From about the age of 10 I wanted to be an NBA player. Any opportunity I had I would be shooting hoops and imitating basketball stars like Kobe Bryant and my favourite player, Tracy McGrady.
As the years passed that passion slowly switched to football and I was instead trying to imitate stars like Lenny Hayes and Matthew Pavlich.
In 2012, I somehow managed to make the Oakleigh Chargers’ under-18s squad. Not many people know this, but we could barely afford to pay for the registration.
My dad had to ask my sister, who was working at Coles at the time, to buy me football boots. Not once did my dad say I couldn’t do it. He has supported any decision I made and will continue to, post-football.
Luckily, I am able to afford my own boots these days and no longer have to pay for registration.
Obviously this is an insignificant problem in the scheme of life, but everyone has their own difficulties in different shapes and forms.
I see this column as another opportunity to say how grateful and appreciative I am for the luck I’ve had growing up in such a great family.
BULLDOGS IN FOCUS
THE PLAYERS
Tom Liberatore | Keeper of the kennel
Tory Dickson | Fatherhood and football
Jason Tutt | My best moment so far
Mitchell Honeychurch | My first six months
Jordan Roughead | Still living the dream
Tom Campbell | Heartbeat of the West
PETER GORDON
