] That's Cyril Rioli back on episode 56 of the show.
[34:31] Let's get back to Jarman, Brad and Morris.
[34:34] Question without notice, and again, if I frame this incorrectly, just tell me, as Indigenous men...
[34:43] in Melbourne in 2026.
[34:46] Day-to-day life, like three of you are football stars.
[34:50] How are we as a community progressing, do you reckon, Jars?
[34:56] As a community, I like to think that we're always evolving and getting better, you know, from however you look at it from history back in the day to where we are now.
[35:06] So for me, clearly I'm a positive individual where I'd always like to look at the positive side of things.
[35:12] And I feel like, you know, we're forever evolving.
[35:14] We're forever trying to get better.
[35:16] That's just the way that we are as, you know, the human race, I believe.
[35:21] So...
[35:22] Yeah, it's definitely in a good spot, but definitely can get better.
[35:30] I speak about evolving.
[35:31] So yeah, I don't think it's where it needs to be, but yeah, we can continue to support and at the end of the day, just love one another.
[35:40] We're all humans too.
[35:42] We just need to be there for one another and we all have different upbringings.
[35:46] So just a deeper understanding on the reasons why we might...
[35:51] act a certain way or do certain things.
[35:53] It's no different in my opinion.
[35:56] So, yeah, there's a little bit to go, but, yeah, it's on the right path, I believe.
[36:02] I think in the footy environment too, like footy clubs have a better understanding to, say, your normal person on the street who probably aren't ever around Indigenous people or know much about us or, you know,
[36:21] um, getting a great understanding because they're, you know, around us a lot more and I feel like we're opening up more too.
[36:27] And, um, you know, there's obviously a bit more spotlight on over the years and stuff as well.
[36:31] So, um, yeah, definitely getting, getting better.
[36:34] Yeah.
[36:35] What I've heard, like most of our clubs and their footy clubs are, yeah, really, um, encouraging and, um, they want to get to know our culture and where we're from and, um,
[36:44] um you know whatever we need or yeah whatever it's like cultural wise or just yeah be there for us I guess and let us do what we need to do and and uh yeah I think um yeah from speaking to from experience like yeah my club's been very supportive in whatever I've been through whether it is you know um going through something races or whatever it is um on field or not performing or personal reasons whether it's going back home um
[37:10] Yeah, they've been supporting me in every way.
[37:14] And like what Ja said, I'm the world.
[37:17] And obviously, hopefully everyone's evolving and getting better and just getting more understanding on our culture and where we come from.
[37:27] Yeah, hopefully.
[37:28] You always get those ignorant people on bloody social media and stuff, but like it's a lot of them on fake accounts and stuff anyway, so you just try to ignore it, like block it out.
[37:38] Me personally, no one can message me unless I follow you, so you've got a friend really to be able to message me.
[37:42] So, you know, you've always got to have silly people, but they come at everyone as well.
[37:46] Everyone that plays footy, you know.
[37:48] Everyone that commentates footy too, trust me.
[37:50] You get some pretty direct feedback.
[37:53] I think the point you made, Jars, about –
[37:58] And the point you made, Hilly, a lot of non-Indigenous Australians, their only interaction, especially in the southern states, with Indigenous people are through watching sport as opposed to day-to-day interactions.
[38:13] Yeah, that's well said and it was a good point where it's just like they haven't interacted with indigenous culture or people or what they need.
[38:21] So they're just, yeah, commenting off the bat, which it is what it is at the end of the day, like you're saying with your media stuff where you're just getting random stuff.
[38:30] So, yeah, I just think it comes down to education at the end of the day.
[38:34] A really private and personal question.
[38:36] Answer it if you wish or don't wish.
[38:38] What does racism mean to you, Hili?
[38:40] Oh, yeah, we'll see.
[38:42] It's not great.
[38:42] And I think, you know, there's a lot of things that aren't good and that's definitely one of them.
[38:48] And, you know, I think the way it can affect the person that's involved and, you know, I've had stuff over the years too and that's why I just try to block it out, you know.
[38:58] How has it affected you?
[38:59] I think if you read into it a bit too much, especially when you're younger and you get angry and you probably want to, you know, write back and...
[39:07] you know, tell them to get stuff.
