LEO BARRY

Edited transcript of live chat with Leo Barry, Sydney Swans. Tuesday, 26th of April 2000

Interviewer: Welcome Leo, thanks for joining us tonight, how are you ?
Leo Barry: Very good thanks.

Interviewer: Elroy: Who is the funniest of the Swans players and why ?
Leo Barry: Darren Creswell - just because of all the practical jokes that he pulls.

Interviewer: Juz: Hi Leo! So when did you first beginning playing AFL ?
Leo Barry: In 1995 I had my first season.

Interviewer: Rebecca: How do you think you will go against Carlton ?
Leo Barry: Hopefully we'll do a bit better than we have in the last month or so, but hopefully everyone will be pretty fired up to have a victory and get onto the winners list!

Interviewer: Elroy: Why do all the players wear black armbands ?
Leo Barry: On the weekend you mean - one of the ex-Swans players passed away during the week and that was why - in a mark of respect.

Interviewer: BARNESY: Leo, who do you think was the best on ground on Saturday night ?
Leo Barry: That's a tough one .... Garry Hocking.

Interviewer: Saddos_girl: Hey Leo, who do you think will be the key players against Carlton ?
Leo Barry: Adam Goods, Jason Law... and Wayne Scwhass!

Interviewer: Hi Leo, do you eat any special type of foods for your performance ?
Leo Barry: Alot of high carbohydrates eg. pasta, rice, fruit..... McDonalds!

Interviewer: Who were your idols when you were growing up, sporting or otherwise. Was there a particular player you tried to model yourself on ?
Leo Barry: Peter Daicos and Garry Ablett would have been who I tried to model myself on.

Interviewer: Leo you are great, do you have a girlfriend ?
Leo Barry: Yes!

Interviewer: Elroy: Is everyone glad to be not playing at the SCG this week after losing 4 times in a row ?
Leo Barry: Yes - very much so.

Interviewer: Do you look forward to the off season ?
Leo Barry: Yes, very much so. It's a good time to relax and let my hair down. (laugh)

Interviewer: I_luv_ian_thorpe: Hi leo, do Jude Bolton and Jason Saddington have girlfriends ?
Leo Barry: Jason does, and Jude's always on offer.

Interviewer: What was the best piece of advice you were given as a junior ? Do you have any pearls of wisdom for any youngsters out there now ?
Leo Barry: Just make sure you enjoy football as a kid, don't take it too seriously... and have fun! That was the advice I was given and I'd pass it on!

Interviewer: Kaizen: Is there going to be a gala dinner again after the Melbourne/Sydney game ?
Leo Barry: I'm not sure!

Interviewer: Football has changed a lot in the past 10 years. What do you regard as some of the best and the worst changes ?
Leo Barry: The best is getting paid more, and the worst is you have to train more! (laugh)

Interviewer: Bazza: Leo, how's Gerrard's yogi coming along ?
Leo Barry: Deplorable!

Interviewer: Hi Leo, do you follow any other sports ?
Leo Barry: I follow tennis, golf, and women's mud-wrestling! (laugh)

Interviewer: Do you have time to see any good movies - when relaxing ?
Leo Barry: Yes, the most recent one being 'Erin Brokovich' which was a great flick.

Interviewer: Leo, do you get used to the travelling ? And how much to you do ?
Leo Barry: We travel 13 to 14 times a year, interstate - and it's sometimes good to get away from home, especially as you get looked after ie. hotels, food.

Interviewer: Bazza: Leo, why do they call you Jumping Leo ?
Leo Barry: It's actually 'Leaping Leo', it's something the commentator Sandy Roberts started.

Interviewer: When is Paul Kelly due back ?
Leo Barry: Round 12 I think - he's progressing really well and has been running and kicking lately.

Interviewer: Elroy: Where and what do you guys do after winning a game ?
Leo Barry: Enjoy the victory with each other - and sometimes venture out and have a few quiet beers.

Interviewer: Kaizen: Will most of the players be doing the netclub chat ?
Leo Barry: Yes.

Interviewer: BARNESY: How do you think you went on the weekend Leo ?
Leo Barry: Reasonable first half, but wasn't sighted in the second.

Interviewer: How hard is it to maintain your consistency over the season ?
Leo Barry: Extremely hard, if it was easy - everyone would be a really good player!

Interviewer: elroy> who is the cheekiest swans player ? Why ?
Leo Barry: Cheekiest player - let me think... Ryan Fitzgerald, because he's just an all-round comedian.

