Home of the Central Blues Australian Football Club

Welcome back to another fantastical edition of the famous Blues Brothers segment. So this is probably one of the most anticipated editions of BB since #6 (Jason Cain). You got it, everyone’s favorite villain, the Coach! So after all those sessions where he made you run those endless laps, repeat the same bloody drills, (and this one is for Chris "Campa" Vella), what about those 45,000 word essays he calls “short emails”?!??!?!?!? He’s certainly been evasive. And we’re pumped to have him in today.

Please give a big round of applause as we welcome into our studio – Jaye “Jmac” “Doggy”, “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang” Macumber. 

BB: Hey Jmac. First and foremost – what is said in this interview stays in this interview. Don’t go storing this in your memory banks and pulling it out at the start of pre-season and punishing us with 1,000 push ups and sit-ups or something. We’re in a safe space here at BB Headquarters. It’s kinda like Switzerland, only without the tall leggy blondes. Anyways mate, thanks for fitting us into your busy schedule.  

Jmac: Yeah; gotcha mate... I gotta admit as I sit here in front of you in the hot-seat I am sweating it up a bit. Your reputation as a no-holds barred interviewer precedes you! 

BB: Great thanks mate. But compliments will get you absolutely nowhere in here mate. And you’re sweating because we’ve installed heated seats for our guests this year. Anyways, let’s get stuck into it. How do you rate how the Blues 2009 season panned out? The club finished 6^th to just scrape into the finals (thanks to a new finals set up) before trouncing the Dingos. How did you rate it? 

Jmac: Crikey; you have come out swinging!  Having a look at our season on paper from the “ladder” perspective; it doesn’t look great. But looking into it deeper; I think shines a great light on season 2009. To answer your question honestly; I reckon I will go back-wards before going forwards... If I may? 

BB: Well keep it down to a dull roar would ya? As we mentioned you have a bit of a reputation when it comes to your correspondence with the team… eh Campa? 

Jmac: The selection committee comprising of Jase, Jacob, Keno, Andy, Knackers and myselfs’ decisions/ goals for 2009 were never W/L focused.

Our priority was finals footy and having the Blues playing a very strong, sharing and caring brand of team-orientated footy come September. Having only become involved with the Blues full-time for the first time in April 2009- I really relied on feed-back from these guys to help me get a feel for who they had faith in on the field and in certain roles.

Every Saturday evening after a game the selection committee would get the ball rolling on the team for the following game. This was always based on who we were playing next and what had happened in that past day’s game.

By Tuesday and after many emails and phone calls; as well as one on one chats at Monday nights training; that games team would be chosen. Always with the focus being on making sure we got to develop player’s roles and have everyone in tip top condition to play our first final. 

Going into round 9 against the Dingo’s- we had worked out- based on the other teams in the OAFL (who they had played; who they were yet to play) that a win would mean we had made the finals (6 wins was going to be enough to do it- when we were at the time 5-3). The finals order was not important as we knew we would be playing one of Hamilton, Dingos or the Hawks (The Eagles and Roos had already guaranteed the first week of the finals off) and based on the games we had played against the Hawks and Hamilton; we knew we could beat them in a final.

So the Dingos game was our shot... injuries early to key players really cost us here and our match-ups got blown out and so did we on the scoreboard. I will be the first to put my hand up and say I had a bad coaching day. 

So at 5-4 we still had to get that one win to guarantee our finals spot. The Wild-Cats game was the one... and I think we were very unlucky here with “Hydro” playing out of his skin for the last 2 minutes; after we had wrestled back control.  

Then came the Eagles game... which was just one of those days... particularly after we had matched them punch for punch in round 2.  

So at 5-6 going into the Ottawa away game; the selection committee went with the plan to just load up and get the W and secure that finals berth. We were prepared to play a couple of guys who were underdone; because we knew they would have one month to recover in time for the first final if they copped a further knock making their injury worse... luckily we got the W and secured our finals berth...  

This made the game against Guelph a good time to rest a few guys. Disappointing to lose; but we should have won it except for some bad kicking for goal from a couple of experienced players (!)... We treated the Hawks game in the build-up to the final round as a mini-final (how-ever we did make the decision to rest a couple of key guys to just give them that one more week off before the Elimination Final) and although we lost; it was a good game for getting rid of the cob-webs and have the playing group attacking a game with a finals like aim... the selection committee could feel the intensity in the game; even though we were playing for very little and the Hawks were playing for payback having had us embarrass them in round 8.  

