Ricky Stuart Edit

Fri, Feb 03, 2023 9:36PM • 35:42

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

players, coach, game, ricky, club, coaching, boys, people, canberra, important, play, bit, ron, competitive, footballers, win, leader, relationships, threw, week

SPEAKERS

Paul Barnett, Ricky Stuart

Paul Barnett 00:00

Hey Ricky Stuart. Good morning. Well, good morning, my time. Good afternoon, your time and welcome to the Great coach's podcast.

Ricky Stuart 00:07

Hey, Paul, you've got me training field actually, it's what time is it here now through 28, six o'clock 6am. Your time is 3:28pm our time and we're just about a rep down, day out.

Paul Barnett 00:17

Ricky, tell me a little bit about your day. Where are you in the world? And what have you been doing so far?

Ricky Stuart 00:23

in Canberra, the capital of Australia, we're into our fifth week of preseason work at the moment where I've got approximately 4040 players training with us at the moment, we've just finished our Rugby League World Cup. And I've got I think it's approximately eight players are in the World Cup. So they, they don't join the squad until early January. So these guys a number of other senior boys who were involved in or have been here at the club for a while they're back training. They've been back for two weeks now. But these other young guys have got a lot of trial train players and troll train means they are given the opportunity to come in and train with the intensity of an NRL player, teach them how to train as an NFL player, as a professional athlete. A lot goes with that in regards to diet, preparation, lifestyle, and giving them the opportunity to live their intensity and develop their skill and see if they're good enough to get an opportunity after Christmas and an opportunity moving into the trial matches and given the chance to hopefully one day realize their dream. Like I get very excited coaching younger players, I still get a great buzz out of seeing young young football players, ground developers, as footballers, and more importantly, with young men, it's nice being in the position where you can give people an opportunity to realize that dream that they've had since they've been a young boy at school. And it's something that I've lived firsthand dream dreamt of being a footballer, so to speak at school, what do you want to do when you leave school I want to play footy. And that was very been very fortunate that that dream come true for me. So a lot of good people along the way. I've been very fortunate with the people around me great mentors and people who have been given the wonderful opportunities we're going to

Paul Barnett 02:03

talk a little bit about dreams and mentors and and your experience leading young men but I want to go start a little bit with this mentors comment you just made because you've had some you've had first hand experiences some pretty great coaches Tim Sheen's Phil Gould Bob Fulton just to name three and I know that Melman Inc has the Australian coaches, a friend of yours as well. But, Ricky, you having worked up close with these people, having seen them operate? What is it? You think the great coaches do differently? That sets them apart?

Ricky Stuart 02:32

Yeah, well, Mel, Mel was one of those coaches, Joe had a couple of years on the mill in Canberra. And when he first started coaching, and we are great friends still and he lives not too far away. We often, myself now and Glen Lazarus, grab breakfast, once every three or four weeks and chew the fat. But those coaches you mentioned, Tim, Shane's was my club club coach for about eight years, I think it was. And then Phil Gould and Bob Fulton were my representative coaches filled with New South Wales buffer with Australia. I also worked with Bob, he was one of my head selectors, or the chairman of selectors for New South Wales in Australia, when I was coaching those

but they're very similar coaches in many aspects, to be honest, for some common traits were how strategic they were in preparation, usually usually competitive men who had a great strength in their main management and building a relationship with individuals and therefore entertain and they were very good at creating environments that made you feel special as a boy, and made you feel special as a person and they got trust, you know, I can only talk from my own experience in my opinions, but they got trust for me from their personalities are very close with the three of them. [PB1]