Interviewer: How long have you been playing AFL ?
Leo Barry: Since I was 17, 1995 was my first season.

Interviewer: Kaizen: Can the Swans play for four full quarters ?
Leo Barry: They can, but it's certainly not a feature at the moment.

Interviewer: Elroy: So what's gonna happen to Brad Seymour ?
Leo Barry: Can you elaborate on that one ?

Interviewer: I heard on TV about the Sport Psychologist working on the team, how's it going ?
Leo Barry: It's working well - I think. Most players are getting something out of it.

Interviewer: Saddos_girl: Leo - did any of the players get Valentine's Day gifts or do any of them get stuff for their birthdays from fans ?
Leo Barry: Most players do - especially Bolts and Nicksy.

Interviewer: Boo> I'd like to compliment you on your courageous gameplay Leo, I've admired you for a long time, how do you think team morale is at the moment ?
Leo Barry: Actually it's not too bad considering the losses we've had. The reason being we've only lost by such little margins, and the future should be bright.

Interviewer: Do you have time for other interests besides football ?
Leo Barry: Golf, and a lot of Nintendo!

Interviewer: Did you always want to play AFL or did you try other sports first ?
Leo Barry: I used to play a lot of cricket, but AFL was the game that I was better at!

Interviewer: Do you think about playing different positions ?
Leo Barry: I haven't really got much choice, the coach pretty much determines that. But I'm happy where I'm playing - forward flank. If I could play anywhere I guess it'd be Buck Rover.

Interviewer: Elroy: Do most Swans players live near the SCG or around the centre of Sydney ?
Leo Barry: Yeah, most of us live in the Eastern Suburbs - Maroubra, Kingsford.

Interviewer: Do you come from Sydney Leo ? or did you move here to join the Swans ?
Leo Barry: Yeah, I moved here from a country town called Deniliquin. That was in 1994. I attended boarding school up here for a year before I started playing for the Swans.

Interviewer: How much longer do you think you will play AFL ?
Leo Barry: Twenty years - I wish (laugh) Seriously, probably 8 or 9 years.

Interviewer: Saddos_girl: Did you get homesick when you first left home to come and play for the Swans ?
Leo Barry: Yes, I did. I certainly missed the home cooked meals.

Interviewer: Elroy: Do you feel proud talking to your fave fans ?
Leo Barry: Very much so! It's great to be able to do this.

Interviewer: Sharkieben: Would you rather play At Colonial Stadium or the SCG ?
Leo Barry: The SCG for sure!!

Interviewer: Juz: Do you think Jude Bolton will reside with the Swans for a few more years ? Or will this be his last year with the Swans ?
Leo Barry: No, I think Jude will have a long and prosperous career with the Swans. He's very much a part of the side!

Interviewer: Boo: Leo, we see a lot of players with taped up shoulders these days, is this a real problem or more of a confidence thing as far as support goes ?
Leo Barry: Probably more of a confidence thing - especially after having shoulder surgery. But it also does help support.

Interviewer: Sharkieben: How Did Plugger inspire you ?
Leo Barry: Just with the fact that he kicked so many goals over such a long period of time, and the fact that he was so down to earth.

Interviewer: Saddos_girl: Do any of you guys write back to fan mail or is there just too much of it ?
Leo Barry: Depending on the individual, but I think most, or all players, return fan mail.

Interviewer: Sharkieben: Do you think the NRL has less injurys than the AFL ?
Leo Barry: No, I don't think so. It's just as much of a physical game, and with that comes injuries.

Interviewer: Elroy: What was your worst injury ?
Leo Barry: Shoulder reconstruction. I had dislocated shoulders in 98 and 99 and subsequently had 2 shoulder reconstructions.

Interviewer: BARNESY: How many goal's would you kick in a season ?
Leo Barry: Not enough - but this year I'm hoping to kick between 30 and 40.

Interviewer: Do you use the internet much yourself ?
Leo Barry: No - but I'm purchasing a computer soon and will be hooked up to the web next week.

Interviewer: Many thanks Leo, it has been really great talking to you. Good luck with the season.
Leo Barry: Thanks to everyone - keep looking out for the Swannies this year - and keep up the support - it's always much appreciated!

Interviewer: Thanks to all our chatters and the chat team, don't forget you can chat "footy" 24 hrs a day in the Sydney Swans Chat Room, www.SydneySwans.com.au