One of the many positives for the selection committee from the loss against the Hawks was the fact we made note for the first time when selecting the squad and our match-ups; that 10 guys from the 2008 Elimination final were not playing in the corresponding game for 2009. But we had been lucky enough over the last month to have got quality game time and position specific type play into the 10 replacements.

So when looking back on the season at this stage; I don’t think anyone on the selection committee really cared about the 6-8 finish... we just knew we were primed to win our Elimination final.  To come out in the Elimination Final against the Dingos and just have everything go right; gave the selection committee an amazing sense of satisfaction. The biggest highlights being the games from rookies, Evan Moses, Denton Levy, Kenny Wong and Ivan “Milat” Ouellette.

The biggest disappointment being Kenny getting injured and being forced to miss the Preliminary final after such an amazing show of courage.  

So back to your originally posed question mate; to finish the season with a loss in a Preliminary final and be one win away from a Grand Final in the clubs 4th season was very rewarding. After all; the season is not about how many wins you have between rounds 1-14...  just ask the Kangaroos who finished the regular season undefeated and then lost the Grand Final to the Eagles- having smashed them twice in the 2009 regular season... no-one remembers the 14-0 Kangaroos season; they just remember the Eagles were premiers for 2009. 

BB: Well then so much for a dull roar, I can already tell this is going to be a long interview! Campa, you might like to take a break at this time, and resume at a later date. So at risk of another Jmac essay, what are your expectations for 2010? 

Jmac: My personal expectations are to continue to develop our Canadian talent. I believe the Blues have the best Canadian talent in the league and I am happy to put my money where my mouth is. I have already approached the OAFL about a Canadian only weekend of footy- as an official (worth 4 points) part of the regular season. No Aussies; and I am happy to take on any other OAFL team under the same conditions.

I believe in the Blues Canadians ability to smash any other OAFL team of Canadians.  Other than that; I believe anything short of another Preliminary final spot would be disappointing. But that all depends on so many factors; like player availability for the important games, injuries and the Blues playing (or not playing) for each other and not for individual goals. 

BB: Big call about your Canucks, but seeing that the Blues Brothers Team are not biased towards any particular OAFL club at all – we would not hesitate to support your call about our…err the Blues local talent.  Now, speaking of playing for each other, there’s been plenty in the press about the strained relationship between yourself and former Blues coach Jason Cain. Do you have any comments to make with regards to this situation? 

Jmac: Yeah; it’s a tough one. Jase and I have never seen eye to eye. I mean it is hard enough to see his eyes because of his eyebrows. I presume I am going to keep butting heads with him for season 2010... but the good thing is for this- is that his eyebrows are so bushy that its kinda like hitting an airbag each time. 

BB: Haha – those famous Cain eyebrows. Brilliant!!! Now getting back to your call about your Canadians; the Blues unearthed some pretty exciting Canadian talent last season with the likes of Blues 09 Rookie of the Year Denton Levy, 09ROTY Runner-Up Ivan “Milat” Ouellette, Kenny Wong, Kevin “K-Fed” Champigny, and Evan Moses to name just a few. What are your expectations of these guys this year? 

Jmac: There are so many rookies with the Blues who I feel can really become prime-time players in the OAFL if they work hard.  

Denton/ Moses: these two guys have the potential to be anything; they are so coachable. It’s so great to have 2 guys actually research the role they are playing.

As a coach; you can lead a horse to water- so to speak- but it’s the work put in on your own time once you have the tools that helps develop your game - The amount of AFL footy Denton and Evan watched in 2009 meant the questions they asked me were always spot on and helped me and the other coaches just tweak there game a little; all the while letting their natural talent shine. 

The defensive efforts of these two as well as courage to play effectively through pain and injury were brilliant. Milat; will develop his game even further this year. He was a shining example for many Blues regarding his team play and his defensive pressure meant having him off the field meant the opposition were just clearing the ball from their defense at will. Many Blues learnt a lot from watching the way Milat played forward line in 2009- in footy it’s just not enough to kick goals as a forward- Holding the ball into the forward line is what it’s all about and Milat got that from the start. Milat’s team approach to footy was inspirational. I hope to be able to have him play some back-pocket at the start of the year to develop his game further and develop his al-round game- and eventually have him playing as an impact player on the ball when his fitness is ready for it. 

K-Fed... I have big goals for K-Fed in 2010. I really hope he sticks at footy because he has that X-Factor... I want to have him playing off the wing more in 2010.

Other 2009 rookies I am excited about are Kenny, Jack “Hotdog” Humphrey and Brian Witt...