Obviously, I spent a lot of time with those, those men and Phil Gould got me into coaching. In 2002, I was quite young and only been out of the game for one year, coached under 20 level and then moved into coaching in a real level. And I was very young, played with and against a number of the players that I was coaching and I still remember the days they were still ringing me and asked me I actually said no, I'm not ready and and he said, I'll help you and make you ready. That was probably the catalyst in regards to getting the across the line. Because I didn't want to fail, where they individually, I suppose shine was with Tim he teams innovation and attention to detail towards the training and the preparation to playing a game of football was world class. He really knew his player he got he worked hard at knowing his player and what what was happening outside football, his family, sorry, the players families. gasp was he's a master orator, a wonderful presenter. And you I'm sure you've seen hearing in the media with his role today with Channel Nine. But his presentation, and the three men with their knowledge of the game was tremendous. Phil is presentation in game planning. He was ahead of the game. He's studying and understanding opposition's strengths, weaknesses, previewing their plan, tech plan. He was very, very good in presenting it to players teams. I mean, there was a game 1989 We played Canterbury, and this result was very important for both teams to make the five we ended up coming fifth that year. When the comp no I didn't I didn't know and one of the greatest grand finals that was applied. And I remember playing in Perth against the Bulldogs feel good feel good cakes team and it was a very very important game to have the big teams playing to make the five there was around 20 of a 22 game competition. We ended up beating the dogs on the bill in a very crucial win. And I've unhinge accent the Triumph I remember being half back in the first pass off the rocky the first passing transition of your plays and in the strategy of your attack. Honestly, I was smothered all day I felt his ideal opposition players coming up out of the ground and tackling me and California attack. And as a young boy, I just thought that I was off I thought that I didn't understand what it was all about until I learned the game more on you then taught myself and then when all said gas has an origin coach I knew what he's planning was like it was his previewing of games that you they now afford our attack and it was a little bit of instinctive attack that actually got the try for us and now scored it in the end of a break made by Ivan but we're not winning that game and going on when the grand final and I thought I was getting choked by defenders coming out of the ground anyway, it's credit to a coaching ability of strategically setting your defense for V that attacking plan and, and great mate of mine Bob Fulton who lightbulb formula was only recently passed. It was quite ironic really because Bozo known as Bob Fulton Bozo who played in England catch me on both routers and World Cup in England 9092 94 World Cup kangaroo tours aim him and Tom are joining us were my two idols. Still remember the scrapbook my mother made from the self in had bob on the front and both Tom on the back and then my favorite plays as a boy. And I was very fortunate to be able to vacation work with Bozo but he's he's strategy and game playing like Tim and gas was very, very methodical, but competitor, never ever seen a bigger, greater competitor in bulk for them. Whether it was cards, whether it was marbles, whether it was coins, whether it was a Ghana football, I never never ever witnessed a greater competitive than those only played that way too, and which is why he's in the middle of the game.

But for me, those types of coaches and mentors along the way of my career has probably helped me definitely helped me to get into the position and have the longevity and coaching.

Paul Barnett 07:17

Well, I want to talk to you a little bit about that scrapbook later on. But I would like to talk about your daughter because it was a milkshake that Emma threw at you, which ultimately set you on the path to open up the Ricky Stuart Foundation to help to help families in Canberra. And I know you're trying to extend that now to other places around Australia. But I wanted to just ask you, Ricky How is Emma's challenges to communicate helped in turn when it comes to you communicating with these 40 young men, which you referenced, when the interview started?

Ricky Stuart 07:47

It's a very good question, the milkshake that was thrown at me boy and we were in McDonald's, she loves McDonald's, actually, she's nonverbal. And it's very hard for her to get her message across to parents or brothers, teachers when she was at school, etc. And we went into McDonald's and she a lot of her language is through pictures, photos. We know her carers make up story books along the way. And that's how she can get in the car and get to the lake for lunch gaff or picnic, they show the storybook in regards to how they're going to get back home. We're getting past McDonald's and bribe her into going back home. And we actually went into McDonald's and she threw the full milkshake at me. And there was a group of cyclists there. And they looked at Arizona, so you spoil young girl, and snowing and benign to the cyclists that Emma was trying to tell me a message she didn't like the color of the straw, she wanted to chocolate not vanilla thick shaker she didn't like the color of the cup. And I thought then that's unfair on on these children. So that's why very briefly describing the story, that's why I then thought to myself, I've got to create more awareness around young children with autism. And that was the catalyst behind starting the foundation, but I'm not the most type a patient type of people. Nor, nor do I relax a enough lot. But Emma's certainly helped me in those areas. And she's probably basically when I look back at a young a young woman now 25 year old who finds that for somebody who can understand is what is what is being said that then emotionally and verbally cannot give you the answer or cannot tell you how she's feeling or what she wants. I see that is in very frustrating times for her for thing, but she must be so resilient and she is obviously patient but then there is the odd tantrum being like a father I suppose. There is the odd tantrum, but she's still a very happy young girl and it shows me how flexible and the tough mindset that tough minded she is. And her lack of resilience at times, I suppose when she does have the odd tantrum is a is basically I've had enough of this, and we're all the same. We're all very similar in that regard.

