Former North Albury star Dom Brew on cage fighting and why Dan Leslie is No.1

BRETT KOHLHAGEN: While I'm keen to talk footy, let's start with cage fighting. You've had two bouts haven't you?

DOM BREW: I've had a win and a loss in the amateurs. I've done Jiu Jitsu all my life because my dad is a black belt at Synergy in South Albury. His mate, John Mee, was my coach and I used to train flat out down there when I was at school. I've always mucked around on the bags and things like that and one day I told Johnny I wanted to have a fight.

BK: So away you went?

DB: I trained really hard and flew up to the Gold Coast when I was about 18. I lost that one but came back from it really keen and went back and had a win. I was going to fight again later that year but it didn't happen because I hurt my shoulder playing footy.

BK: It must be a real adrenaline rush?

DB: I'll go back to it when the time is right once footy settles down a bit. My goal in life is to have 10 pro fights. I'm only 23 so I have a bit of time on my side. I've figured it out, I should have my 100 games at Werribee when I'm 26 or so and then I'll be in my prime.

BK: You sound like your hooked on it?

DB: I was only 18 and fighting grown men but it was god fun. I loved the challenge. I can't explain it, but it's the best fun I've ever had. I just love contact sports and getting locked in a ring is the ultimate test isn't it?

BK: That probably explains a little why you're known as a tackling machine at Werribee in the VFL?

DB: I love that part of the game. I think I averaged 10.5 a game last season. They say I got the most in Australia. I killed it, I think I got 220. I don't muck around (laughs). Seriously though, I just try and do my role week in, week out. We have a good system with Tom Gribble, Matt Hanson and myself in the middle. I predominantly try and hunt the footy and cause the spillage and Tommy and Matt go from there.

BK: You've played almost 50 senior matches for Werribee since leaving North Albury at the end of 2016. Like everyone I guess you're frustrated to be missing out on playing footy at the moment?

DB: For sure, I was coming off a pretty good season and wanted to get into it. I want to play as many games as I can. As I said I'd like to play 100 games for the club and win a flag. I think we are close to doing that at Werribee.

BK: Your first VFL coach John Lamont told you exactly where you stood when you arrived at Werribee didn't he?

DB: Coming from the Ovens and Murray, I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder. We went out for tea one night and he sat me down and told me what was what and how far off it I actually was. Since then I put my head down and worked as hard as I could because after doing my stint at Albury I didn't want to play reserves ever again.

BK: You have played with a heap of Ovens and Murray players at Werribee in recent years like Nathan Laracy, Jake Sharp, Nick Meredith, Brydan Hodgson, Matt Munro, Josh Porter and Nick Coughlan. I imagine that helped you make a successful transition to the VFL?

DB: It's been great. At Werribee, it's literally like a country club. Nick Coughlan, Matt Munro and myself played Albury Auskick together and were in Werribee's leadership group last year. We don't have many city kids at the club at all. There has been a heap come out of the Murray Bushrangers.

BK: One of those players told me to ask you a few questions about your interesting eating habits.

DB: Here we go, that would be Jake Sharp or Munro.

BK: Let's start with your infamous meat salad. I'm told you used to cook sausages, steak, rissoles and bacon, dice it all up and eat it out of the same bowl?

DB: That's true. I just throw it in there. I'm pretty plain and simple. 'Sharpy' is no gourmet chef himself (laughs)

BK: What about putting a steak in the sandwich press and eating it?

DB: I take a George Foreman to work, get a meat pack or a couple of steaks and grill them during smoko and just have them.

BK: And finally, six eggs on toast?

DB: When I moved to Melbourne I'd get home too late from training so I'd just throw a heap of them on some toast. I couldn't cook much else anyway.

BK: You have two sisters, Issy and Evy, and Isabella goes out with former Albury player Max Lynch who now plays for Collingwood. Have you two clashed in the VFL?

DB: We've crossed paths a few times. I don't like giving him praise but he single-handedly won a game for Collingwood against us once. We had kicked five goals in a row and then he took four or five massive marks to stop us. If it had to be one bloke to stop us, it was my sister's boyfriend.

BK: You're confident Dan Leslie could have played VFL or even AFL aren't you?

DB: He's the best player I've played with, a superstar. I reckon he should have played league footy. He's six-foot two or three, 92kg and when I played with him he was 34 playing in the midfield and still getting heaps of the footy. That's Patty Cripps' height. It's ridiculous. He was an absolute superstar.

BK: You believe the decision to cross from Albury to North Albury made you as a player don't you?

DB: I'm really grateful to North Albury and 'Aker' (Jason Akermanis) as I would never have been doing this. today. I'm sure if you asked Shaun Mannagh about 'Aker' he would say the same thing. 'Aker' copped that much shit when he was at North Albury it wasn't funny and people just didn't know what they were talking about. He was just misunderstood. 'Aker' is a legend of the game and right up there with the best when it comes to footy knowledge.