I think Kenny showed signs he can be a real solid and reliable Blue for many years to come. While for various and differing reasons I think the untapped potential of Hot-Dog and Brian could lead to something very special on-field- if the coaching staff can bring it out in both guys. They are both so coach-able.   

BB: Is there any truth to the stories circulating about you considering playing Daniel “Jnr” Andersen in the back line this season – because he didn’t kick the ball to you often enough last year? 

Jmac: Good call; I like it. Junior needs a break this year... he worked his butt off on-ball in 2009 as our only in and under mid-fielder. I know he prefers the forward line for resting; but I reckon we could really use his leg speed and long raking 60 meter left-foot passes to great advantage as he streams out of the 2010 back-line. 

BB: So it’s true then. You don’t like him. And I'm pretty sure Ando can't kick more than 35m. Speaking of liking, and we mean really LIKE-LIKING him, Mark “Knackers” Dobson set up a fair few goals for you last year. Normally he’s blazing for goals and personal glory from the centre square. How much did you pay him for that? And will there be a similar arrangement this year? 

Jmac: I owe Knackers my footy life. I think Knackers passed to me 20 times in 2009 of which; because of Knackers positioning of the kick forcing me to just run to the position he kicked it- I was lucky enough to just have to kick a 10 meter goal with each uncontested chest mark.

I heard a rumour Knackers has set himself up for a 100 goal OAFL season- as from all reports his off-season fitness campaign has him closely resembling a 19 year old version of himself; and as he already had the third best set of hands in the OAFL in 2009; it should see Knackers reach his 100 goal target with ease.  

BB: We didn’t know Knackers’ was fat when he was a 19 year old! But that's not the point. Just remember we’ll be the ones starting and circulating rumors, so stop stealing our rumor starting thunder. Don’t think you’re coach in this studio mate. Now as coach of the Blues (when outside the confines of this studio), which was your favorite game (win or loss) in the 2009 season as coach of the Blues? 

Jmac: Eagles round 2... sh!t we played amazing team-orientated footy. 

Kangaroos round 5... the hardest regular season game the Roos played all year (according to the Roos). For the Roos to be forced to throw their 2 big marking forwards in Trav and Emile into defense as loose men who had to mark several Blues shots on goal with less than 5 minutes to play; was a credit to the Blues and the never say die attitude of the club. This was also the day I realized what footy meant to Keno. I will go to war with that guy anytime. 

The Elimination final against the Dingos was 24 blokes on field playing for each other and 30 odd respektators and guys/ girls helping on the sidelines who made all of us on-field “Do it for the Gipper”. Kenny’s act of courage being an inspiration while Moses and Milat’s goals... wow... 

BB: Seriously, are you going to continue your ridiculous games of coming up with obscure nicknames for players that NONE of the Canadians are going to get unless explained to them? (Eg: Mustard.) 

Jmac: Ha ha... I gotta get a better system in place... true. Perhaps we can organize an official Blues nick-name provider? It’s his job and his job alone. Very happy with the name Mustard by the way. This year I am sure it will stick (!) 

BB: As Daniel “Junior” “Ando”  “Hotel Bandit” Andersen would say, SPARE ME! You’ve got as much chance of getting Mustard to stick as we have of stopping Chris “Lefty” Leifting from dancing. Speaking of dancing, well it’s got nothing to do with dancing really… But you actually were one of the foundation players for the Quebec Saints – who won the inaugural Mike Pyke Cup in the Div 2 competition. Any thoughts of what could have been while you watched the history making game? 

Jmac: Yeah; Luke “L.A” Anderson is just the bomb. That’s all I can say... having lived for 6 years in Quebec CIty and having tried to coach Gaelic Footy there; I knew there were so many things L.A. had to conch or to just get a team on the park... from Montreal as well. The guy has heart. My hat goes off to him... no-one deserved a flag more than he and the Saints. 

BB:  Well said - but let's be honest. LA is a filthy little runt of a player - who runs around playing for free kicks. And I’m sure the next time the Blues play these upstart Sainters you’ll be looking to bury them and regain the Parker-Anderson Cup. (Just slightly bitter they have the PA Cup)...Anyhow, word on the street is that while you were in Australia last month, that between visiting family and friends, buying a block of land, and planning the building of a brand new house – that you also worked pretty hard in recruiting some Aussie players. Can you give us any indications of what we can expect in terms of possible new Blues recruits??? Come on mate – we’re dying to know! 

Jmac: Well not sure where to start.I met with about 13 Aussies in total.

