Challenge Accepted: Recent Episodes
Zac
What does it take to be a professional footballer? What does it take to good coach? How much time and energy do you need to be the real deal?Join Zac on his Challenge Accepted podcast where he is joined by a variety of Gold Coast Suns players and their coach where he explores lots of interesting topics you want to listen to. Some of the podcast guests are David Swallow, Ben King, Brayden Fiorini, Mabior Chol and Stuart Dew.Zac speaks to these amazing players and their coach about topics that are relevant, interesting for all AFL fans. If you are ready to dive into the interesting world of footy at the Gold Coast suns join Zac as he takes you on an adventure that you will never forget.
Stuart Dew has experienced AFL from two different perspectives, A player and a coach. Stuart Dew played AFL footy for Port Adelaide and Hawthorn. Stuart Dew then become an assistant coach at Sydney before he moved to Queensland to take on the role as head coach at Gold Coast from 2018 to present. He has several achievements such as 2x AFL premiership player (2004,2008), Port Adelaide Leading Goalkicker (2002), SANFL premiership player (2000).
In Today’s episode Stuart shares with us
- If he originally started playing footy in school.
- Who, what and why made him start playing footy.
- What his experience was debuting with a brand-new footy team in the late 90’s.
- What the feeling was when he won the premiership in 2004.
- What made him decided to come out of retirement and play for Hawthorn in 2008.
- What the feeling was when he won the premiership in 2008 with Hawthorn.
- Why he decided to become head coach of the suns.
- Does he put more time in being a coach or a player.
- What does he look for in a player.
- If he has any overall goals for the club.
Mabior Chol has been a professional footballer for 7 years and has experience in both VFL and AFL. Mabior has won a VFL premiership for the Richmond Tigers and in his first with the Gold Coast Suns he was awarded as the 2022 leading goalkicker of the year, which saw him kicking 44 outstanding goals.
In this episode Mabior talks to us about:
- His experiences moving from South Sudan to Egypt then settling into life in Australia.
- How he switched from being a Soccer player to an AFL ruckman
- What makes him different to other ruckman in the AFL competition
- Mabior shares with us who is his AFL inspiration
- How he handles cultural slurring
- His transition to the Gold Coast Suns and the difference between playing for a high vs low profile club
There is so much packed into this episode.
Brayden Fiorini was drafted in 2015 and has been playing footy for 8 years now at the suns. He was the suns 2nd pick in the draft at pick 20 and I believe for a pick 20 he is an absolute steal of a player, Brayden is hard working and easily coachable, the best you could ask for as a coach.
Brayden joins us in this episode and talks to us about
- How and why and he started playing AFL
- His long stand friendship with Darcy MacPherson and how it felt to be drafted together
- Brayden talks to us about how he keeps motived and the mindset required to keep trying when he is omitted from the team
- He shares his love with us on what he loves about living on the Gold Coast
- We also discuss what potential Bayden thinks the current playing has and when he thinks they will be contenders for the finals
Ben King has been a professional football player for 4 years now and has signed for another 2 years at the suns. Ben has been the suns major key forward since 2020. Then unfortunately on the eve of the 2022 season he tore his right ACL. Ben has always had a love for Football and was also a dedicated student earning a ATAR score of 96.34 all whilst working on getting drafted for the AFL. Ben’s career highlights include being a 2 time Gold Coast Suns Leading Goalkicker in 2020 and 2021.
In this podcast Ben shares with us his busy teenage years and his love school. He. We also learn who had a great impact in his life and how the draft unfolded in his Year 12 year. He shares about how close he is with his family and how he felt when Max was drafted to St Kilda. We also hear how Ben transitioned to the Gold Coast and the importance of strong networks. Ben also has some great advice on how to stay motivated when you are injured and how to stay on top of your game with rehab. We also hear more about the day and why Ben resigned with the Gold Coast Suns.
David Swallow has been a footballer for 12 years now and was the first player ever to be named as a Sun. David has been great for the Suns showing that loyalty is key. David has several achievements whilst at the Suns, such as Gold Coast Suns co-captain (2019-2021), Gold Coast Suns club champion (2014), 22under22 team (2014), AFL rising star nominee (2011), Gold Coast Suns AFL games record holder.
In today’s episode David speaks to us about:
- If football was his greatest love growing up
- If he wanted to follow in his older brother’s footsteps.
- What his emotion where when he got drafted by the suns.
- Who has had the biggest influence on him at his time at the suns.
- What the reason has been behind his loyalty.
- What changes he has seen being an inaugural player.
- Why he handed the captaincy over to Touk.