Live the dream - Jason McCartney

He’s overcome adversity, both on and off the football field, and former Kangaroo Jason McCartney is more than willing to share his experiences with Justine McCullagh-Beasy to help provide inspiration for others.

Severely injured in the Bali bombings, Jason used every ounce of his inner strength to recover in order to make his wedding day and play one more AFL match. Defying the odds, Jason made spectacular progress and was able to achieve his goals. Four years on- as AFL youth ambassador- he is helping implement the required steps that will enable youngsters to live their dreams.

Amicable and articulate, Jason’s motivational skills were on show when he came- a day before season 2006 started- to speak to the senior students of the Swan Hill area. Afterwards I was allowed the honour of interviewing Jason and whilst he speaks with clarity and distinction, I fear I may have converted to a stuttering mess. That aside, the experience was extremely beneficial and one I will remember forever.

Jason achieved his dream of playing AFL and after being involved in the devastating Bali bombings he had to reassess his options. In doing so he embarked on a strenuous journey, physically, mentally and emotionally, and is now able provide others with the inspiration they need to convert their dreams in to a reality.

Justine: You were an early draft pick, number four in 1990, and went to Collingwood where you played 38 matches, you then crossed over to the Adelaide Crows and added a further 37. Good starts, but unable to capitalise on them. What are the reasons behind this, if any?

Jason: It probably came down to a bit of immaturity, homesickness and, at times, a lack of opportunity.

Justine: You had no such troubles when, in 1998, you returned to Victoria to don the Kangaroos Guernsey and notched up 107 appearances. Did the ‘Shinboner spirit’ play any part in your careers change of fortune?

Jason: Yeah, I think so. It was the biggest and best thing that happened to me (going to the Kangaroos.) In Adelaide there was only one team at the time and being a high draft pick there were a lot of expectations. At the Kangaroos there was nothing of the sort, maybe I was expected to fail. Playing with the likes of Wayne Carey and Glenn Archer the attention wasn’t directed on myself. I was left at centre half-blank and had some good games and some bad games. Denis Pagan showed faith in me and because of that an essence and belief formed and the form followed.

Justine: The strength of the Adelaide outfit kept you out of their 1997 Premiership side, the following year you played for the Roos in the Grand Final against Adelaide and lost, then in 1999 found yourself on the wrong end of a tribunal decision and were forced to watch your team-mates win from the sidelines, what were you feeling at that moment and have your feelings differed since then?

Jason: First and foremost in 1997 I played only the first six matches. The two-year’s before I played every match under Robert Shaw. Malcolm Blight was a great coach, but I didn’t suit his game plan. The 98’ Grand final was the toughest because it was against my mates (in the Crows players.)

We were up at half time, but we kicked very poorly. 1999 was tough for the fact I’d played 24 games being on the sidelines was my own fault. At the time I was devastated and didn’t think anything could be worse, but I always said I would dwell on it after my career. 2000 happened to be the best I ever played. But after the trauma of Bali, it became a non-issue. It’s a game, missing out on a premiership isn’t the worst thing that could happen.

Justine: As a well-known identity your story was used, somewhat, to help force home how much the bombings really effected Australia, would you say your story has helped, both, inform and supply determination to others in devastating situations?

Jason: At the time I didn’t realise, I was concentrating on getting better and playing football again but afterwards I became aware of it. The after match function (after last game) with all the victims and their family members really enforced what my story meant. I know that by me achieving my goals, writing the book for example, gives hope to people in all facets of life, really.

Justine: You helped drag two other victims to safety after you suffered 50% burns to your body in the blast and were awarded with an Australian of the year- local hero award in 2004? How did that feel?

Jason: I wouldn’t say I dragged two people out. When the explosion went off it was just instinct to grab whoever was closest to you. I grabbed the Woodgate sisters- I actually thought it was Mick [Martyn]- they were severely injured. The biggest award came in 2003 where, along with many others, I was awarded the ‘Order of Australia medal’ for my involvement in footy, organizations and in raising money for burns units.

