The Help Side

18. The Help Side - Nathan Eglington - Part A

#TheHelpSide Our guest this week is former Kookaburra and ex Kookaburra Assistant Coach Nathan Eglington. ‘Eggy’, as he’s known, has an incredibly unique story built on equal parts success and hardship. Before being forced into retirement at just 27 after suffering a horrific injury on the training pitch, Eg amassed 140 games, 50 goals and an Olympic Gold medal. Known as one of the most damaging ball runners to ever play for the Kookaburras. But as Eggy will tell you, what he achieved on the hockey pitch takes rather a back seat compared to some of the things he’s overcome and managed throughout his life. 

Over the next two episodes, Eglington takes us on a journey. From the pain of losing his mother as a child to the Athens Gold, Olympic Village shenanigans, being a Guinness world record holder and life as a father to a very special family, Eg interweaves some absolutely cracking stories into his yarn that had me in stitches and by the end, I’m sure you’ll agree that this one has everything. Please enjoy The Help Side of Nathan Eglington.

17. The Help Side - SPECIAL EDITION - John Eales

#TheHelpSide This week we’ve got our first ‘Special Edition’ as our interviewee is not actually a hockey player. That being said, listeners of the show will know that he’s already been a fixture of the Help Side, and it seemed fitting that we get John Eales on the show to give us his side of the story Mick McCann told about that night after the Kookaburra’s gold medal win in Athens. 

Without any shadow of an overstatement, John Eales can rightly be called one of Australia’s greatest sporting heroes. Between 1991 and 2001, John represented Australia’s Rugby Union team, the Wallabies, in 86 test matches, and was captain for 55 of those. He went to three World Cups, and in winning two of those, John played a role in establishing the Wallabies of the 90s as one of Australia’s most successful sporting teams and has become known as one of Australia’s most successful sporting captains, ever. 

I was lucky enough to sit down with John over a cup of tea and a coffee and discuss some of the highs and lows of his sporting career, and what it took to elevate that Wallabies team to legend status. In this interview, you’ll hear John’s account of his dealings with hockey over the years, as well as a slightly different perspective of the Games, that of an Olympic Athlete Liason Officer. 

With trademark humility, John talks about dealing with pressure as both an athlete and a captain, and what separates the great teams from the good. Finally, having been involved with rugby during the transitional period from amateur to professional, we discuss some of the challenges that brings, and where hockey might learn from the experiences of rugby union, should follow similarly down that path. This is the Help Side of John Eales AM, enjoy

16. The Help Side - Jane Claxton - Part B

#TheHelpSide We're delighted to have Hockeyroos midfielder, Jane Claxton, on the show. Now Jane comes from some pretty good stock…listeners of the show and followers of hockey in Australia might recognise the name ‘Claxton’ from this year's class of Hockey Australia Life Member inductees, her father Bob being awarded the honour as recognition of a lifetime of service to hockey. 

 

Jane takes us on her voyage from coming up through the ranks in Adelaide to what it’s really like to represent your country, including some elements that people don’t often talk about. With the highs of playing for your country, come inevitable lows and hard times that don’t always make the front page, but remain part and parcel of the gig and Jane openly shares her story of navigating the pitfalls of elite sport. One aspect of international sport, is the joy of travelling the world and with this, comes a ‘roomie’, and Jane reveals that she might not be the top of everyone's ‘most desirable roomie’ list. Jane is smart, articulate, and the embodiment of an elite athlete. Please enjoy, The Help Side of, Jane Claxton. 

16. The Help Side - Jane Claxton - Part A

#TheHelpSide We're delighted to have Hockeyroos midfielder, Jane Claxton, on the show. Now Jane comes from some pretty good stock…listeners of the show and followers of hockey in Australia might recognise the name ‘Claxton’ from this year's class of Hockey Australia Life Member inductees, her father Bob being awarded the honour as recognition of a lifetime of service to hockey. 

