At the Bar with Joe Carmody
INSIDER: How good, a spot in the grand final! Gee you've earned it - you're about to head into a seventh game in a row against top six opposition let alone Melton. Is there anything left in the tank?
JOE CARMODY: The boys have shown so much character to make it - we'll recharge give it a good crack!
INSIDER: Rewarding Monday night for the club and you personally winning the 2024 BFNL Coach of the Year - firstly share your initial feelings upon receiving the award and secondly describe Henderson Medal winner Matty Johnston and third place Mickitja Rotumah-Onus.
JC: Firstly, it was a great night for the club and the support, players, very uniting for the group. An award for the whole club really. Secondly, MJ - one of the most courageous I’ve come across in footy and MRO - superstar on and off the field.
INSIDER: Are there any similarities between the Ballarat side you led to a preliminary final in 2022 and this current group you have at East Point?
JC: Similar quality characters - pleasure to coach.
INSIDER: East Point improved from 7th in defence (2023 - 75pts AGST avg) and 5th in offence (2023 - 93pts FOR avg) to 2nd in both areas (51 pts AGST avg, 108pts FOR avg) behind Melton. Scoring has never been a problem at East but was a team defence a primary focus of the club post your appointment?
JC: Yes we identified that and spent lot of time working without the footy.
INSIDER: Scoreboard aside, what's the one stat you'd like to win on Saturday?
JC: Contested ball
INSIDER: What is your #1 non-negotiable asked of the players each week?
JC: Play your role
INSIDER: Playing group aside, is there another battle going on on-field between coaches - are some harder to play against than others - do some work out your theories better than others where you need to adapt on the run?
JC: Each coach brings something different. Quality depth in stocks make it a challenging role from week to week.
INSIDER: Who is your harshest critic?
JC: My kids!
INSIDER: Favorite BFNL ground away from Eastern Oval?
JC: City Oval
INSIDER: What other sport could you coach at a high level if there were no footy?
JC: Cricket
INSIDER: In a freakish sense, which player at the club can do things on-field that others can't?
JC: Jordy Johnston
INSIDER: Who at the club has the most upside from a junior perspective?
JC: Alex Molan
INSIDER: Who is the most fundamentally skilled player at the club?
JC: Jackson Merrett
INSIDER: Who is your favorite footy person at the club?
JC: Todd Sporton
INSIDER: Are you a footy head - how do you consume your footy each week?
JC: 10/10 - all platforms covered (local and AFL)
INSIDER: If you had to cook for the whole club what would be your signature dish of approval?
JC: Toast
INSIDER: Invite 5 people whoever you like to sit at the dinner table with you…
JC: My wife Amy, Jacob Brown, Harry Sheezel, Todd Sporton, Marcus Bontempelli
INSIDER: Who at the club would most likely win a million dollars on a quiz show?
JC: Matty Johnston!
INSIDER: Who at the club thinks they're funnier than they really are?
JC: Kane Irvin
INSIDER: Name a player that has any unusual, weird superstitions ahead of game time...
JC: Tom Conlan, always late! He calls it 'superstition'!
INSIDER: Favorite AFL club and player?
JC: North Melbourne, Harry Sheezel
INSIDER: If you could add three players from other BFNL clubs to your list, who would you pick?
JC: Brett Bewley (Darley), Braedan Kight (Melton), Riley Polkinghorne (North Ballarat).