[39:08] Yeah, you know, and even as a young kid, like, I was used to it a little bit, you know, just even just walking on the streets and people yelling out at us and, like, when there's a group of us and, like, little things like that, you know, walking even in the shop if there's a big group of us, like...
[39:24] You know, you'd always feel like he'd been watched and stuff.
[39:27] But, yeah, as I've gotten older, I've sort of, yeah, I don't let that, I don't buy into that sort of stuff.
[39:37] But obviously it has big impacts on all of us and, you know, something that we want to stamp out.
[39:42] And it's probably never, ever got to be stamped out.
[39:44] There's always got to be people that are... Ignorant.
[39:47] Yeah, some silly people.
[39:49] But, yeah, as long as we can be there to support each other and look after each other.
[39:54] Yeah, just a lack of education.
[39:55] I think it's pretty simple.
[39:56] Once you're educated or you can understand anything in life, you have just a clearer mind and a better understanding about it.
[40:06] So I think it's just a lack of education.
[40:09] And that's why I said evolving because I do think that we're on the right path of getting better.
[40:15] When I sit in the commentary box and there's a big crowd and I watch any footballer like you at the famous Punt Road end, you're at the MCG now.
[40:27] You've done it at the MCG.
[40:28] You've done it at Marvel with the Saints.
[40:29] You've done it in the West where they have enormous crowds for Frio.
[40:33] I stood up there and...
[40:35] think, what must that actually be like?
[40:37] You guys have got what I would term and so many people would term as the best job in the world.
[40:42] I know there's so much sacrifice and hard work and moving away from family, as you've all explained when you were young.
[40:48] But I just want to ask each of you in the brown and gold
[40:54] in St Kilda Colours now.
[40:56] We'll start with you, MJ, in Richmond Colours, roaring into the punt road ending, kicking a goal in front of those enormous crowds.
[41:03] I hope you get to do it at dream time.
[41:04] What's that moment like with everything you've sacrificed to get to that point when you're just starting to put on a show?
[41:11] Yeah, it's a great feeling.
[41:13] Nothing like it's hard to describe, explain to another person unless you're part of that and...
[41:21] Yeah, just being out there, I guess, like living everyone's dream that loves playing footy.
[41:27] So every now and then, like when I'm on the G or wherever it is I'm playing footy, I just pinch myself saying, I can't believe I'm still, like I'm here playing footy.
[41:38] Yeah, it's a surreal feeling, especially kicking goals in front of the Tiger Army at the G. Yeah, it gets pretty loud, so...
[41:45] Yeah, it's amazing.
[41:46] I'm loving the smile on his face.
[41:48] Yeah, already is it.
[41:49] You're starting to get mad.
[41:50] Yeah, yeah.
[41:51] Manifestable.
[41:52] Yeah, for me, it's... Yeah, exactly.
[41:56] It's just surreal, you know.
[41:58] You dream of the moments being on the G, you know, in front of a big crowd, kicking a goal.
[42:03] You're there with your teammates, your family's watching.
[42:06] So it's just, yeah, it's a surreal feeling.
[42:09] It's a special feeling.
[42:11] just being able to do that on the G. So, yeah, no, we are very lucky.
[42:15] I feel very grateful and very, very blessed.
[42:18] Yeah, I love kicking a goal.
[42:19] I carry on a little bit.
[42:20] You know, I love to.
[42:22] Always have the arms out.
[42:24] I like to bring the energy, though, for the boys, you know.
[42:26] I'm an old fella when I kick a goal, so I'm like...
[42:29] So it's an awesome feeling.
[42:31] And even like now, when I go to games, always have a look around and think, geez, I'm pretty lucky to be out here for my job to, you know, people doing nine to five and then go and play in local footy, you know, and I'll get to prep all week and get ready for a game of footy.
[42:44] And yeah, we're very lucky.
[42:47] I've given you no warning, but first thing that pops in your head when I ask you about your favorite moment in footy and your toughest moment in footy, we'll start with you, Hilly, so you don't get any warning.
[42:56] So we'll start with your favorite moment in footy.
[42:58] And I know there would be a lot.
[43:00] It might not even be on field, but just your favorite moment across, what are you up to?
