When Marty Pask
says his job is
hands-on, itâs not
a throwaway line.
Pask, whose AFL career didnât
extend past eight games with the
Brisbane Lions and a season as
a Western Bulldogsâ rookie, is an
AFL player manager.
And, what better way to keep
in contact with clients than at the
coalface of the football field. After
a season with the Uni Blacks in
the VAFA, Pask, 24, has returned
to play more meaningful football
with Werribee.
While he would prefer all
his clients to be playing at the
elite level, circumstances often
see them in the VFL and on the
opposing team.
âA lot of the players I manage I
sometimes play against when they
are not getting an AFL game, and
I get to see them up close,â Pask
said. âThe job and playing for
Werribee compliment each other.
I really admire and respect guys
like (teammate) Scotty Howard,
who is a policeman and has to do
night shifts. You canât fault his
preparation or professionalism.
âHe really juggles it well
and it is a juggling act at
times. You really have to have
a healthy balance.â
During his tenure at the
Western Bulldogs an alignment
existed with Werribee, where Pask
played 16 games for the Tigers.
While many AFL-listed players are
ambivalent to their VFL alignment,
Pask enjoyed his time at Chirnside
Park, finishing third in Werribeeâs
best and fairest.
âI became fond of the place.
I loved Simon Atkinsâ coaching
and all the people around the
football club and I became good
mates with Dom Gleeson, Rob
Castello, Teghan Henderson and
Scotty Howard,â Pask said.
âWhen I came out of the AFL
I needed a year where I found my
AFL player manager catches up with clients on
and off the football field.
feet with my studies and it suited
me at the time to play with the Uni
Blacks. But I missed getting the
best out of myself. I was happy
to get back into the VFL, and
Werribee was an obvious choice.â
It wasnât so much a knock on
Amateur football, but Pask found
he needed greater stimulus. Pask
described the VAFA as a great
standard of football, particularly
A-grade, but where you play
comes down to your situation
in life and what compliments.
He views the VFL as the âlittle
brotherâ of the AFL, where
professionalism, expertise,
skill, speed and expectations
are all high.
âWith Amateur football, you
can half-commit and be okay, but
with VFL you have to fully commit
for eight months.â
And, the added bonus is you
also get to keep in contact with
your clients.
Last Modified on 09/06/2009 21:37