Jayson Strachan - The interview

Born in Mudgee, raised in Merriwa, moved to Mewewether is how this under achieving halfback has come to play outside centre in a Merewether team playing well beyond its years. With Tim Jivious' nephew, greek boy, James Bertsos finally cementing (or concreting) his spot at half back, Jayson has been left to smell the open air of the outside backs position. Coach Tony Munro was quoted in the Newcastle Herald that Stachan seemed to be happy with the situation, however this exclusive interview can reveal the transition has been anything but easy.

Growing up in Merriwa Jayson actually grew up outside the town on a property called Stanley. The property was named after local aboriginal bushranger Stanley Dingo, a distant relative to modern day TV celebrity Ernie Dingo. His father was an aspiring politician who wanted to do good for the local farming community, so was rarely there as he was blazing the campaign trail. His mother as a result of this had to work the land. This led Jayson to be mainly raised by the wild pigs of the mountains until the age of five. he looks back on this experience and sees it as "a testing time in my personal development."

School time came at the age of 6. Jayson was held back a year by his father as he had lost the latest election and had realised it was time to come home. He saw that Jayson could only communicate through a series of Grunts and Snorts, so he started working the land and his mother home schooled him for the year and he soon picked up the basics of the English language. The kids at school were curious and careful of Jayson and he befriended a kid called Tom Shannon. Tom was a little older than Jayson. when he came home one day and told his father that Tom had signed him up for the local Rugby Team the bumblebees, his dad was proud that jayson had finally integrated. Looking at him in his eyes, diamante stud in his ears he told him "Son, You'll be a good halfback for the bumblebees."

This is where Jaysons story takes a turn. The older Tom Shannon bullied Jayson out onto the wing when he learnt he had a superior passing game to his own. It seemed Tom had made a deal with Satan himself to keep Jayson out of his spot and began to lose his hair at the age of 7. Jayson's dad thought it was better to send him away. The potential was there, however it was at half not wing as Jay was unable to pass the ball in open space. His dad says, "it was really weird. he'd have support inside and outside him but the ball just wouldn't come out of his tiny hands. He couldn't work the land with little hands like that so I sent him to the city."

By the time Jayson had hitched his way to Newcastle he was 16. He rambled from town to town trying to get to the city to play half back. He ended up sleeping in the stands at Cahill oval when he was taken in by a kind family who used him as a boy servant. However they sent to training at southern beaches juniors. It was a breeding ground for prodigious talent at junior level. At his first training session he told his coach he was a half. The coach politely told him that they had a half back and he was good. Inside centre would have to do. Jayson tried to tell the coach he couldn't pass on the run, only from the ground but in Jays words "He was an amateur, and I know amateur having being coached by Tim Chidgy."

Jayson couldn't take scrubbing floors at his adopted family's house anymore. So midnight on the 10th of july a few years ago he had finally dug his way out of the makeshift cell with a plastic spoon he had stolen from the canteen at the footy. He made his way to Merewether and as fortune would have it found a house where no one was living. It was a mansion and Jayson decided it would be his. He wandered the next morning to the Cliff where he got talking to Coach Munro, who convinced him there was a half back spot available with merewether, at least in colts. "He walked up to me, diamante in his ear, all lip and attitude. I knew he was the halfback I needed. That year."

It was a good year for Strachan, making his first grade debut at half for Carlton, bringing over some decent beaches players(he described those left there as deadwood.), and making the Newcastle Rep team as 3rd string halfback behind two half backs who were reserve graders at best. It was here while training for the bench, his spot in Merewether Carlton first 15 became obsolete. "I knew James, I knew he was good, but he is green through and through, and Greek so it was obvious Jivious has got in someones ear." It had happened again.

When quizzed about the current situation, Strachan said, "Look its not ideal but hey at least I've learnt to pass on the run." He was admirable about it, you have to be to have lived a life like his. It also turns out the house he was squatting in was bought by his parents. They are now making up for lost time and encouraging Jayson to become a halfback. On current form he will be waiting a while. With no chip and chase or grubber behind the line, Strachan concedes he still has a few things to work on. He has had interest from the Newcastle Knights, Western Force and Newcastle City AFL."Nah I'm pretty right here." he signs off the interview with his Merriwa drawl, I've moved around all my life, I'm not halfback, I'm not Happy, but I'm hopeful."