[43:04] 284 games, mate.
[43:05] You're approaching 300.
[43:06] It's extraordinary.
[43:08] Probably, it definitely has to be like the premiership years.
[43:11] I'll probably say 2014 one just because I went pretty good.
[43:15] I've got a few touches.
[43:17] No, you know, it was just like, you know, the first one you got it, but the second one's like, geez, we've done it again.
[43:23] And, yeah, that's probably my favourite moment.
[43:27] And even just like after the game walk around, I had a GoPro, I got like footage and stuff.
[43:31] It's pretty cool to look back and, you know, going into the challenge rooms often, we always sing horses, like with Darragh Braveway.
[43:37] So big circle.
[43:39] Everyone's got their beers and you're singing.
[43:40] Yeah, that's the best feeling for sure.
[43:44] having family there at any stage, but
[43:48] Yeah, just having my son there, Zion.
[43:50] He can only come to day games at the moment, which hasn't been many.
[43:55] So definitely having my son Zion there.
[43:58] And then whenever played, you know, coming off people that we've lost either that week, so father-in-law and then probably your first game without my father or, you know, coming to that stadium, we're like, oh, this was the last stadium where my dad got to watch me play.
[44:13] So, yeah.
[44:15] I'd say designing the jersey with my mum, the Dreamtime jersey.
[44:19] And obviously I didn't get to play with it during Dreamtime because I was injured, but in the last round, the club organised for me to play with it.
[44:27] Yeah, and that was pretty special, I guess, running out and playing in my Dreamtime jersey in the last round.
[44:32] Yeah, something I won't forget.
[44:34] What did the jersey represent?
[44:35] It was my totem and my mum's totem.
[44:39] We get our totem from our dad's side and just my journey that was on the jersey and just the people that helped me along the way to get to where I am.
[44:51] I think that was a special moment for me.
[44:53] Very, very cool.
[44:54] I've learned in 10 years of this podcast and been privileged to speak to all sorts of athletes that with all the highs, there's often more lows than highs, but they make the highs worth it.
[45:03] What's been your toughest moment in your footy journey, Hilly?
[45:05] I'd probably say like,
[45:09] like 2022, like after that sort of COVID sort of period.
[45:13] Probably was struggling a little bit of form, wasn't really enjoying footy.
[45:18] Probably like as I touched on before about having like a safe place and I felt like it wasn't really a safe place and I didn't really want to be at the footy club.
[45:25] Probably that was the first time I sort of wasn't liking footy, didn't want to come to train in March.
[45:31] And I struggled a lot there and I found it tough.
[45:34] And, you know, I was even talking, I caught up with Clarko a few times throughout the year, I caught up with like Ross, you know, like coach that I had before and sort of just chatting to him about like, you know, I was finding it pretty difficult.
[45:44] And, yeah, and I guess once Ross sort of got the job to stay, I was sort of like, yeah, now I'm happy that I can, that's how I know what he's like and the relationship I have.
[45:53] have with him and yeah, they were probably the toughest moments.
[45:56] Yeah, I was really struggling a little bit to get up to training and to get the games and stuff.
[46:02] And what did get you out of bed every day?
[46:04] Like when it's tough, why still keep doing it?
[46:06] Especially when you've got three in the back pocket, you know what I mean?
[46:08] You've achieved everything in the game.
[46:10] You know, I just kept this going because I had to in a way, you know what I mean?
[46:15] And I didn't want people knowing I had problems, you know.
[46:17] You sort of keep it to yourself a little bit.
[46:20] Like, I didn't really tell many people.
[46:22] I remember ringing Isaac up one time.
[46:23] Smithy?
[46:24] Smithy, yeah.
[46:24] And I sort of had a little bit of a cry out to him, like, I don't want to go to training today.
[46:28] So, like, I did strike.
[46:29] Like, I really didn't want to go.
[46:31] Well, Smithy's.
[46:31] Yeah.
[46:32] Oh, he sort of just, mate, like I'm here for you for like a chat and, you know, ring rats or ring them or whatever.
[46:38] But, you know, I got through that and like now I'm loving footy more than ever.
[46:43] So, yeah, we all do go through tough things.
