Ex AFL player Brent Frewen recommends playing for Eagles
The Burnaby Eagles ‘Wingman’ caught up last week with star player Brent Frewen.
Thanks mate for joining me here in North Van, overlooking Vancouver and its beautiful harbour on a sensational spring day:
No worries mate
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Melbourne before moving to Mildura when I was 10. Spent a year in Bendigo before moving back to Melbourne when I was 18.
Tell us briefly about your journey from junior footy to the AFL and then the SANFL:
Growing up in Mildura I played junior football for South Mildura before being selected to play for the Bendigo Pioneers in the State U’18 competition. From there I was asked to train with Fitzroy for the preseason of the 1996 season and subsequently drafted in the February (preseason) draft as it was then. Fitzroy folded at the completion of the season and I was then drafted to Richmond where I spent one year before being delisted. I was then asked to play with Woodville West Torrens Football Club in the SANFL.
What great memories do you have from playing with Fitzroy, Richmond & WWT?
Fitzroy was obviously a turbulent time with the unknown up until the merger went through approximately half way through the season. Then it was all about speculation of who were the 8 players going to be selected as part of the merger agreement.
At Richmond I went through a similar scenario, Robert Walls was coach and then 4 or 5 games from the end of the season was sacked. The team didn’t have a very successful year but it was great to train and learn from players like Matthew Knights, Wayne Campbell and Matthew Richardson.
I was fortunate enough to spend 9 years at The Eagles (WWTFC) where I made life long friends. The team played in 5 grand finals in that time with one premiership. Unfortunately the numbers weren’t the other way round. I also had the fortune of working as the Marketing Manager for the Club, which created even stronger ties. I will always cherish my time at the Club and look back with many found memories. I still follow their progress with great interest.
Who was the greatest influence on your career?
That’s a tough one, my father, Denis O’Brien (a junior coach) and Gordon Casey (another junior coach). They shaped my early learning and created opportunities for me to play football at a young age.
Who was your toughest opponent and or the best player you played against?
Although I only spent two years in the AFL system, Matthew Allen from Carlton and I had some great battles. Another one, I didn’t line up directly against him, but I played against was Gary Ablett Snr in his very last game (in the reserves v Richmond). I remember one moment in the game that will stick with me forever: The ball was loose heading towards the boundary line, I could see Ablett coming out of the corner of my eye, (I was a lean young man) hoping the ball would go out of bounds….thankfully it did because I’m sure I would have come off worse for wear if there was a collision.
In the SANFL I had many great battles against a guy by the name of Stephen White who played for Sturt.
Who was your favourite coach and why?
A toss up between Jeff Gieschen (Richmond) and Mark Mickan (WWTFC). Jeff was a very honest and forthright character who displayed confidence in you and had an abundance of passion. Mark was a very well rounded individual who had a very intelligent football brain. He brought a level of professionalism to the club when he began as coach putting the club on the path to a very successful era.
Who was the best player you played with?
I have been fortunate enough to play with many great players some that haven’t been mentioned previously include: Matthew Primus, Chris Johnson, Brad Boyd and Jarrod Molloy all at Fitzroy. Although they were obviously great players in the AFL, the SANFL has and had some highly talented players never to get drafted. One of those being Gavin Colville who captained the club for many years and was an inspirational leader. I have the utmost respect for him both on and off the field.
Do you have any regrets about footy and what were they?
No! Of course I would have loved to have played more than 2 AFL matches but I gave it all I had at the time and that’s the way the dice rolled. I would also of loved to have played more than the 100 odd SANFL games that I played. In 9 years that’s not such a great ratio, but unfortunately I battled many injuries throughout my career. I loved every minute of my footballing days and still love to get out on the field now.
Do you have any advice to young footballers?
If you have the desire to play at a higher level, whether that be the AFL or your local senior side, work hard at your game, continually challenge yourself to improve any weaknesses you have and develop your strengths to an even greater level.
Who makes you laugh at the Burnaby Eagles and why?
Tills makes me laugh, ’coz he sells legal drugs for a living (isn’t that an oxy-moron)!!
What are your thoughts about the Burnaby Eagles & would you recommend new comers to Vancouver or to Aussie football to join the club?
The Burnaby Eagles have a tremendous bunch of guys both Australians and particularly the international guys who are new to the game. Matthew Bell (coach) has brought a great deal of knowledge, enthusiasm and professionalism to the team this season. The club has many passionate football lovers who work hard behind the scenes to make sure we as footballers can get out on the field and pull on the boots. I would recommend the Club for any new comers looking for mateship and a fun game to play.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m a whitewater raft guide here in BC but I also still have a strong passion and desire to continue to travel. I also recently started a business that I’m building to secure my future.
Well thanks mate for your time and good luck in whatever direction life decides to take you. The Burnaby Eagles have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and passion you have brought with you and we look forward to continue seeing you with that Eagles Guernsey on:
Been a pleasure.