But I suppose when when you look at what M has done for our family, my wife Patience has also been a huge lesson in leadership for me with coaching young boys, as my children, as I've grown into teenagers as well, I feel it's made me calmer and more understanding of the players welfare, I feel on a little bit more understanding and regardless of what obstacles are in front of these young blokes today, and that's through my other two boys growing up through teenage life, you know, what obstacles such as outside they're outside negative influences their the, you know, social drugs, social media, money relationships, and, and obviously, the desire of these young plays among coaching today on wanting to be the best wanting to be in a real success stories. And I suppose that gives me the an insight to what these younger players are leaving both both my boys keen footballers, and I had driven they are and I sort of frame that in a framework around these individuals on coaching here today.[PB2]

Paul Barnett 10:48

Ricky, I know your father had a big influence on your career, but have there been things that you learned from him that you've had to let go, as your career has progressed,

Ricky Stuart 10:57

and I've had to let go probably were that we're both. We're both very, very similar in not handling losses very well.

So certainly something I've got to try and let go quicker where to this year was on the advice of one of the assistant coaches that we were reviewing games 24 hours after the game we play, having the day off the next day, and then reviewing games the day after, and you're carrying heavy load, it's okay if you're winning and winning, but you don't win every game and you lose, you're carrying a heavy load. So we dumped it all the next morning, we have breakfast with my learner's the next morning, six to eight liters and dumped the game, they're over breakfast, come back to the facility to do some recovery rehabilitation. And then we'd go through a review with all the assistants in the team. We were breaking into units. And it was I must say it was a very, very change and it was a better start to the week, because we get dumped the negativity of losses. Obviously you can ride the highs of a of a win, but it's a little bit harder reviewing games thoroughly sought after game but on I believe reviews have to all happen in the next 24 hour[PB3] [PB4] [PB5] s.

You can carry reviews into the into the middle of the week when you're looking at improvements.

Going back to Daddy that he was a player and a coach himself here in the local competition. And he gets a son now that he follows as a coach as well. And he's still always given an opinion. I remember when I was young boy and man tells a story very well. I was I was young and I had bronchitis I was really ill. And we're playing a very important game. I think it might have been about underwrites, or under nines in the army was coaching. My nan said to mum, there's no way that boys going out there today where we were two or three degrees frosty conditions. And going out there today playing football mom said no, no, no. So anyhow, we had to go to the game to watch the boys play. And dad was as I say, coach, he threw my boots, boots and shorts and socks in the car. And he said just in case, just in case. So the competitor was coming out and dad, mom took me we went down really well. And this is not a story about good on me, it's more of a story about the competitive as in my old man. And I probably got a bit off but and our mom had to take the warm blanket off and we had to throw the socks and the boots on and jump around. We went out for 15 minutes and we got a little bit of a bit of school board and these Iran are getting back in the car, you're gonna get Krueger besides anywhere you want. You want the game. That's the competitive as a father, but I asked players dad coached and that was always about and he still is he always says you know, you can't do more than your best. I know that sounds simple. But if you actually bite down on ragged, ragged, all the way down to the bones of it, you really can't do any more than your best. And as long as you know you got players doing the best for you. And for themselves. You can't ask any more than that. And if it's not good enough, go away and find improvements in regards to the player or your body or your tactics. A lot of guys are dead coached and they all got all his friends still he got great, great respect from them. And he's built relationships all the way right throughout his career still last today, and he's always been strong and respect and being that good bloke, pretty basic. But it's it goes a long way if you've got that,

Paul Barnett 13:51

Ricky, you say I've got this quote here from you. I think energy and passion are so important in sport and so important in life and i i see that passion come through and I'd when I watch other interviews with you, but I wanted to flip it around in it and ask you can too much passion ever be a problem when it comes to leadership?

Ricky Stuart 14:09

Yes, I do feel that it can be an issue. As a leader, you got to be very balanced. I mean, I think passion is really important. energy, passion. I think it's really important in regards to improvement results at a high performance level. You've got to love what you do. If you don't love what you do you take shortcuts in the hard work. You know, love what you do, you know driving yourself to be better. You don't love what you do. You don't make it personal. And I'm very I'm an advocate for making it personal. And it's something that is very important in my life as a coach. I am wanting to be as strategic as some coaches that I know they don't make it as personal as I do either. I know I'd rather be coached boy, it's a little bit like loyalty as a leader, if you have blind loyalty, that light passion. If you have blind Lord, it can really affect decisions. It can affect your leadership and performance. All right. You can gauge a person's passion as to whether it's it's on his passion, will they play on the word. And it's one of those words that get used too much in sport today is like leadership. He's a leader. When people say to me, he's a leader, I say what type? I think it's it, definitely, you need it. But that does, it needs to be balanced with clarity and towards the processes of what you're trying to achieve.[PB6] [PB7] [PB8]