[46:45] And I think everyone in a footy club or anyone that plays footy goes through moments where they're struggling and they find it very difficult.
[46:53] Yeah, and I touched on it with losing people and having to play and perform.
[47:00] Last year, my wife being 34 weeks pregnant and then losing her dad suddenly and then being able to see her and then father-in-law isn't around and then being able to perform.
[47:12] I feel like, yeah, that was hard stages.
[47:16] Yeah, I'd say for me last year at the start of the year, I guess struggling with my injury from the year before and then once I got that right, just struggling with a better form and I think it was a bit hard for me when all the Indigenous boys left.
[47:29] Obviously it was just me and men sort of there now but yeah, just having that safe space because I think being around the brothers is your safe space as well.
[47:38] You can just, you know, talk, be whatever, talk, say whatever, you know and yeah, just not having that around I guess...
[47:45] was kind of different for me because obviously I got drafted and they were all there and then they've all left and yeah, it was pretty hard.
[47:53] And yeah, just finding my place, I guess, at the club, obviously everyone respects me, loves me for who I was, but just for me being used to that environment was kind of different.
[48:03] And then...
[48:04] And then I got used to it, I guess, mid, mid, halfway through the year and I guess found my form towards the end of the year and, yeah, found love for the game again.
[48:16] Great explanations.
[48:17] Last few for you.
[48:20] When kids come up to you and want a selfie or an autograph because they look up to you, they idolise you.
[48:24] Like my son grew up idolising Cyril.
[48:29] and then when he retired forever in our household, even my daughter today said, oh, you're talking to Imparuni today?
[48:35] I don't know why you are Imparuni in our household.
[48:39] I love Imparuni.
[48:41] So I see it now through my kids' eyes, who they look up to.
[48:44] What's it like when kids come up?
[48:46] Because you were all kids and you talked about who you idolize, you know, Juddy and then Cyril and...
[48:51] Kazi and Curry and these guys that you spoke about growing up with, what's it like, we'll start with you, Jars, when a child comes up to you and looks at you with stars in your eyes?
[49:01] Yeah, it's something that I pride myself on as well.
[49:04] Like their kids are so innocent and that can really, I feel, and I'm a bit of a deeper kind of guy where, you know, they could set themselves up in the way that they could, you know, sort of go about life.
[49:18] I know that's probably a little bit deep, but I
[49:21] not trying to miss a signature or really, you know, look at them or try to be a real positive impact because I think it's an absolute pleasure and a privilege to be able to, you know, see kids and try to make their days and sometimes it's hard, right, where it's just like, oh,
[49:38] they were screaming at you and some might not say please and thank you.
[49:44] So, yeah, no, I really try my best to give back with a positive manner and, yeah, make sure that they walk away going, oh, how good was that?
[49:54] Obviously, it's our job and...
[49:57] Yeah, I always want to give my time to people that give up their time to come and see you and, yeah, if they call out your name.
[50:04] And, yeah, I just want to leave a good impression and give back my time.
[50:09] It's funny.
[50:09] I actually try to look at, like, when kids are asking, like, if I was in that position and how I want the player to come up to me.
[50:15] And, you know, it'll probably have an impact on you for the rest of your life or you'll remember that, you know, forever and trying to give them, you know,
[50:22] They're great.
[50:23] Like when you meet them, just giving them your best version of yourself and having a big impact on them, whether it's for two, three seconds, you know.
[50:31] But, you know, put a big smile on your face, ask them how they're going.
[50:34] It's even funny when I go in the crowd after games and I give like a ball.
[50:37] I don't know, ever since I had a daughter, I always like make sure I look for like a younger girl to give the ball, you know what I mean?
[50:43] It's just funny how things work.
[50:45] So I'll picture that's my daughter on there, so I'll give them the ball.
[50:48] So, yeah, it's awesome to be able to give back.
[50:50] I've got so much love and respect for you too, but if I was six and I looked at MJ with those two big stud earrings in there and that smile, that's the man I want the selfie with.
[51:00] That's the man I want the selfie with.
[51:03] We always finish this podcast the same way.
[51:05] I'll start with you, MJ.
[51:07] We are lucky on this show that over 10 years we have a lot of kids listen and they might be going to footy training.