Some of them- while having the perfect footy pedigree; didn’t strike me as having the team-orientated/ develop footy in Canada/ all the while being part of a unique “Family”- right kind of attitude. But in saying that; the Blues are a club that accepts anyone and if these guys decide to come and play- I know the Blues would welcome them all with open arms. 

With the idea for 2010 being to really develop the Blues Canadians and get a good junior system in place; I think we have found some really good blokes who can contribute really well as part of the Blues family; on and off the field. 

For 2010 I really hope the coaching staff can help Dtrain and Keno develop into the best ruck-rovers in the league. Karl Lombardozzi will be arriving in mid April having played the last 2 years as a tough as nails on-baller with the Frankston Dolphins in the VFL. Karl knows he will be here to help develop Dtrain and Keno’s games and he is excited by the challenge.

Sean Goedheer is a small goal-kicking forward from Queensland... his role will be to really help develop Milat, Obi and Hollywoods game and I can see these three guys learning a lot from Sean. 

The development of D2, Moses and Denton has been amazing over the last 12 months; especially with the guidance of Knackers... having Matt Dunn coming over as a centre half forward will really help these 3 guys learn the next stages of being a lead-up forward and Dunny is one of those blokes you just want to grab a beer with! 

Some of the other guys keen for a run with the Blues are Leon McConville-Brain, Andrew Booth and Matt Brasier. Replacing the likes of Kyle “KP” Pinto, Lefty, Steve “Scuba” Clark, Matty C, Shane “Buzz” Buzza, Knackers (possibly leaving before the 2010 finals series- hopefully not!), Stu “Disco” Pearson (has anyone heard from him lately!!!) from 2009 will be a hard task.

And with the end of 2010 season seeing the Departures of Jase, Junior and myself; it was important to get the right new Aussies to help our Canadians develop their game for the future. 

Nathan O’Brien will be an amazing addition to the team... cracking fella and a real “teacher” of footy... he will help the Blues for a few years to come; that’s for sure.I love the Blues and I really want the club to be a strong force on and off the field to come; I think the guys I met with and invited over to play this season will be great for the club.

I was happy to spend part of my holiday meeting with these guys. 

BB: Do I detect a serious case of multiple Man-Crushes Jmac? Getting a bit emotional over there! You are a taken man right? Obviously, because much has been written about your lovely partner Marie-Claude. Is it true you actually had her doing much of the recruiting while you were in Australia? And what was involved? 

Jmac: Haha; yeah Marie-Claude was pretty great to help get some of the Aussies on board the Blues 2010 train. 4 of the guys I interviewed are all mates from my cousin Matt Hoffmann’s hometown club.

So a couple of days after Christmas my cousin Matt invited them around to his parents place for a BBQ and a swim in the pool. Marie-Claude was sun-baking in her new bikini when the boys walked out to the BBQ; as I then told them all girls in Canada were very friendly and were keen to get down and dirty with an Australian boy- (If I  may borrow a Junior line about Lefty; it would be fair to say that Dunny, Karl, Leon and Boothy “lost their BEEP”) and then searched for any piece of paper and a pen that would declare them signed in as Blues for 2010. 

BB: I’m pretty sure the Blues have some of the hottest WAGS (Wives & Girlfriends) around. Hopefully these new recruits realize they still need to play footy when they’re in Canada. As most celebrity watchers are aware – early June sees a couple of your gun players expecting arrivals of babies, with Denton Levy and his wife Krissy expecting their first, while the Cain family expect their second. Have you reprimanded these guys about the timing of their family planning? 

Jmac: Denton and Jase have been made well-aware that footy comes first. As we all know; a woman’s place is in the kitchen and a man’s place is not in the delivery room of a hospital!!! I expect them both to be present and stripped to play for every Blues game this season. Not sure it needs to be said; but obviously I am joking here! 

BB: Just a note ladies, I don’t think Jmac is joking here despite what he says. He’s dead serious. Speaking of ladies…In a former life you were actually a nurse. So for this interview’s One-Words-Worth we thought that perhaps you could identify the most likely ailments/injuries that the following Blues players could contract or develop: 

Jmac:

BB: Concussion!!! Ah Milat – he will always be that Mongrel Terrier. Whilst on the topic of mongrel. Congrats on winning the Downlow Award (Blues Footy Trip Best & Fairest) to Austin (Texas) in 2009. What was your favorite highlight(s) from the trip? 

Jmac: Crikey... what a weekend. Highlights were many...

D-Trains first of two holes in one at the putt-putt. 