Paul Barnett 15:22

You speak with such person, personal connection, pride, I'm going to use the word passion again. But there's got to be a better word when it comes to the Raiders as a club. And its history. And I know you grew up in Canberra, and it's been part of your story, since you were a young person, but how do you build the sense of history and belonging with modern professional players,

Ricky Stuart 15:40

a lot of my vocab is word care, but don't get embarrassed by it. But it goes back to when you're talking about my father, you know, like, he cared about respect and cared about being a good blog and having good good blogs and his football team.

You can't be not a good person, you can't be a dickhead all week, and then go out and think you're gonna play a really good game of football this week, and the boys are all gonna play beside me, they're gonna play for me or whatnot, they won't play for you, you got to be a part of the team, you got to be a, you got to care about that local soldier more than you care about you, you got to do more things for the others, you have to do more things for your teammates than what you expect for them to do for you. Because then that's, that's a part of team that's a part of leadership. You don't have to be the captain to be a leader, you don't have to be a senior player to be leader, everybody has some type of leadership. And not everybody got great leadership, people, people taking shortcuts, not being honest, they're leaders in their own way. And so everyone's got some type of leadership in them. [PB9]

And for me, I want my players to care, I want them to care about the club, because the club the jumper is is is number one. And then it's their suppliers. And this club and several of its people have been such a big part of my life I met at an age of important is for me at an age of more learning, learning about iperformance sport, about relationships, about growing up and maturing into a young man. So as a club, we have right throughout our offseason, we have history lessons, quizzes on who came before us. And the thing for me, I want all my all the old players, all our past players, I want them to be very, very proud of the jump or they will I want them to be very, very proud of the individuals who are representing them, I think you it doesn't have to be all about them. But there has to be an element of care about our players who have come before us and done all the hard work, we're representing those players as they were representing the club. And the players commitment and buy in for me is the key component here. Because if they don't buy in, and they're not genuine about it, it doesn't happen. It's not. It's not because I'm passionate and care about the club that they're then naturally going to do that I've got to recruit personalities that want a talented to people who want to win want to be competitive, and they want to become better football players. And three, I think it's very important for a player to want to have that respect for the club and the jumper, you know, it's not a matter of just coming in using your team and your club in regards to the leveraging that position for the next next spot. They want to have to want to play for the club play for the boys that they're coming to their new teammates, I think that's very important to[PB10] [PB11] [PB12]

Paul Barnett 18:05

this theme of care runs through your career. But it actually manifests you can see it in other ways you there's this ongoing story of you separating players from the team who just don't fit in, it's happened time and time again. Now, I guess that's great when you're trying to build a culture. But Ricky, I can imagine there's times when the people above you just want short term success, you know, let's just bring in the people that will get a short term success. And I'm wondering how you handle that pressure when it comes because you're trying to build a culture and potentially other people around you just want the win.

Ricky Stuart 18:36

I've got a very, very strong administration board, co chairman, who are all leaders in their own field, and are very, very, very good people. Yes, they, they want the camera writers to win. They want the camera writers club to be successful. Now, they're not only for short term, they're not they're not in their position short term. They're here to create longevity for this club. And yes, we all want to win a grant form. That's the main priority main goal. But as important is we've got to keep the foundation and the platform of this club for many, many years to come for other young football players and coaches to come through with his club, and to be as proud as we are of the journey and the club itself. [PB13]

And I mean, look, you need a thick skin and be prepared for what's going to be thrown at you. When you're a football coach a leader however you want to recognize it, but at times I've got to make some really tough decisions in regards to the question you asked with short term results or making changes to personnel. And I've had to do that and players players were not happy. Sometimes they don't see the peripheral damage happening. And it's not they don't see it, but it's the boys are all teammates. But there are tough decisions that gotta be made at times when you've got a salary cap. You've got a roster that you need to keep improving. And or you don't have players individuals buying into the vision of what you need for the Club in the pool and the boys themselves. And I personally moved to play around and I didn't ask the senior players. Now, if I had my time ever again, what have I sat them down and said, This is what I'm going to do? Yep. 100% I don't think they could have changed my, my decision. But if I had to explain the decision to the boys, I think we could have moved on a lot quicker. So it was an error of judgment of mine. I think I reacted too hastily. And I definitely learned. T

