THERE'S nothing better for me than sitting on a surfboard, enjoying the tranquility of the ocean and waiting for the next set of waves to come through.

That's off-season.

As much as I always try to get to the coast through the season it rarely happens, so after a tumultuous fortnight since the end of the season I’m really looking forward to finding a wave at Byron Bay, Ballina or Lennox Heads. Wherever the surf is running.

You watch the finals with genuine envy, wishing you were part of it, but you relish the opportunity to switch off physically and mentally.

The wear and tear on a professional sportsman is enormous. And as much as you wouldn’t trade it for anything, you do look forward to an opportunity to have a break.

Already it’s been an off-season to top all others.

There I was, enjoying a few beers with the boys on the Sunday night after the Lions’ round 22 clash with Sydney, when I noticed a missed call on my mobile phone.

It was from Leigh Matthews. It seemed an odd time for the coach to be ringing, but I ducked outside to listen to the message and quickly returned his call.

What a bombshell! He told me he was giving the coaching job away and wanted to give me a heads-up.

He asked that I not say anything so I went back inside and played dumb. To the boys who knew Leigh had called I said he was just checking we were being sensible.

All the boys had received a message from footy manager Graeme Allan advising that there was a compulsory 9.30am meeting, so it was Mad Monday with a massive difference. First, the meeting to tell us that our coach of 10 years had stepped down, and then a huge media conference.

Thereafter, it was a customary Monday. We took the chance to let the hair down a bit, but the following day we got the next installment. Michael Voss was the new coach. And on the Wednesday morning we had a meeting with Vossy in his new role.

There was a real shock among the playing group that Leigh had decided not to see out the final year of his contract and to be honest I hadn't given that possibility a moment’s thought.

After 11 games under John Northey and 11 under Roger Merrett in my first season in 1998, Leigh had been my coach for 10 years. He’d been a legend in Queensland football and a great inspiration and mentor to everyone who played under him.

But if there’s one thing you learn in the AFL it is only to worry about things over which you have some control. The coach had changed and it was now the playing group’s responsibility to be ready for the start of summer training next month.

Last Thursday I had the obligatory medical check-up and was pleased to get the all-clear. No surgery.

I’ve been fortunate to escape the knife every year except two - I had a groin operation in 2007 after ankle and shoulder surgery in 2004. And as much as you do what you’ve got to do it’s nice to be able to get away without the extra requirements of post-surgery rehabilitation.

I always watch the finals on TV. When you’ve been fortunate enough to play a bit of finals footy, as I have, four years in a row without the chance to play at the business end of the season is a long, long time. And watching it on TV makes you that little bit hungrier to get back there next year.

It’s a busy social time, and in between a surfing holiday I’ve got to fit in the All-Australian dinner, the Brownlow Medal dinner and then the grand final.

I’ll enjoy the chance to catch up with players from interstate, and I love watching the grand final - even if it does make the hunger in you burn that little bit more strongly.

It’s the big stage and it’s where you want to be. I learned very early that finals footy is where reputations are enhanced or diminished, and I love the theatre of the big occasion and all that goes with it.

Afterwards I’ll spend a bit of time in Perth catching up with family and friends, and then it’s back to Brisbane for the Lions Club Champion dinner on October 4. That’ll be a bit different this year - we’ve got a 3km time-trial in the morning just to make sure everyone is staying in reasonable shape.

I reckon the boys have realised pretty quickly that Vossy means business.

The main group is back for summer training on October 27 and I’m tipping it’ll be on from day one. Everyone will be keen to impress the new coach - even us old fellas.

Don’t believe for one second that there will be problems for Vossy because he’s played with a number of the boys. We all understand things have changed and will give him all the respect in the world.

I’ve looked up to him for the moment I walked into the club, and it’ll be no different now he’s got a new job.

The most important thing over the next few weeks is to make sure you give the mind and body a good rest. You’ve got to keep in reasonable shape but you’ve always got to make sure you return to the club refreshed and looking forward to a busy summer campaign.

I hope the surf is running, but I’m looking forward to the start of season No.12 in the AFL as well.

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The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.