Today OzPunt is talking with Punter Simon Anderson from the UBC Thunderbirds (Canada)

OzPunt:
Hello Simon?

Simon:
Hello Mr Ozpunt.

OzPunt:
Simon, you’re a Melbourne boy with an AFL background, and had never played a game of American Football before heading to Canada, so did someone have to show you how to put all the equipment on?

Simon:
Yeah. It's lucky they have a coach or manager for everything. The equipment manager had to show me the ropes and checked all my gear for me. From knee pads, thigh pads, hip pads, pants, belt, shoulder pads, and helmet. Considering they have blokes ranging from 160 to 340 pounds (75kg-150kg) they have about every size and shape of padding there. The first session I was wearing my AFL running shorts. Anything above the knee was considered a short pair of shorts so my AFL shorts definitely made a lasting impression on the first day.

OzPunt:
You arrived in Canada on time for pre season training, how did that compare to pre season training with your local AFL club?

Simon:
Being the punter is potentially the easiest job in the world. Potentially the easiest although you must do what you do well, when they need you to do it! This can be for maybe only 10 or 15 minutes for training. Therefore there was no long endurance running or heavy aerobic exercises. Just leg specific strengthening. Remaining focussed was also a new challenge considering you're on the ground for such a little amount of time.

OzPunt:
We hear stories that there are a lot of players on a normal American Football team, how many players were on your team?

Simon:
About 100.

OzPunt:
What was the hardest thing you had to adjust to with American football as opposed to AFL?

Simon:
Not getting enough game time was difficult. It is also less forgiving. If you make a mistake in your specific play (here punting), there's little to no room to follow up the mistake like in AFL. Plus I also missed being able to tackle and being involved in the physical aspect of the game as I was now one of the smallest guys in the team involved as the punter. This meant I was treated like porcelain as they regard you as a special species of player that has a special gift in being able to kick the ball.

OzPunt:
I believe you lived on Campus at UBC, how did you find it being a football player living on campus? Did you get any special treatment?

Simon:
Living on campus was great. There was always someone from the football team to hang out with. Plus Canadian girls are nice which was a bonus.

OzPunt:
Is it like on TV, did a cheer leader do your home work for you because you were on the football team?

Simon:
Unfortunately not many cheer leaders study mechanical engineering so I was on my own in that department.

OzPunt:
What was the football highlight while you were in Canada?

Simon:
Standing inches away from the opening game on the side line against crosstown rivals under Friday night lights.

OzPunt:
How well did the Canadians accept an Aussie boy as part of the team?

Simon:
Being able to make instant friends by quoting Crocodile Dundee was a new experience. The boys would gather round and make me say "put another shrimp on the barbie, mate" just for laughs. A was quite a novelty

OzPunt:
Would you recommend other Aussies try their hand at American Football?

Simon:
Absolutely. The Americans love it.

OzPunt:
What advice would you give to someone trying to follow in your footsteps?

Simon:
Canada was a great experience, but if you want serious football, go to the US. Be your own personality and believe in what you do. Don't let anyone else stand in your way. Practice, practice, practice.

OzPunt:
If you could go back and do it all again, would you?

Simon:
I would go to the United States for sure.