The one thing the boys understand is that I do coach for the club. And it's very important that, you know, I know the boys play for the club, you know, I know that they, they see themselves as writers, but you did the decision. So did the decision affects short term results absolutely did that. I need to make decisions for the pride of the club in New Jersey, creaky I've[PB14]

Paul Barnett 20:44

got another quote from your blog to explore a bit actually, I'll read the quote to you. And then I'll ask the question, and you say, and it's our job to keep developing young men. And you know, when they Good, good people, good blokes, good young men, you don't let them take their own fork in that road, was the last part of the quote that caught my eye. And I want to ask you, what needs to be in place for you to have the type of relationship with people you lead, where you can talk to them about their life, both in and away from the club.

Ricky Stuart 21:15

I use the word care, they're really the boys now I care about them. But it's It's trust. Now, all I want for my players and I, I

I don't fall into the adage of you can't get too close to your players? Well, I do. I don't, I don't compromise myself. I like getting close to the players because you got to know about the life you've got to know and understand your player. And I think it's the more I know about my about my player, how he learned wants to learn how he handles criticism, how he handles praise his family. I think that's very important. But I want to create those relationships. We don't have to be best friends. It's all about them, just trusting me. Because I care about them as people to that it's not just about football. Yes, I want to help with all my assistant coaches and the club itself. Well, of course, we want to make them better football players. And yes, of course, we want to win, we want to win a competition. But I want them to be good people too. And I think you'd be surprised at the excitement I get in helping young football players and when they are young, and even guys at 3233 34 They're moving into an important part of their life. They've got young children and they it's things we hear we hear it often that the more you repeat things get good habits, the more they become natural. The more you repeat that good habit just you just learn from people around you. And it's something that with these, these players, either they they know or care about them. I just I just want them to understand, especially these young boys that are coming in our new players that trust the people around these clubs, because we are we are all here as one family with these Columbia, we do recruit from outside a fair bit. Camera cops have a fair bashing in regards to Canberra itself when they get here and understand that this is their second family because it's happened since 1982. When when players come from outside the region. They leave their families behind. They bring their partner if they've got a partner and all their children and the people they see most of the players and the players, families, the coaches and all the coaches family so we naturally grow into the second family for everybody. So it's a really good feeling. [PB15] [PB16] [PB17]

I still remember Gary Belcher, Melman, Inga, Gary coined the Lance, where my senior players, their wives were there was like mother's second mothers to us. And because that's the care they had for the younger players, our families are all close, the children are all close. I've been here for 10 years now. And I've seen I've seen our players grow into relationships with their partners into them having children and it's been a good part of the coaching, seeing seeing these players, children grow up, the players themselves mature, you see them mature and into guys making decision for themselves to guys to have to make a decision for their partners or their wives and their children. And it's lovely developing young men into good, good adults.

Paul Barnett 23:54

Ricky, you talk to the start about helping people chase down their dreams. Yeah, at least young people coming into the club and Mal Meninga, when he talks about you says that you have a leak honesty, Ricky is very honest, it comes through a couple of times and these quotes I've got from him about you. But when it comes to large teams of people, but the ones you laid, can you ever be too honest?

Ricky Stuart 24:17

Yes, I don't think you can ever be too honest. But you've got to know the person you're talking to. It's the way you sell the honesty. And I talked about knowing your player, you got to know your player, and how he understands different messages, some can handle a strong, strong criticism. And that's where I talk about trust. And if they trust me, they know that criticism is to try and help them. Some boys need need a little bit of criticism with an arm around them. We're all different. We all learn differently.

But you know, I've seen coaches get into arguments with players in regards to trying to critique them, give them critical information, which is important, and there's a confrontation. Now, sometimes wanting to be honest and Tough as a coach to a player, thinking you're right, you sometimes miss the point the players got to. There's got to be communication all the way. I think it's important to share that communication. It's not just all about the coach getting his point across, give me your feedback as a player. Now, I've heard people say to me, and I don't mind, I want to and people that don't want to hear me, right. And I say, that's all well and good. As long as you're right. You can't always think you're right. Or I promise you, it's easy to tell someone what they don't want to hear. But it's a lot harder to handle if I'm wrong. So balanced communication is really important in regards to being honest, I don't think you'd ever be too honest. But I think it's really important how you how you handle the honesty and the feedback to people in plays. [PB18] [PB19] [PB20]

I mean, it's like being a father, you know, asking what to do is going to rant and rave and the kids actually I get in trouble for not ranting and raving, because I do I do enough work. So you do it at home to my wife, Carly that I like to think I treat the players as adults.

