BRENT GODDE: Tell us a bit about your football career?

LUKE BROOKES: I moved to Chiltern when I was 13 and played with the club until I was 35.

BG: For those who don't know you, how would you describe yourself as a footballer?

LB: My skills weren't too bad when I could get hold of the footy. I didn't mind a goal and I had a lot to say out there. Most of my opponents would probably describe me as a lippy footballer.

BG: How old were you when you made your senior debut and what are your memories of that day?

LB: I was 16, it was round 1, 1995 up at Beechworth. Back in those days there was a pretty big rivalry between the two clubs. I remember being fairly nervous and sat on the bench to half-time. I came on and played forward and got a few kicks, so it wasn't too bad.

BG: You ended up playing more than 300 matches for your beloved Swans. Were you ever close to joining another club?

LB: I actually did play one season for Barnawartha in 1999. We won the flag the previous season and I didn't get in the side so I had a bit of a falling out with the coach. Paul Twycross was coach and I didn't get along with him. So I went out to Barnawartha and played under Richard Bence which was a good year and I enjoyed it. I met 30 new mates that I didn't have beforehand and then the following year I returned to Chiltern. It's funny looking back because I now consider Paul a good mate of mine.

BG: What would you consider the highlight of your football career?

LB: Being the captain of the club for three years is hard to go past. I didn't get to play in a senior flag. I played in a reserves and thirds premiership but never seniors. It was definitely an honour to be captain.

BG: Any funny stories/incidents from your playing days that you can share?

LB: I remember one day down at Glenrowan it was a pretty wet sort of day and Glenrowan were struggling back then. A bloke called Darren Pitts who ended up being their last premiership captain, he actually deliberately tackled an umpire through frustration and they both slid for about 15m before stopping at my feet. I was laughing and as he got up he said "stop your laughing and get on with it" and took off again.

BG: Any memorable footy trips away or stories you can share?

LB: I think I have been on 13 trips away and there is plenty of good memories. I used to love my footy trips. I remember we left a teammate, Scott Ronan, behind one year at Canberra. We couldn't find him so we left him there. I had the job of telling his missus when we got home. Thankfully, he had already been in contact with her and caught the bus home. There were no mobile phones back then so we had no idea where he was.

BG: I think the closest Chiltern has come to winning a flag in the TDFL was when runner-up to Mitta United in 2006. What are your memories of that season?

LB: It was a great year. Brendan Way was coach who I rate as the best bloke I've met through football. He was the gel that got the group together and were a good bunch of blokes. It reminds me of this year in that the group has been a terrific bunch to work with. In 2006 we still had fun off the ground but worked hard on the track.

BG: Chiltern is a proud club but it's getting tougher for football clubs to survive. Can you see the club merging in the foreseeable future?

LB: Fingers crossed, I hope not. That's why I got involved to be honest. We were struggling for numbers and heading down that track so I put my hand up to try and help and get some local blokes back. Our biggest problem is juniors and we haven't got a heap of thirds or fourths registered. So all those former players out there, feel free to bring your kids down and get involved again in the great Chiltern football club.

IN OTHER NEWS

BG: What do you think is the biggest issue in country football at the minute?

LB: I think there is so many different options for kids out there. I think parents are taking the easy option and prefer to sit at home and don't want to commit to taking their kids somewhere in the cold and the rain in the middle of winter.

BG: Are you an advocate for the points system and salary cap?

LB: I think it's a good idea and that we are on the right track. The points system is something that you can police. But the salary cap, how do you police that?

BG: Do you think any clubs rort the salary cap?

LB: There is no doubt. If you were a cashed-up club you probably would go for it. But at Chiltern we haven't even got the $80,000 to spend, so we are no chance of going over it.

BG: You were appointed co-coach with Ricky Whitehead last season. How have you enjoyed the challenge of coaching?

LB: I enjoy coaching and two years ago, I didn't even know Rick and hadn't met each other previously. Now he is probably one of my best mates. I'm lucky that I have got a sporting family and my wife let me get back involved in footy after being out of it for a couple of years. The kids are at training every Tuesday and Thursday and then there is the match every Saturday. They love it.

BG: Any friction between Ricky and yourself since you started coaching together?

LB: So far it's been all good. Things may change over the next week or two when the blowtorch is applied in finals. But I've always said you won't make any friends out of coaching but you might lose some.

BG: How would you describe yourself as a coach?

LB: I'm probably old school. If you go to most huddles these days you are bombarded with stats. We don't keep any stats. If I think blokes are bludging, I think I've been around footy long enough to tell and I don't need stats.

BG: From the outside looking in, you strike me as an old fashioned coach who is not afraid to deliver a spray when you feel necessary. Would that be a fair assessment?

LB: Definitely. It's not something that you want to do all the time because you would soon lose the group. But I'm happy to call a spade a spade and I've copped my fair share of sprays over the journey. As long as you don't overuse it or get personal, it's fine.

BG: Have you delivered any memorable sprays so far this season?

LB: The players copped a good one at Tallangatta at quarter time. We were six goals to nothing down at the first change. We ended up winning on the last kick of the day, so it took a while but it got them back into gear.

BG: It's fair to say not many people expected Chiltern's improvement to be so dramatic this season. What has been some of the key factors instrumental to the sudden rise in fortunes?

LB: Ash van Klaveren coming on board as assistant coach has been huge. He is a very passionate footballer and is pretty serious about it all. He took a lot of the pre-season and got the boys nice and fit. Blokes like Rick have also hit the gym over the summer and got themselves a lot fitter. We recruited well, no big money, but blokes like Ben Mason and Marcus Roberts come on board and train hard and set the standard for the boys.

BG: At what point of the season did you realise you could challenge for the flag?

LB: At the start of the year we were hoping to finish top five. But I rate Kiewa-Sandy Creek highly, still do now, and we come from behind at home to beat them in round 8. That gave me a fair bit of belief that we can win this thing. I rate Adam Mudra as the best rival coach.

BG: I'm guessing if you could lead Chiltern to the flag this season it would be a dream come true?

LB: It obviously would, not just for me but the whole town. We haven't won a flag since 1998, so it would be great to put us back on the map. You dare to dream, someone has got to win it and hopefully it's us.

BG: Being a local, would it be fair to say there is an enormous buzz of expectation around the town?

LB: 100 per cent, the gates, the canteen, the bar, everything is up this season. I went down to get the paper and a coffee last Saturday morning at it took me 40 minutes. Everyone wants to pull you up and talk footy. The missus wasn't too happy because she was waiting at home for her coffee.

BG: Big "Slick Rick" has enjoyed an outstanding season. Where does he rate in your favourite Swans players of all time?

LB: Slick has gotta be right up there, especially after kicking 125 goals which history says is an unbelievable achievement. He's in the top three in my time at the club.

BG: Who do you rate as the best Swan in your time at the club?

LB: Ralph Aalbers is the best I have seen and was my first senior coach. Nathan Lappin was also right up there and I get to coach his young bloke, Finn, now.

BG: You can pick one player from a rival club for the finals series. Who would it be and why?

LB: Big Scott Spencer, not just because he won the medal either. Big blokes like him are like gold come finals. Jayden Kotzur is a close second, his ability to finish is the best in the competition.