 

In 183 games for the Hockeyroos, Claxton has appeared at two World Cup's, two Commonwealth Games, an Olympics, and has had the honour of captaining her country. Jane has come to be recognised as one of Australia’s most consistent performers, and anyone who’s witnessed her play live would have heard her commanding tone carry across the pitch to her teammates – your prototypical General of the midfield. You’ll find Jane to be the consummate professional, and her achievements and success in the green and gold of the Hockeyroos really shouldn’t come as a surprise after hearing her take on what it takes to perform at the highest level. 

 

Jane takes us on her voyage from coming up through the ranks in Adelaide to what it’s really like to represent your country, including some elements that people don’t often talk about. With the highs of playing for your country, come inevitable lows and hard times that don’t always make the front page, but remain part and parcel of the gig and Jane openly shares her story of navigating the pitfalls of elite sport. One aspect of international sport, is the joy of travelling the world and with this, comes a ‘roomie’, and Jane reveals that she might not be the top of everyone's ‘most desirable roomie’ list. Jane is smart, articulate, and the embodiment of an elite athlete. Please enjoy The Help Side of, Jane Claxton. 

15. The Help Side - Bob Proctor - Part B

#TheHelpSide Today we’re going back in time, to a time where things were done a little differently. Today’s guest is former Australian Goal Keeper, Bob Proctor. Now by ‘former’, I mean Bob won a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympic games. Bob finished his career with 40 caps across 2 world cups and the aforementioned Olympic Games and has since become one of Sydney’s most successful coaches, coaching numerous teams to several premierships as well as coaching the NSW Australian Hockey League side for a number of years. 

Welcome to Part B of my two-part chat with Former Australian goalkeeper Bob Proctor, if you missed last episode – Bob took us inside what it took to make it to an Olympics in those days and spins some cracking yarns about what life was like on tour. In Part B, Bob recollects on his Olympic Experience and how they came so close to clinching Australia’s first-ever Olympic gold. A brilliant coach in his own right, Bob then talks about his coaching philosophy and his take on what it takes to make a great team. Rip in!

15. The Help Side - Bob Proctor - Part A

#TheHelpSide Today we’re going back in time, to a time where things were done a little differently. Today’s guest is former Australian Goal Keeper, Bob Proctor. Now by ‘former’, I mean Bob won a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. Bob finished his career with 40 caps across 2 world cups and the aforementioned Olympic Games and has since become one of Sydney’s most successful coaches, coaching numerous teams to several premierships as well as coaching the NSW Australian Hockey League side for a number of years. 

Bob played in a time where the international hockey landscape was completely different and has some of the best yarns in the business. He’s a magnificent storyteller and I can tell you that the time we spent chatting in Bob’s backyard over some nuts and a tea were some of the quickest minutes of my life. From being the first Australian team to play on Astroturf to abandoning a match mid-game in Pakistan and all the on-tour antics in between, it’s a little different this week, but truly absorbing. I hope you enjoy The Help Side of Bob Proctor.

14. The Help Side - Anna Flanagan - Part B

#TheHelpSide Anna Flanagan was in her final year of high school when she was first picked in the Australian Squad and made her Hockeyroos debut as a bright-eyed 18-year-old against Korea the following year. In the years that followed, Anna made a name for herself as a prodigious flicker and athletic defender who, with a trademark yellow ribbon in her hair, quickly became a fan favourite. By the time she played her last game for the Hockeyroos, she was only 24 and had won two Commonwealth Games Gold medal, one World Cup Silver, been to an Olympics and in 2012 was awarded FIH Young Player of the Year. While her on-pitch record speaks for itself, Anna was also a frontrunner off the pitch and was peerless in her ability to leverage her image for the benefit of exposing the sport she loves to a wider audience. As the first hockey athlete to be sponsored by global giants Red Bull and Nike, Anna’s story is quite unlike anything we’ve heard so far. 

