Andrew Leoncelli

With the Australian football season about to kick-off again, this month GIRL puts the SPORTS spotlight on Melbourne footballer - Andrew Leoncelli.


PROFILE:

Name: Andrew Peter Matthew Leoncelli
D.O.B.: 17/07/74
Star Sign: Cancer
Place of Birth: Melbourne, Australia
Residence: Prahran, Victoria

Occupation: Student/Professional Footballer

Club: Melbourne Football Club Demons
Coach: Neale Daniher
Guernsey Number: 36

Interests/Hobbies: Finance and music
Role models: Steve Waugh as a sporting role model and my close friends.

Describe yourself in Five Words: Sensitive, caring, inquisitive, loyal and humorous.

Your dream career (outside football): To work for a large, corporate finance firm in the music industry and travel the world.

Pet-hates: Small-minded, insecure and inexperienced people.

Fave Sport (besides football): Cricket
Fave Food: My grandmother's spaghetti
Fave Movie: Scarface with Al Pacino
Fave Colour: Black
Fave Animal: Dog
Fave Band: Various Artists
Fave Holiday Destination: The West Coast of Thailand
Fave Football Ground: MCG

Best Feature: Sense of humour
Worst Feature: Moodiness

Person you would most like to meet: Bono from U2

A talent you wish you had: The ability to sing in tune!

Best Advice Given To You: Whatever job you do, do it to the best of your ability.

Which cartoon character best describes you? Roadrunner because I'm always busy and on the go!

If you could be a particular food type, what would you be? Very dark chocolate because it's rich!

If you could be a fruit, what would you be? An apple because they're crunchy and healthy.


Girl: What inspired you to pursue a career in football? When did your interest in football begin?

Andrew: From my earliest memories of growing up, I was always in the backyard with my dad playing all kinds of sport from cricket to football. And then I had a burning ambition to play league football; I've always loved playing football. I went to a private school where football was a big thing but the focus was more careers orientated - you have to get a good career and study further. Which I did, I really pursued my studies, I never played in underage competition football teams. So I kind of fell into it really, Carlton football club picked me up from school and it pretty much has progressed from there.

Girl: How many years have you been playing professional football?

Andrew: I played one year with Carlton and I've played five years with the Melbourne football club.

Girl: What is the most enjoyable aspect about playing professional football?

Andrew: Without a doubt it is the sense of accomplishment. To train so hard and then to actually go out with the team, and beat a quality opposition. Just walking off the ground after having won a game of football is definitely an amazing feeling.

Girl: What is the downside of playing such a physically demanding sport?

Andrew: There are two main downsides - one is the physical toll on your body and the other is the commitment and dedication you have to give to the sport.

Girl: What has been your most memorable football moment to date?

Andrew: Probably the final series of 1998, which wasn't one particular moment but it, was over a period of time. We played in three finals over three weeks, which was a good achievement for a team who the year before, finished on the bottom of the ladder. So it was a very exciting time for the team.

Girl: What is your training regime?

Andrew: We have two main regimes - one is pre-season and one is in-season. Pre-season is training twice a day, six days a week and that involves running, weights, football, lecturing - the whole thing. It's very full on. People assume that when the cricket season is on, the footballers are having time off. That is actually the busiest time of the year for football in terms of training.

Girl: Who has been the greatest influence on your career?

Andrew: Without a doubt it would have to be Barry Richardson. He is an ex-Richmond footballer and he was a Richmond coach as well. After being delisted from Carlton, I gave it up all together and went to Queensland to concentrate on my studies. I met up with him during that time and he encouraged me to get back into playing the game. If it weren't for Barry I wouldn't be here today because he gave me a chance.

Girl: What has been the biggest hurdle you've had to face in your career?

Andrew: Definitely getting delisted by Carlton. I mean at the age of 19 my career was finished. I'd given up the dream of playing football. I've also had two broken ankles, which were pretty painful.

Girl: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Andrew: Happily retired! (laughs) Looking back on what hopefully will be a successful and fulfilled football career.

Girl: When you're not out on the football field, what do you like to do for fun?

Andrew: I like drinking red wine, going out for dinner and coffee, attending the theatre and watching movies.

Girl: Now we're curious to know, what do you guys talk about in the locker room?

Andrew: Well obviously there's the talk about girls which is a large majority of the time. And these days there is a lot of talk about money and investments as well.

Girl: Who is the practical joker of the team?

Andrew: Jeff Farmer has a bubbly personality and is always joking. While Anthony McDonald and Paul Hopgood are always good at thinking up pranks!

Girl: Do you get along well with the rest of the boys in the team? Is it a close-knit team?

Andrew: Yes it is, it's also becoming a lot younger as well.

- Annemarie Failla & Michelle PalmerUã