The day Pigeon star John Brunner left me stranded: Tim Hargreaves

BK: You started playing senior footy as a 15-year-old at Berrigan and are running around at Rennie at 43. Why?

TH: I've played it my whole life I guess. I've tried to retire a few times but I didn't know what to do with myself. I got into golf for a while but I missed the footy and just being around the boys. I haven't let myself go too much so I'll play for as long as I can. Everyone reckons I'm stupid but you only live once don't you. I loved playing last season at Rennie under 'Snout' (Craig Ednie).

BK: Being a bank manager's son you traveled around a fair bit as a kid and played some different sports didn't you?

TH: I pretty much played rugby league as a kid until I was 15. We lived in Bombala and Cooma and they were league towns. Then we moved to Walla Walla for two years and that's where I first learnt to play a bit. Kelly Donovan, Daniel Hulm and a few others taught me how to handball and kick in the juniors. Then we moved to Harden-Murrumburrah and it was rugby league again. I remember playing in an under-15 premiership there with my brother Danny who is a bit younger. We just played whatever was played in the town. You just fit into what the town offers I suppose.

BK: Then off to Berrigan?

TH: Yep, we went to Berrigan at the end of 1990 and that's where I got serious about my footy I guess. I didn't make the Teal Cup side in my first year but I made it the following year, then the All-Australian team and I got drafted from there.

BK: It all happened quickly then?

TH: Two years pretty much and I was down at Hawthorn. Dad went for Hawthorn so we watched them play in a lot of grand finals and then the next minute I'm walking down the stairs at Glenferrie Oval and here's Dunstall and Brereton and all these guys are in the weights room.

BK: You couldn't have asked for a better start to your AFL career

TH: We played West Coast over there and it was Andy Collins' 150^th game. We were under the pump a bit at the time and I was lucky enough to kick goals with my first three kicks and finish with four for the day.

BK: How good was that?

TH: It was pretty special. We had a good celebration.

BK: You played 42 games at Hawthorn and 20 at Geelong, how do you look back on those days?

BK: I wish I could change a few things a little bit. I don't think I appreciated what I had. I just thought it would happen and I'd be there forever. I had six years before being moved on. We still trained hard but it was more about looking after yourself a bit better. I was only a young fella and pretty easily led I guess.

BK: You had some good highs along the way though?

TH: I did. I kicked five in a half against Melbourne and bobbed up a few times in other games, but as you know it's pretty cut throat. I loved it but it went so quick. I've got some great memories and made some great friends.

BK: How did you find your way to Yarrawonga in 1999?

TH: Through 'Steak' (Peter Seymour). We played in the inter-league side together for the Murray league while I was at Berrigan and we just struck up a friendship. We would always come up here with the Hawthorn boys for Rockalonga and Peaches and Cream so I knew the area pretty well. I didn't have too many offers when I finished so it made sense. I've pretty much been here since with the exception of a few years at East Ringwood.

BK: The 2006 flag would be the highlight I guess?

TH: It was. When I first came to Yarra the club was in a tough spot after not winning many games for a while. I remember we played in a practice game at Myrtleford and won and everyone was going off. I just thought 'what's going on here'. It was like winning a flag. We went back on the bus and were on the drink and everyone was dancing back at Pistols. It was a progression from there though as we would pick up a few recruits each year and it just built up to 2006.

BK: What are your memories of 2006 ?

TH: Things just fell into place. Players like Marcus McMillan came back halfway through the year and we had a good mix of youth and experience. Kicking 10.7 in the first quarter in the grand final against Myrtleford was obviously fantastic and we weren't going to lose from there. I think we were all just in the zone that day. We had a good side the year after as well but went out in straight sets.

BK: What was Bob Craig like as coach?

TH: He's a great fella 'Craigy' and was a very good coach. He's a people's person and easy to talk to. He got Josh Frawley which was amazing because it allowed us to play Marc Lonergan down back. 'Frawls' didn't train but he was a machine. I think that's why 'Snouta', Xave Leslie and Jason Wild had such great seasons because he kept putting the ball down their throats. He was playing basketball and 'Craigy' just got him from nowhere really. It all came together for us.

BK: You played up forward and through the midfield at Yarra. Who were some of your toughest opponents?

TH: When I was up forward Matty Allen was a hard opponent and we had some good battles and then in the middle Robbie Walker, Corey Lambert and  'Ocka' Dickins were all good players. I respected them all.

BK: You've played with some absolute guns, who are the stand-outs?

TH: I'd say John Brunner and Craig Ednie. They were champion players for the club.

BK: Tell us a bit about Brunner because he likes to keep a low profile

TH: He was a champion bloke and footballer and just so dedicated. I'd say he's a different unit though. I remember we played a game for the Ovens and Murray at Waverley and the next day we were travelling back together. He's got a really schmick car and nearly makes you take your shoes off when you get in. Anyway he said he wanted to stop in at Wang on the way home to see someone who had just had a baby so I told him to drop me off at a pub for a quick beer. An hour or two had passed and still no Johnny. I didn't have a mobile so I didn't know what was going on. He'd disappeared and I had to find a lift home. The next day I ran into Johnny and I asked him what had happened. He was filthy at me because he reckons I'd changed his radio station from Triple J to 96.9 or something. I couldn't believe it.

BK: Any square up?

TH: A few of the boys got him. His house was always immaculate so they broke in one day and rearranged his couches, chairs and tables and all that sort of stuff. Johnny didn't talk to them for a month.

BK: He was named in the Ovens and Murray's Team of the Century last month but didn't go, did that surprise you?

TH: Not at all, I wasn't surprised at all to be honest. Johnny's a really shy person and likes to keep to himself. I remember he wasn't going to the Morris Medal the year he won it in 2000 either but Wally Brear called him on the night and said you'd better get your arse here because you win. He made it just in time. Even when you pass Johnny down the street on his bike, he'll just put his head down a bit and give you a little wave. He's a shy person but a ripper.

BK: You coached Mulwala for two years. How did that go?

TH: 2010 and 2011 I think it was. We played in the grand final the first year and got done after losing only two games which was disappointing. I don't think I'll coach again. I don't think my temperament is right for it. You obviously have to string boys' egos along and worry about the supporters and that sort of thing so it's a hard gig. The Mulwala boys were great and I made some good friends but you probably have to be made for coaching.

BK: What are your plans from here?

TH: Work is going well with North East and Riverina Window Cleaning and we're getting into contract cleaning at schools now too so things are pretty busy at the moment. We get around to all the neighbouring towns and are trying to build the business up.

BK How many years can you keep playing?

TH: I'm not sure but I'm loving my footy without the pressure. I played two games up forward early last year without training. I kicked six goals the first week and the next I was terrible and nearly gave it away. I took a month off to train by myself and then 'Snout' asked what I thought about playing at full-back. I'd never played there before and I loved it. Chase Strawhorn was playing up forward and kicking plenty so it was a bit of freedom. I played the last six or eight games at full-back and wish I done it earlier in my career.