The ‘Local Hero’ award was a wonderful thing but I probably don’t appreciate it as much now as I will when I’m older. It’s like with the Queen’s Baton relay, people wore their ‘OAM’ pins, I don’t feel comfortable with that. I saw Eddie McGuire the other day and he always has his pin on his suit and wears it with pride. It’s wonderful, but I’m young and when I’m 40 or 50 I’ll cherish it more.

Justine: Do you ever have a free minute? You’ve got your hands full with many commitments, including being a NAB ambassador, an AFL youth ambassador and a boundary rider for channel nine. Do you enjoy calling the shots form the boundary, even in the wet and cold, whilst Cometti, Lyon, Brayshaw and co lap it up in the warmth of the commentary box?

Jason: (wry smile) I’d love to get up there, I’ll tell you! Weather wise I’m going to cop it this year; I’m going to get atrocious weather. I haven’t had to deal with that yet. The past two years I’ve watched other boundary riders copping it. Being a boundary rider is as close as you get to the action without playing. It keeps you in touch with the game.

I haven’t covered a match in Perth, we (Channel nine) avoid going there, except for Friday night matches, the trip is just too far. We hand most of those games to Foxtel. The NAB is great, especially grassroots football and all the volunteer work. I love that working with the AFL means working with kids, I also enjoy the coaching component with the AIS (Australian Institute of sport.)

Justine: Your commitments force you to travel regularly, does your wife, Narissa, travel with you or does she have her own commitments to attend to?

Jason: During the first year, yes. She’s a teacher and whilst we travelled she did relief teaching. She’s now heavily involved in a charity- ‘Kids in dangerous situations’- which I am actually an ambassador for. It’s involved with playground accidents and, more widely, burns victims rehabilitation programs and hospital burn units. My schedule is manageable.

When I go to Queensland, Perth or even the Northern Territory I am only away for four days at a time and I only do those trips once a year. As for day trips, if I go by plane it is usually a 7am start and I’m home by 5:30. No different than going to an office. There is a great variety and I get to meet different people all the time.

Justine: Your latest adventure has seen you head over to South Africa and become assistant coach of the South African Buffaloes, who played three matches against the teenage Aboriginal side. The Buffaloes lost the series, 3-0, but you were impressed with how well they adapted?

Jason: It was defiantly one of the most amazing experiences. South Africa is such a diverse country, but there were many similarities between the South African boys and the Aboriginal boys. People are called white, black or coloured unlike here where you could get into a fair amount of trouble for talking like that. There was a strong educational side to the trip.

We went to the prison Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in at Cape Town and stayed in a theme park. We held five massive clinics and amongst all that played three games. One was an International rules match and the other two were AFL games. I was able to get involved in a lot of video technology, where we would film the games and transfer it to the computer.

I’d seen it done but it was a crash course over there and it worked so well. They were extremely excited to see themselves on the big screen. There were about ten or eleven basic team rules that we showed them after each match and they would try to implement the improvements the next game. They hung of off every word we said. They were very coachable and enthusiastic.

There is a lot of potential and the AFL is keen to pursue the local talent. Their only other options are Rugby, which is very elite and most of them don’t have the body for and Soccer. Unfortunately there is minimal infrastructure to help them succeed. You could give them any type of ball and they would be out playing with it, whether that be a soccer ball or a football. There is a lot to like.

Justine: After your experience in South Africa could you see ‘Coach’ added to your impressive CV in the future, whether that be locally or nationally?

Jason: Yeah, I probably would. I’m trying to set myself up with a few options. I love working with the AFL, it’s stable, it’s not as if it is just going to shut up shop. I need to make sure I really want to coach, not just because I have nothing else to fall back on.

There are many former AFL players who go directly into the assistant coaching ranks because they have nothing else. But the experience in Africa has wet the apatite. I loved the involvement and I’d love to get involved with grass roots football.

Justine: What are your predictions for the season ahead and why?

Jason:
-Premier- Geelong, although I wish I’d said it before they won the NAB Cup.
-Runner-up- St Kilda
-Wooden spoon- this is a hard one, Carlton, but don’t let Denis [Pagan] see it!
-Brownlow trifecta- Chris Judd (WCE), Nick Dal Santo (St K) and Luke Hodge (Haw)
-Rising Star- Patrick Ryder (Ess)
-Coleman- Matthew Lloyd, injury free. (Ess)

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