Football is unique in that way becuase rarely will anyone willingly take these roles within a sports team since we all like to score and garner the attention! On that note, this week's interviewee seems to be cut from that same mould; Sean Power has just hung up his cleats (at least temporarily) after a career spent humbly driving his teams forward through the development stages. While he busies himself with his newest chapter in life he was good enough to take the time to answer a few questions covering everything from the IAFL to the NFL, and a few other gems just for good measure. Here's what he had to say!
Sean Power
Der Irlander: First off Sean congratulations on a great career in the IAFL, years of service and dedication that should serve as an example to players entering the sport in Ireland. What is it about the game that stirs such passion in you?
Sean Power: Love of the game. And it's a game you have to love if you are going to be able to stick it out any length of time, in this league, or any for that matter. Playing this game demands commitment, sacrifice and desire, no matter what level you play at, which team you play on or coach. This sport is probably recognised as the ultimate team game, and is without a doubt the most technical, tactical and physical game played on the planet, and to be good you have to dedicate yourself to becoming good, and thats what I love about the game: the fact that you can't just show up on a Sunday afternoon, and be successful. It takes months of hard work on the field, off the field, in the gym, reading a playbook and at whiteboard sessions to be successful. You can't half arse this sport, you have to be all in or all out.
DI: Through all the years you stuck to your guns and remained with your teams no matter how they struggled, were you ever tempted to hang up the cleats earlier than you did?
SP: I've been tempted to hang them up, but never down to the struggles of my teams. In fact it's probably fair to say that it was the struggles that made me want to keep coming back. Get better, do better, make sure that the next year isn't a struggle.
DI: What about changing teams? Ever seriously contemplate it? I know I would have loved to see you in a Rebels uniform!
SP: Seriously? No. After I left the Dragons in 2007 I helped Coaches Lawless and Andrews with setting up the Rhinos. What those guys talked about and what they started there is still gathering momentum, and the team gets stronger every year. I loved being a part of that, and having been there from the ground floor as such, I don't ever see myself being a part of any other team.
DI: What would be your biggest regret, the biggest thing you left unfinished, in your tenure with the IAFL?
SP: Easy, I never won a championship.
DI: What about your fondest memory?
SP: On the field, I have some great memories of the 2010 season with the Rhinos, where we came out of nowhere and went to the semi-finals, particularly the wild-card game where we travelled to cork and won 8-6. It's no doubt my greatest achievement in football, and is definitely one of my own personal sporting highlights. But for me, I met some really great people all across the league, and have made some friends for life, and I think that those are the things that I will take with me forever. It's the players and coaches who make playing a minority sport like this special, and these are what I will always remember no matter what I do or where I go from here.
DI: Any plans to get involved with football or the league in the future? What about coaching?
SP: Not in the immediate future. I will be taking a two year break at least. My wife is pregnant with our first child, so I want to take the time and be there as much as I can, as I still have two years of college to go, and that will also be a huge drain of my time. I won't be able to commit to football fully, and like I said earlier, you're all in or all out. I would not rule out coming back down the line, probably as a coach, but you never know.......
DI: Dhani Jones, linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals, visited Ireland and ran some sessions with a handful of players, how did you find that/what were your thoughts on the way he approached the game?
SP: Dhani showed us a lot of different ways to work on football skills, and ways to work out and warm up. I would not necessarily say that they were any better or worse than the techniques that were already employed by the Rhinos or anybody else, but his perspectives were useful and he had some great advice to give out, especially if you were a defensive player.
DI: Finally, as a fellow long suffering St. Louis Rams fan, what do you make of the 2011 version so far?
SP: The team has potential. Losing OJ Atogwe was a bit of a blow, as he was both a playmaker and a leader on defence, but Picking up Al Harris and all his experience should hopefully steady that ship, and Quinton Mikell will be that playmaker. We've made some good pick-ups at reciever, which will hopefully help out Sam Bradford, and as long as the O-Line stay healthy the new holy trinity at RB should be able to do some damage, particularly excited about Norwood, he was a great playmaked in Atlanta. Overall I'm excited about what 2011 can be for the Rams. They have made the best additions with only one really significant loss, and I believe are the strongest team in the NFC West, though it still remains the weakest division in the League.
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