[51:12] I use different examples or they might be going to piano practice or they might want to become the world's best barramundi fisherman or the world's best car mechanic.
[51:20] I know you're riding your cars, jars.
[51:24] You've had success and you've had to travel a long way to achieve that success, MJ, and I'm sure there's a lot more ahead of you.
[51:31] If those kids were listening and they wanted to achieve success in whatever field they were pursuing, from your experiences, what would you say?
[51:37] Well, you've got to sacrifice a lot to get to where you need to be.
[51:43] And obviously enjoy the journey, like have a lot of fun, whether you're doing it with your mates, whether it's playing footy or, yeah, like you said, being pianist or guitarist.
[51:52] If you have someone along the way that's supporting you and, yeah, just make sure you have, yeah, like I said, supporting a good support system around you, whether it's friends, family, someone you met along the way.
[52:03] Yeah, just have someone there and just have a lot of fun doing what you love doing.
[52:09] I love that.
[52:10] All that one I would say is discipline and keep rocking up.
[52:16] Discipline is what will get you out of bed every single day and making sure that you do something to a high standard.
[52:22] So when you have discipline, I feel like that's when you're able to tune out the work.
[52:27] So discipline for me.
[52:29] Like these boys said, just working hard.
[52:32] Even me, when I train, I just like to train as hard as I can, but do it with a smile on my face and have fun, enjoy it.
[52:40] Don't be too serious about it because that's when you probably lose the love for it and the fun in it.
[52:46] So, yeah, just keep working hard and enjoy it with a smile on your face.
[52:51] What about you, Howie?
[52:52] You obviously get a lot of great people on the podcast.
[52:55] What's a good...
[52:56] The thing I've learned, Jars, is, and I sometimes use the example of 270 guests, 15 of them are Ricky Ponting and they just got there purely with talent.
[53:09] 245 of them are you three that have got there through hard work.
[53:13] You have to have talent in the first place.
[53:15] But I've learned through this that hard work trumps talent.
[53:19] Time and time again, I think I've learned.
[53:22] Yeah, I'm pretty strong on that.
[53:24] I try to instill it in my kids as well.
[53:27] And setbacks seem a massive part of any journey as well, a massive part of any journey.
[53:32] I said at the start, you three are bums on seats, an expression I use.
[53:36] But just to take you to say thanks, take you into the commentary box, any game I get there,
[53:43] Like, I do what I do because I'm a sports fan, a footy fan, a cricket fan, and I'm lucky enough to talk about it.
[53:48] So I'll get there, and I can genuinely say this about the three of you, which is why I asked Pat if we could try and get you three together.
[53:55] If I look at a St Kilda game...
[53:58] And I'm thinking, right, who's going to excite me today?
[54:00] The name is Brad Hill.
[54:01] I'm going to commentate, but I'm going to watch you play, Hilly.
[54:04] And when the Hawks, who I've – you know, it's in my family that we look after the Hawks.
[54:09] I go and I think, right, what's Impey going to do off halfback?
[54:12] Probably Wiz and Guinea as well.
[54:15] The Wiz is in there.
[54:16] I can't say I would include the Wiz.
[54:18] But for the Tigers, no doubt.
[54:20] Like I go now and I'm thinking – and you've been injured a bit lately.
[54:23] I'm thinking, geez, I hope –
[54:25] Morris Jr. is playing because he's going to be something exciting and it makes our job easier when you do amazing things.
[54:31] So it's a real privilege to have you three in here on the podcast.
[54:34] I hope it's been an enjoyable experience for you.
[54:36] Good luck moving forward.
[54:40] And may your family and footy and friends all combine beautifully and good luck with everything.
[54:44] Thanks for having us.
[54:45] Thanks, John.
[54:46] Appreciate it.
[54:46] Thanks for having us.
[54:49] Healy, Jars and Morris just filled the joint with joy.
[54:54] Thanks to the three of them for lighting up the studio.
[54:57] Here's to them doing the same on footy grounds for a long time yet.
[55:01] Much love to the three of them and their families.
[55:03] Until next episode with Josh Giddey, peace and love.
[55:07] And we can do it if we try, try, try.
[55:14] If we try, try, try.
[55:19] If we try, try, try.

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