DANIEL FLYNN only managed two games since our June edition of What's the Craic, after being suspended for two games for a head-high bump against the Eagles.
In that time he's continued to work on the development of his skills and fitness and has trimmed down in time for his return against the Roosters at Alberton on Saturday.
All things going to plan, he should play the final six games of the minor round, including matches against the Crows, Panthers, Bulldogs, Redlegs and Tigers.
He continues to break lines and find good options around the ground with his incredible running prowess, now his task is to consistently put the hard yards in on the track to produce consistent effort in games.
You can see Flynny's return against the Roosters on Saturday 12 July at Alberton Oval in the League game commencing at 2:10pm.
Matthew Agius: You've had two forced weeks off due to suspension, what have you been up to in that time?
Daniel Flynn: I did a bit of extra training, my leg was at me for a bit so I didn't do a lot of extra running though, I spent time in the sweatbox.
MA: And what about from a skills perspective? Have you done any extra work there?
DF: I've been doing plenty of extra craft, that's been good. Ken wants me to work on my bouncing - he wants me to bounce it more - so they've been firing the ball up to me, and I've had to run onto and collect it. I need to have more control with the ball when guys run closer to me, so I've been working on that and my kicking, hand balling, marking - all the other stuff - as well.
MA: You were scrubbed out for two weeks for a head-high bump, how did that incident unfold and what did you take away from it?
DF: I've seen the ball on the ground and the Eagles player [Chris Kane] going for it, and I thought I could probably get him out of bounds, so I started running towards it. I probably forgot that you can't really hit them before they have the ball, so I slowed down a bit and waited for him to get possession, but as he did he sort of turned and I got him high. There wasn't any malice in it - just accidental - but I don't want to do it again.
MA: Last time we spoke, you talked about how you were getting new things to work on each week by the coaches, do you know what your role might be when you return?
DF: I've been going through my games each week, but I think it will be fairly simple: try and stop my man getting the ball and help attack when we have it.
MA: You'll be our only League player who isn't born in Australia or to Australian parents in this weekend's Multicultural Round. Can you give us an update on your relocation and how life in the Australian game is going for you?
DF: It hasn't been easy, but it has been good playing in the SANFL for the start of my time here. It's a community club and everyone's always back in the rooms after the games, so it's a bit like being back home in that respect. The coaches and volunteers are always around encouraging you and giving you tips, so life at Port has been very good - it makes you feel welcome to play the game, over from a different country.
MA: Have you been involved in the club's multicultural programs?
DF: I spent a bit of time with 'Bobby' [Alipate Carlile] visiting some schools, but I actually spend more of my time working with Russell Ebert in the Community Youth Program.
MA: There's six games left in the minor round, can you share some of your goals and objectives for the rest of the season?
DF: For me, I'm just taking every week as it comes. The progress is coming slowly and I'm trying to string together good performances and learn from my mistakes. The way I look at it, I'm not going out there expecting to play a storm and get picked in the top side, or even the SANFL side, I still need to learn the game and how it works. It will happen week to week and come with the experience of playing the game.
MA: You came over here and emerged as a very fit, hard running player, but you were managed through some of your early games to prevent you 'blowing up'. Do you think you're running games out better now than you were back then?
DF: I used to be wrecked at half time! It's a long game and in the second half I felt exhausted from the work this game requires. I've trimmed down a bit in the two weeks I've had off and that should help me run the game out more efficiently for the rest of the year...and I'll keep working on the track!
MA: Thanks for the update, Flynny, and best of luck with the return to footy.
DF: Cheers - I'll see everyone out there on Saturday.
