Former AFL star Jaidyn Stephenson opens up about the highs and lows of his short-lived career, from winning a Rising Star to getting caught up in a gambling scandal that derailed his promising start at Collingwood. Overview: In this candid interview, Stephenson reflects on his rapid rise to fame as a teenager, the pressures of being in the spotlight, and how off-field mistakes led to his untimely exit from the Pies. He also discusses the difficulties adjusting to a struggling North Melbourne side after being traded, and what ultimately led him to walk away from footy at just 25. Key Takeaways: 2:30 - On being drafted to Collingwood as an 18-year-old and living the dream his first year, including winning a Rising Star award. 8:00 - Getting caught placing bets on Collingwood games, resulting in a long suspension. 15:30 - Being abruptly traded from Collingwood to North Melbourne after just two seasons. 21:00 - Struggling at North as the losses piled up and scrutiny intensified. 27:00 - Getting injured after drunkenly crashing his bike down the stairs. 32:00 - Losing his passion for footy and deciding to retire at just 25 years old. 37:00 - Reflecting on his short AFL career and the challenges of transitioning to a "normal" job. Don't miss this raw and unfiltered look into the real world of an AFL footballer. Tune in to hear Jaidyn's incredible story in his own words.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1:12:18
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1:12:18
Greg Williams - It's hard being a star
Greg Williams was one of the greatest AFL players of his time, winning 3 Brownlow Medals and a Norm Smith Medal. But his road to stardom wasn't easy - he was rejected by Carlton twice as a teenager before getting his shot at Geelong. In this episode, Williams takes us through the highs and lows of his incredible career, from his rocky start to premiership glory with Carlton. Get the inside story on Williams' battles with umpires, his thoughts on concussion in the AFL, and find out how a last-minute cash delivery from John Elliott allowed Williams to take the field in round 1, 1992. Williams also shares techniques that helped make him one of the game's best ball-getters and handballers. Key Moments: 2:30 - Getting rejected by Carlton as a teenager 7:20 - Transferring from Geelong to Sydney Swans16:30 - Controversy with umpire John Russo and the Brownlow Medal in 199324:45 - Joining Carlton and run-ins with John Elliott32:20 - Winning the 1995 premiership and Norm Smith medal44:30 - Getting suspended after pushing umpire Andrew Coates56:00 - Battling memory loss from concussions1:05:00 - Williams' kicking tips and techniques Don't miss this chance to go inside the mind of an AFL legend. Listen to the full episode now to hear Diesel's incredible story!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1:08:10
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1:08:10
Stewart Crameri - The Essendon 34's unluckiest?
Stuart Crameri was one of 34 Essendon players caught up in the infamous supplements saga that rocked the AFL. In this raw and revealing chat, the former Bomber opens up about the highs and lows of his career, including the supplements scandal that derailed the Bombers and the heartbreak of watching his Bulldogs teammates win the 2016 flag while he was sidelined. Crameri takes us inside the Bombers' supplements program, revealing he and his teammates "didn't blink an eye" when told to take injections and didn't realize the trouble it would cause. He talks about the constant "groundhog day" of having to face the media scrutiny, Jobe Watson's incredible leadership through the crisis, and the "devastation" of ultimately being banned for a year. The big-hearted country boy also shares the setbacks and rejections he faced early in his career, moving to Melbourne and staying in a "terrible" hostel to chase his AFL dream, his special bond with coach Brendan McCartney, and how he managed to still perform on the field despite the mental toll of the saga. Crameri's story is one of resilience and perspective. This is an insightful look into one of footy's most tumultuous chapters. [00:02:30] Early career rejections and persistence to make the AFL[00:08:00] Arrival of James Hird lifts standards at Essendon [00:15:30] Breakout season in 2011 after move to forward line[00:23:00] Supplements saga begins to unfold [00:33:00] Dealing with constant media scrutiny during 2013 season[00:40:30] Shifting to Western Bulldogs for a fresh start[00:50:00] Devastation of 12-month suspension ruling in 2016[01:03:00] Watching the Bulldogs win the flag from sidelines [01:10:00] Life after footy and key takeawaysCrameri's story is one of resilience in the face of adversity. Be sure to listen to the full episode to get an insight into one of the AFL's most challenging chapters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Andrew Russell - Defeated by the Blues
Players - yes, coaches - definitely. But recruiting new high performance managers wouldn’t usually get the fans excited. And yet, when Andrew Russell made the shift from a four-premiership winning stint at Hawthorn to Carlton, it was seen as joining the missing link holding the Blues back. So why, five years later, did the 26 year AFL industry career of Andrew Russell end in disappointment? So, what happened? Andrew Russell delves into how he feels about his time at the Blues and where the club is headed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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22:39
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Andrew Russell - The high performance guru
When Andrew Russell was called into Kevin Sheedy’s office at the Hilton Hotel as a teenager and offered a job, not in his wildest dreams would he have been able to predict the three decade high performance career that included six premierships across three clubs that was to come. Russell was there at the end of the Bombers dynasty, Port’s ‘04 choke-breaker and the start of the Hawks decade of dominance. From Stuart Dew to Luke Hodge and Cyril Rioli, Russell made a career out of preparing premiership players.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What really happens when the axe falls in the AFL world? Some of the biggest names in the sport reveal the remarkable true stories of how they discovered their days were numbered and when the guillotine dropped.
Australia