If you think you might like to give Australian Rules Football a go or you are just travelling through and want to have a kick please contact coach Matt Bell on 778-230-4312 or at mattbell22@hotmail.com.
The Burnaby Eagles is a club for everyone. Families, kids, girlfriends, wives or even for those who just want to watch some footy and/or have a few beverages with some great people!
Please note: If you would like Brent to guide you through some rapids you contact Reo Rafting here: http://www.reorafting.com/
Kelowna Footy Cup – What will this year bring??
Kelowna, a town of 100 000, home to some of Canada’s finest wineries, a semi arid dessert only hours from a wet climate. Big White ski resort in winter, Okanagan Lake boating in summer. But for one weekend every summer a tradition has begun that not even Kelowna has come to adapt to, and that is the Kelowna Footy Cup.
Starting 4 years ago, the tournament includes teams from all over Western Canada, and includes games played with only Canadians. While footy brings many to Kelowna, it is the happenings off the field that tend to be talked about long after returning to the Burnaby Eagles nest.
After playing in sweltering heat players tend to ensure that they are re-hydrated with only the finest of fluids, and this amber ale tends to flow fast till early the following morning.
In the past we have seen house boats turned into ultimate fighter venues, cars run out of gas only meters from the top of the final hill before getting into Kelowna, sending one member to hitch hike into town, then turning the ignition and making it there, without any problems. Hotels insisting that metal wine coolers are not included in the price of accommodation and will need to be replaced after discovering human remains inside. Big Brown was the talk of the town one year, with a certain Eagle unable to contain his excitement over discovering this horse!! The excitement of winning the tournament lead an ex coach to insist on team members swimming in a fountain and then running down the road with limited attire on, or post game celebratory drinks quickly turned sour when an Eagle player insisted on asking a friendly, yet troubled, young female to help the team ensure their daily nutrient levels where being met, only to have the team exposed to spray paint and a verbal barrage.
As with any trip, there have been unfortunate incidents occur as well, one Eagle was unlucky enough to find himself wearing a fake pair of boobs, and dancing on a podium with a pair attractive females. His expected response was to be mauled, the swift kick to the back was not. Thankfully he managed to make it out of this cage with limited damage.
The expected time of driving to Kelowna is 4 hours, though this can be variable, depending on who you agree to have in the car with you, and can extend to well over 6 hours if certain members insist on stopping to excrete the punishment form the previous night at every turn, as we have seen in the past.
2009 looks to be another great year in Kelowna, with many a story to follow!!!
Training Tonight – Burnaby Lakes Sporting Complex
Training is on tonight back at the Burnaby Lakes Sporing Complex, starting at 6.30pm sharp. Tonight’s session will the last ever training session of one of our great clubmen for this year, Jason Sasche. This has been Jason’s first year at the club and he has hardly missed a session or an event so we thank him and his partner Amanda for their sensational support to the Burnaby Eagles.
Please get to artificial field #1 which is the field on the left of the photo below. After training (8:30pm) we will walk over to Nathan’s Grill for a bite to eat and a few drinks. So make sure you get to Nathan’s Grill after training to buy Jason a beer.
Nathan’s is the building at the top right of the photo.
Please bring your runners and football boots.
Burnaby Eagles Family Day – This Saturday
This Saturday, May 30, the Burnaby Eagles are having their last home game of the season. To celebrate this day the club are inviting all family, friends & work colleagues to come out and enjoy a huge day of football. The venue is DW Poppy Secondary School at 23752 52nd Avenue, Langley. (View Map)
The day starts at 1pm with the mighty Eagles taking on the Delta Bay Hawks for the first ever time. There will be a players raffle where supporters can choose a player and have a chance to win wine, a meal voucher and a massage if their chosen player gets in the best players on the day.
After the game a 100 metre sprint will be run between the fastest players from all BC Footy teams.
At 3pm the Vancouver Cougars take on the ever improving Irish Harps.
Through out the day there will be an array of food and beverages as well as great prizes to be won.
So get out to Langley and enjoy the sunshine and a great day of entertainment.
Trivia Night – This Friday 8th May Moose’s Down Under 7pm
This Friday Night the Burnaby Eagles will host a trivia night at Moose’s Down Under pub. Proceedings start at 7pm.
Hope to see you all there.
Training this Thursday – Brockton Oval, Stanley Park
Training this thursday will be held at Stanley Park starting at 6pm. We will meet at Brockton Oval and then try and find a patch of grass to throw the balls around.
The idea of this is to not only do something different but also to support our major sponsor ‘Moose’s Down Under’.
We will head to Moose’s at 7.30 to have a bite to eat. Also I will try and get a copy of the AFL Footy show to watch.
If you can’t get there by 6pm that is fine but it would still be great if you get there as soon as you can. Moose’s is giving us a huge amount of support this year so it would be great if we could continue to show our support to them.
Eagles win 2009 BC Footy Cup
The Burnaby Eagles are the winners of the 2009 BC Footy Cup after beating the Vancouver Cougars, Seattle & Calgary. More details and results to follow.
