A few posts in the Phil Walsh thread got me thinking about the coaches in my life.
I remember them all. Some I might not want to - one crushed my dreams - but they've all been part of my life.
So...
To my first coach, my father, we've had some rough times but thank you for instilling a love of the game and good sportmanship in me.
Tom Zorich, my under 13s CDFC coach for making me feel 10-feet tall at such a young age.
To Keith Porter, our under 14s premiership coach, a man who was a second, or only father, to so many of my team-mates and whose family became the family of all of us, thank you. I still have a bond with so many who played with you during that time.
Mark Seelander, thanks for refocusing my direction in life - you might not know it, but me being able to head into my profession was inspired by you.
Richard Bednall for allowing me the honour of being my school's first, First XVIII captain and giving me a chance to be a leader.
Rob Fraser, my first senior coach and a man I still love catching up with, thank you.
Steve Smith, a man now going through tough times, but who always had a smile and a laugh when he was our RFL 2000 B grade premiership coach.
Paul Mitchell for making footy fun again and for believing in me, on and off the footy field.
Travis Dubrich - just for being the big, funny bastard you are.
And, to my final coach, Steve Johnson - a club servant, who amazed me as he continued to pile up games well into his 40s and allowed me to do what I wanted up forward in my final year.
Over to you blokes.