So when I've got communication with them, and I like to think I, I treat them as men, and be responsible for your own actions. I love socializing having to be here with the boys. And as I say, but as long as you don't compromise your standards, but for for me man management is such an important role in live performance sport. We talked about culture and strategy, building relationships and men management is as important as strategy. It really is. Because it in a team sport you need. You need people who who want to do things for others around themselves. You want to you want you want individuals to do do things for those around them. And that's what teams are about. It's not about me,[PB21]

Paul Barnett 26:38

Ricky, it was the legendary Ron Massey that gave you some advice about the importance of confidence as a leader. Can you tell us about that?

Ricky Stuart 26:47

Yeah, I had a difficult three or four years, you know, there was a manager since I was 1920 year old passed away three to three years ago, um, Ron, and he was an It was a wonderful mentor. In all facets of life, photo, especially around wine. It was a wonderful mentor. But it was great on the phone, two, three times a week, and still very close to his family. And Bob Fulton passed away. You know, here's another great mentor a person I rang for advice. And then Ron Massey, Ron passed away and I coach in Coronado, I'd often go up to Ron's ask for a cup of tea. And you're talking about honesty telling the truth. He probably said it a little little differently than the random. He's an older man. But there's only one way in truth. And that was between the eyes. The one comment, the one comment I always remembered from Ron and he, he was one of the big brains behind Jack Gibson, Jack, known as one of the greatest coaches of the game has seen he was the he was a big part of the backbone behind Jack, Ron Massey. But he said to me, Rick players are like dogs. He said that they'll smell the confidence on you. But he said, Don't forget, they'll also smell the lack of it. And I've always taken that to a game with me. You know, I'll have never walked into a shed, as a coach thinking, we're in trouble today. That's probably why I get so upset after losses. Because I think I don't think of that there's never a game thing. And I we can't win this today. And if there's a coach out there that's walked into the church thing, and we won't win today. We pack his bags before he gets into the game itself. But Ronnie was very strong, opinionated, tough man who he had he had a soft soul as well. You know, he, he wanted you to do well. And he had a lot of great players that he coached in the Paramount era. And then many times, I would go to Ron's house and they'd be ex plays the John Singleton, who's a wonderful friend of Ron's, we'd often go up and share a Chinese meal with John and Wayne Bennett, who was also very, very close to Ron X plays the wings. Pete When Nick Brown was a gentleman at the game, he was so close to running, as they all were, all their role is to have a Georgia boys a parameter word. And I learned a lot about those days. And there's nothing better sitting down with a man who had so much knowledge and you're on your second or third cup of cup of tea and you just suck the information out of him. And he could talk right, so he wasn't even one how long he stayed. But it was a beautiful man. But there was one there was one comment that I've always taken to a game with me. They'll always build the confidence on me as a coach.

Paul Barnett 29:23

Ricky, when you went back to the Raiders, you said, and I've got the quote, again, you said I've said it from day one. When I got here. I want to make this club competitive. I want everyone to be proud of the Canberra Raiders. That's important. It was the competitive piece that caught my eye because a lot of people listening will be leading teams at work, sport and communities where the competitiveness might have dropped a bit, and they want to reignite it. And I'm wondering if you've got any tips on how you can do that.