Junior being set-up and taking the bait on not just one, but several punishments at Hooters... (Being thought of as Lefty’s bedroom play-thing by the waitress all the while not being allowed to acknowledge her and deny anything; for fear of a skulling punishment was quite hilarious). 

The entire Fridays’ volleyball. Seeing the usually cool and smooth D2 and Denton LOSE their Sh!t on several occasions. 

The Chief wearing the money makers. 

Mine and D-trains finish to the Friday night when the girl jumped on me and then cracked her head on the bitumen... it sounds bad; but it finished with no injuries and lots of laughter and the first of many “Really”s?

Obi and Lefty’s sleeping arrangements after Lefty lost his lunch in their room.

Yapper (Chris Staples) efforts on the plane and also on the last night/ day/ extra trip after the trip. I think if I go on with any more detail;

I might be going against the unwritten rule of “What happens on a footy trip stays on a footy trip”... this is why I won’t mention Campa or Scuba’s antics. 

BB: Haha – we can only imagine what Scuba and Campa got up to. How did it compare to your previous experiences with footy trips? 

Jmac: It was right up there...!

2008 in Vegas was wicked; but most of my footy trips in Australia were just bus trips and drinking; I never really had a trip with other activities planned... this year was so fun; because there was so much to do... a great job by D-train and The Chief! Would be great for 2010 if we could keep the destination closer to Toronto for the sake of getting an extra 10-20 Blues on the trip.

A footy trip is such a great team-bonding experience and I know everyone in Austin wished all their Blues brothers were with us having as much fun as we did. 

BB: So any prediction for the 2010 season? Blues leading goal kicker? Blues Best & Fairest? Secret Blues weapons of mass destruction?

Jmac: There are a couple of Neil McNeil High School students coming out this season. I am really looking forward to seeing how Joey and Kevin develop their games and I am sure they are going to be so much richer for their 2010 Blues footy experience in not just footy; but also life by being involved in such a brilliantly run club like the Blues. 

On-field predictions... Div. 1, Div. 2 and ladies to all play in a preliminary final on the same day.

That preceding week at training with all 3 sides in a Preliminary final would be quite special... 

Blues leading goal kickers- Denton Levy and Adam Martin 

Blues B & F: My goal is to have the luxury to play Jacob at CHB for season 2010. I predict he will take out the B & F; just- with a tight finish between Bruce Parker and Keno for second. 

Secret weapon? I am going to go out on a limb here... Andy Han. The new bionic knee to force a reckoning of sorts between him and any OAFL defender unfortunate enough to have to man up on him in his comeback game; ideally 2 weeks after Krista has given birth and Andy is in PARTY mode after the birth of his healthy son or daughter!  

BB: Ok compliments might work for here after all – I’ll organize a foot rub for you mate while we finish off this interview. As usual we sometimes have readers send in questions for our guests. Rhonda writes in with this little doozy. 

Rhonda: Jmac, been a big fan of yours for quite some time. And when I say big, I mean I have a tattoo of your face on my back and somewhere else.. Perhaps one day I’ll show you if given the opportunity. You have my number. Call me. Anyways I digress, you are the lead singer of a band (Human Tornado), writing your own songs. In one of your songs, "THE SHINUMINUMUNIM SONG" the lyrics are very cryptic, could you please tell us what you meant in this song and what emotions you were trying to convey. 

Jmac: Ha ha... well Rhonda... Being a big fan you might know this already; but the mix of the album is now almost complete.

The album “The Rules” was recorded from June-October 2007 and unfortunately finding a producer to mix the album that had the same vision as the band; proved difficult. But in October 2009 we were contacted by an engineer who had just completed working with the band Sepultura on their latest album- who asked to be given a shot at mixing the Human Tornado album. As of today he has finished 12 of the 13 tracks and the sound is great; very 70’s rock. Hopefully the album will be released in the next couple of months and a small tour can follow. Now to your question; I think with this being a “open to all ages” kind of web-site I will just leave the answer to your question to Miss Moneypenny... 

James Bond: [Whilst being in bed with his Scandinavian language tutor] “I always enjoyed learning a new tongue”.  

Moneypenny: “You always were a cunning linguist, James”.  

BB: We didn't say you cuold plug your album mate, suppose it's too late now... stop the foot rub! Anyway, my producers tell me that this has officially become the LONGEST ever BB interview. Surprise surprise.. I don't think Campa will ever read this entire interview. Thanks for your time coach, I'm going to test my ears - feels like they're going to fall off any second. I’m sure I speak for the whole club – that we’re pumped for a huge 2010 season and looking forward to seeing what you have planned since that last game against the Roos. All the best for a massive season!