Callum Bartlett: It’s going pretty well. I’m into my 7th or 8th week now so am just going through the motions again and trying to get my knee right.
ML: Good on you mate. The Club recently sent you back home to Geelong for a couple of weeks while you were recovering. Was it good to get back home?
CB: Yeah, I spent about five weeks back home and enjoyed myself.
ML: Your missus and your mum would’ve been pretty happy to see you?
CB: I had home cooked meals from mum every night and my missus treated me pretty well so it was good.
ML: You’ve been unlucky considering this is your second knee injury in a row. How are you dealing with the emotional side of it?
CB: Pretty well. I guess there are no surprises this time around. I know what I’m going through. I suppose it’s an advantage going through a second one and knowing what to expect. My mental state is still good. I’m making sure that I stay around the Club as much as possible and keep myself busy.
ML: Which of the boys have been looking after you?
CB: I’ve been spending a bit of time playing FIFA with Niall McKeever and Mitch Golby.
ML: Who’s the best FIFA player at the Brisbane Lions?
CB: It would have to be me.
ML: Just for the record, I’ve actually beaten Cal a couple of times and I’ve seen Niall beat him 9-1 before. He really isn’t that good.
Now that you’ve got another year on the sidelines, what do you hope to achieve during that time? Is one of your goals to put on some more size?
CB: I probably won’t focus on putting on too much size at the moment - I’ve got plenty of time to do that. I might do a bit of boxing and work on my endurance. I don’t want to get too heavy too early.
ML: With the off-season coming up, do you have any plans to go anywhere?
CB: Yeah, I was thinking about going over to Ireland or something at the end of the year. But I’ll have to see how I go…
ML: Sounds good. Now I just want to try a bit of word association with you. I’ll throw you a word and you have to tell me the first thing that comes to mind.
CB: Ok…
ML: Four ‘N Twenty pies?
CB: Beef.
ML: Carlton Midstrength Beer?
CB: I dunno… Midstrength (laughs).
ML: (Lions Strength & Conditioning Manager) Lachlan Penfold?
CB: Good bloke.
ML: Daniel Merrett?
CB: Red.
ML: The Gold Coast?
CB: Average.
ML: Geelong?
CB: Cats.
ML: Weights Room?
CB: Tough.
ML: I think that’ll probably do. Thanks for your time.