In her typically open manner, Anna reveals her journey with the Hockeyroos was far from smooth sailing, and takes us through the highs and lows of elite sport, and uniquely to Anna, the fame and pressure that can come with it. In this episode, Part B, Anna speaks candidly about her struggles with mental health and reveals what’s next, and once you hear it, I’m sure you’ll agree – it’s a pretty good fit. Please enjoy Part B of The Help Side of, Anna Flanagan.

14. The Help Side - Anna Flanagan - Part A

#TheHelpSide Anna Flanagan was in her final year of high school when she was first picked in the Australian Squad and made her Hockeyroos debut as a bright-eyed 18-year-old against Korea the following year. In the years that followed, Anna made a name for herself as a prodigious flicker and athletic defender who, with a trademark yellow ribbon in her hair, quickly became a fan favourite. By the time she played her last game for the Hockeyroos, she was only 24 and had won two Commonwealth Games Gold medal, one World Cup Silver, been to an Olympics and in 2012 was awarded FIH Young Player of the Year. While her on-pitch record speaks for itself, Anna was also a frontrunner off the pitch and was peerless in her ability to leverage her image for the benefit of exposing the sport she loves to a wider audience. As the first hockey athlete to be sponsored by global giants Red Bull and Nike, Anna’s story is quite unlike anything we’ve heard so far.

In her typically open manner, Anna reveals her journey with the Hockeyroos was far from smooth sailing, and takes us through the highs and lows of elite sport, and uniquely to Anna, the fame and pressure that can come with it. She speaks candidly about her struggles with mental health and reveals what’s next for Anna Flanagan, and once you hear it, I’m sure you’ll agree – it’s a pretty good fit. Please enjoy Part A of The Help Side of, Anna Flanagan.

13. The Help Side - Moritz Fürste - Part B

#TheHelpSide Today’s interview is with dual Olympic Gold Medallist and 2012 FIH World Player of the Year, Ex-German International Moritz Fürste. In the decade before his retirement in 2016, few players on the international circuit commanded as much influence on a game than Mo. As regular listeners to the podcast would know, he’s a popular answer for many when they list the best player they have ever played against. Whether it be scoring penalty corners, breaking the game open through the midfield, penetrating opposition defence with his pass or simply imposing his presence with his voice, he was one of those players who you were just constantly aware of. 

Over the two parts of this interview, Mo offers incredible insight into the culture of German hockey and what makes it unique. Mo’s take on sports psychology and his approach to leadership and Olympic Success are as interesting as they are powerful, and you won’t want to miss them. In this Episode, Part B of the interview,  Mo opens up about growing up in Germany, which included brushing shoulders with some pretty famous sportspeople. From there we talk injuries, leadership and retirement. Please enjoy The Help Side of, Moritz Fürste.

13. The Help Side - Moritz Fürste - Part A

#TheHelpSide Today’s interview is with dual Olympic Gold Medallist and 2012 FIH World Player of the Year, Ex-German International Moritz Fürste. In the decade before his retirement in 2016, few players on the international circuit commanded as much influence on a game than Mo. As regular listeners to the podcast would know, he’s a popular answer for many when they list the best player they have ever played against. Whether it be scoring penalty corners, breaking the game open through the midfield, penetrating opposition defence with his pass or simply imposing his presence with his voice, he was one of those players who you were just constantly aware of. 

Over the two parts of this interview, Mo offers incredible insight into the culture of German hockey and what makes it unique. Mo’s take on sports psychology and his approach to leadership and Olympic Success are as interesting as they are powerful, and you won’t want to miss them. In this, Part A of the interview, we start the interview reminiscing about old times during the Hockey India League, before moving on to a discussion about some of Mo’s most memorable hockey moments, including that victory over the Kookaburras in the 2012 Olympic Semi-Final, which he credits as being one of the greatest games in which he’s ever played. This is hockey royalty folks, please enjoy The Help Side of, Moritz Fürste.