Country Footy Scores - Chris Hyde taking it all in his stride

albury fc Border Mail |
Chris Hyde joined the Albury Tigers five years ago, following Paul Spargo to the Border. This year he took over the reins and won the Player of the Year award.

BRETT KOHLHAGEN: Congratulations on another great season.

CHRIS HYDE: Thanks.

BK: This is your fifth year at Albury, is it your best?

CH: I think I have been pretty consistent over the five years and I guess I have been relatively consistent again which is a positive.

BK: Has your role changed much since joining the club in 2009?

CH: Not really. We have a lot of flexibility and I’m one of those players who can play forward, back or through the midfield. It’s always been a week-to-week proposition really.

BK: Take us back five years, how did you come to play for Albury?

CH: Basically I was involved with “Spargs” (Paul Spargo) at Richmond and we were finishing on the bottom of the ladder. The coaching staff were resigned to the fact that they were finishing up and moving their own ways. Spargs at that stage was one of the coaches who was really still trying to help people, me included. So fast forward seven years or whatever it was when Spargs was about to coach Albury and I thought if he was good enough to help people when he knows his fate then that’s a good enough reason for me to go and play for him.

BK: He’s clearly been a big influence on you then?

CH: Playing-wise he’s had the biggest influence on my playing career and now also as a mentor to the coaching role. He’s been a good sounding board and has obviously been around the traps for a long time and picked up a lot of experience.

BK: Is the O and M what you expected when you first arrived?

CH: Absolutely, I’m from Barooga originally so I have always followed the O and M and known what a strong country competition it is.

BK: Is coaching something you saw yourself doing when you arrived at Albury?

CH: Not at all. I have always said if there is someone who can do the job better or wanted to do the job I would happily stand aside. It’s not about Chris Hyde. I have enjoyed the coaching a lot and it’s a big commitment, but coaching the group of players we have at the moment is pretty exciting.

BK: How do you and Daniel Maher split the duties?

CH: We don’t really discuss it, we just do it. He has his strengths and I take charge of the other areas. We work in well together.

BK: How important was Saturday’s win against Yarrawonga?

CH: It just gives you the opportunity to get a few niggles right, but I don’t think it’s the be all and end all. We have played 100 years of O and M football and I think since 2006, the team who which has finished on top has won but there is still 100 years before that. The best side ends up winning regardless of where they finish on the ladder.

BK: Chris Kennedy conceded Albury caught Yarrawonga out for pace at the weekend. Is that an area you have worked on from last year?

CH: It’s something that was identified by opposition clubs even in those 2009, 2010 and 2011 years that we might have been slow. It’s an area we have looked at and I think we cover the ground fairly well.

BK: What is the plan over the next two weeks?

CH: We have recovery tonight and train Tuesday and Thursday and then Monday, Tuesday and Thursday next week before we play either Yarrawonga or Lavington.

BK: Good luck.

CH: Cheers.

HONOUR ROLL

1997: R. Walker (Wangaratta Rovers)

1998: B. Kirk (North Albury)

1999: C. Lambert (North Albury)

2000: J. MacFarlane (Albury)

2001: R. Walker (Wangaratta Rovers)

2002: D. McKimmie (Lavington)

2003: R. Walker (Wangaratta Rovers)

2004: S. McCormick (Wodonga), D. Lucas (CR)

2005: J. Lappin (Wangaratta)