Ricky Stuart 29:51

The reason I said why would you be competitive the game because you want to be proud. I live in a small community here in Canberra and I'm stuffed if I want to be walking around here is that loser? I get bloody deeply embarrassed after Ross, I won't go to my local coffee shop, but don't go to the local pub and savor mates for a couple of days because I'm embarrassed should I feel that way? Probably not. As, as I quote my dad, you know you're doing your best. But I get embarrassed about losing when I want to lose. And I didn't want to come back here and not be successful, which is why I'm so hell bent on being making this club, a prayer club and winning a comp. Now that's a lot easier said than done. But we're, we're we're throwing their weight behind every little bit of preparation we can do to try and be successful. When I when I arrived at the club, we were approximately 8000 members, we had probably six to 7000 average crowd, we become very competitive. We've had some smart recruitment, we've had some footballers who have matured and developed into what we had at one stage, no representative players. Now we had an eight or eight on a World Cup tree, just of recent. So you need representative players, you need senior leaders, Representative players, quality men to be a competitive, strong Football Club. And we are that now. Yeah, we're averaging 23 and a half 1000 members, we've got you know, anywhere from 1214 16,000 turned up the games. It's all because of these young players. It's all because of their will to prepare work behind the scenes. I mean, they don't just turn up to train and three or four days a week and kick a footy around, there's a lot of work goes outside the parameters of training on the field, there's a lot of effort. And these young men now today are realizing that there's a lot of hard work going into be successful. Being not being competitive. Well, getting beaten doesn't mean you haven't been competitive.

But from a coaching perspective, if your team's competitiveness ease is waning or whatnot, you got to look at your weekly workloads. Are they having fun? You know, is there a business there that squeezing the squeezing the juice out of all their staff? Are they having fun, because if you don't have fun, you can't, you can't enjoy what you're doing. If you can't have fun, you're not learning. If you're going to work and not enjoying it, you're not going to learn as a football player, because you're physically, it's a physically demanding job, I've got to be careful at times with their workloads, I've got to make sure they're having some enjoyment in their life as well. And I've been in situations where there's six 810 games on a loss losing streak, it's a lot easier said than done, want to go out and have fun when you're down six games are going to show you. And I've learned a lesson from the other way to where I just kept working hard, just tirelessly working and working and working and spending too much time behind the video. And in my office. I should be down the Gmail, chat to the boys socially. And that's what I learned. I learned that two years ago, when we had a very difficult year you you got to work out, are they tired? Do they need rest. And then sometimes just one good day in the office, one good day on the footy field can turn around very quickly. If you've got the right talent and people, every business is not going to be on small on a upper directory to directory. So it'll work out the person and they enjoy work. If you got the right vision, you got the right environment for them that brings back competitiveness. I can never remember a time that a player plays DNA that he hasn't been competitive. It's the environment you got to look at. Are they enjoying being here with you? Are they enjoying the work, I do work in them. You got to create an environment that gives them every opportunity to be the best they possibly can. Because there's times when you're winning, that's when you jump into them a little bit. But there's times where they need to come. And I think it's no different in different in business.[PB22]

Paul Barnett 33:18

Terrific, terrific answer really thank you for that looks exactly the same in business. I think it's the same in life. But look, if I could ask one final question, you've been very good with retirement, I can see you've got a shower. I've got a quote to finish with. And I think it sums up pretty much your whole philosophy to coaching you say a very important lesson is that coaching isn't about what you want. It's about what you can do for others. And so Ricky just to finish in the distant, distant future, when you do retire if you do retire, because I think great coaches never fully hang up that whistle. What do you hope the legacy is that you've left

Ricky Stuart 33:55

the legacy that I'd like to leave here, and there will be that day?

The legacy I like to leave here is probably two pronged, firstly, that I've had some part in the development is for each individual as a professional athlete and as a person off the field. So I've helped them in both. Secondly, I I often say winning a grandfather changes people's lives, not just players, staff clubs. I want to change people's lives here at the Raiders. [PB23]

That's that's the other part of the two pronged answer. And I think that five or 10 years time after you finish coaching, hang up the whistle, and you got to get all the players but the majority of your players don't want to ever dealing with you ever be with you. It's a I think that's that's the legacy that has to be the nicest thing in regards to being the coach. And I've been around a while and I remember remember Phil build getting me ready for my first head coaching role and it was, what 20 years ago 2002 It is. Some of the things I've learned from there is that going through a lot of good people, if I can have a little bit of an effect on players lives, as A young man of the field and have helped him develop. Yeah, that would that would rest easy with myself. Rest even easier, Paul, if we can win a competition?

Paul Barnett 35:11

Well, Ricky Oh, the home in Australia this year and I hope very much hope that I bet that grade final watching what you've been seeing with the trophy. It's been a great interview Ricky. It's been a great interview, Ricky, I appreciate you carving out a bit of time and I wish you all the best for the season ahead. It's going to be a river of

Ricky Stuart 35:30

pleasure. You do a great job with this podcast and I feel very fortunate that you invited me on so good luck and when you do get back to Australia with your family, look me up and love to catch up and have a dinner with you.

Paul Barnett 35:40

Thanks, Ricky.