Warwick Capper: It is great to be here tonight and I am looking forward to the chat. I hope we get some constructive questions that I can answer. I hope there are some budding young footballers out there who I can help and let know what to look forward to in life.

Interviewer: We will go directly to questions from the many guests who have joined us tonight to talk to you.

Itsjustme asks: How did you start your career, did you expect to go as far as you did when you started out?

Warwick Capper: I started out at eight years of age, I played for a club called Oakleigh Youth Club. I ended up playing for four different clubs on the weekend. When I was 13, I knew I wanted to go the whole way, I had a passion and a dream for it. I had to be very determined. You have to live and breathe your passion or you won't make it.

Nick asks: What sort of lifestyle were you expected to maintain when you were playing?

Warwick Capper: Back when I was semi-professional, I had to have a job where I could get away early. I had a sales job where I could get away about 3pm in the afternoon. Football was the priority, but I had to have a job to keep my mind off it. It was a good thing to have a few things going. Every few weeks we had to away interstate. It is very much a balancing act, you have to be very focused on your sport, so a lot of things have to play second fiddle. It was like being married to the sport, because it was my main focus. My wife is yelling out, "I was wife number two"! You have to focus on playing well every weekend to get a game. I also had to juggle media, radio and magazine endorsements and keep the sponsors busy.

Avril asks: Do you think sporting clubs should require a minimum level of education from their players?

Warwick Capper: This is a good question. I think they should, because back 12 years ago they didn't care enough about the players and now they are. A lot of players years ago came out of football and they were like babies. They have to be educated while they are playing, such as a TAFE course or learn a trade so that they have something to fall back on. I went to night school for four years. When you finish football, you still have 35 years to go. A lot of footballers retire at 30, so you have to set yourself up financially. It is great that clubs are getting players to do courses and study.

Gumby asks: Is a part of retiring from football growing up, since so many footballers start in their late teens, early 20s?

Warwick Capper: When you play football at an early age you have a lot on your shoulders. You have a lot of responsibility when you are playing professional sport. A lot of people see you as a role model. That is hard and I don't always agree with it.

collingwood365com asks: Warwick, when you were at the heights of your playing career, did you have any ideas about what you were going to do with your life job-wise in the future after football?

Warwick Capper: If you are smart you are always thinking. You are only ever as good as your last game. You have to always think outside the square and keep ahead of people. I was outspoken and got involved in different things. I got into media and this has enabled me to write for magazines, have a radio show, have my own reality TV show, which was on the ABC. I am also going to bring a book out next year. I also had a trade to fall back on in case I needed it, as a boilermaker/fabrication welder. Always have a couple of strings to your bow in life, don't put all your eggs in one basket and invest wisely. Lastly, don't overspend or try and impress people that you don't care about anyway.

Duckie asks: It's good to see you have a life after football, but do you miss playing the game?

Warwick Capper: This is a good question. I did miss it the first two years. I missed the rush of playing in front of 80,000 or 90,000 people. Now you appreciate your time with your loved ones more. After a while you still get your highs — being in the media, on television or on radio still gets the adrenaline going. Highs in life do change as you get older. You get highs different ways compared to when you are a teenager.

Monique asks: Do you find publicity becomes unbearable being a high-profile player?

Warwick Capper: I use publicity to my advantage. I work it in my favour, but it can become a pain if you let it. When you are well known, sometimes people want to come and say hello and that can get annoying. This weekend I went away and I wanted to spend time with my own friends. But you have to expect that if you want the income and the benefits.

collingwood365com asks: Warwick, do you sometimes feel overlooked as a champion of AFL? Do the AFL pay you the credit you deserve?

Warwick Capper: Good question. Sometimes they don't pay me the credit I deserve. I do shows all around Australia and the AFL is missing showmanship. They also forget that I kicked 200 goals in two years and only 16 players in AFL history have done that. I get overlooked sometimes because I am a bit of a showman, but that doesn't worry me too much. No one knows the other 15 anyway! I kicked 103 goals in one year.

Jessie asks: My brother wants to know how many goals have you kicked in your career?

Warwick Capper: I kicked 388 in my career, in 124 day games and 20 night games. That is about 3.2 a game, which is in the top 10 or 12 in the league.

KANGAS96 asks: G'day Warwick, I not only admired you as a footballer but I also admired you for being your own person. You were hilarious in Big Brother. Any TV shows for you on the agenda?

Warwick Capper: Good question. I have a book coming out next Mother's Day. We're breeding Braham cattle, you might see life on the farm with the Cappers! We also had a CD come out about three weeks ago called the Cappercabana, which is available in Melbourne. A lot of my work comes about three or four weeks in advance. There is often things in the pipeline in advance. It is very good to have good management behind you.

Blondee asks: Do you think its the adulation that makes footballers think they are beyond reproach, considering all the sex scandals of recent times?

Warwick Capper: Yes, a lot of footballers do get a bit excited with themselves. They think they are movie stars, they get arrogant and they think they are sex gods. People think I am arrogant, but when they meet me they know I am down to earth. I do a lot of appearances around Australia that I don't get paid for. A lot of players who are getting paid much more than me don't even turn up.

collingwood365com asks: Warwick, do you involve yourself with any community groups or charity groups?

Warwick Capper: Yes, I have been with the Variety Club of Australia. They gave me an award in 1987 in recognition of all the work I have done. I have been with the Variety Club for about 15 years.

Bugrat asks: Warwick, do you feel there's enough being done to encourage youth into our sporting ranks?

Warwick Capper: No, there is not enough at all. The AFL need to put more money into grassroots clubs. I go all around Australia and a lot of clubs are disbanding, as they don't have enough money. Out in Perth and Queensland there are a lot of clubs that are going broke. In Adelaide, clubs are going broke too. The AFL can afford to help them out and they should … that is what we do club fundraisers for. Mark Jackson, Alex Jezza and I do a lot of fundraising for clubs. Peter Buzza does a lot of the MC work at these fundraisers.

Waitforme asks: Would you like your son to play AFL and if so, would you like him to make a career of it ?

Warwick Capper: Yes, I would. He has been playing for three years now and I have been coaching him myself. I would like him to have a career out of it, but he will need something to fall back on in case it doesn't eventuate. Just because your father makes it, doesn't mean you will. Sometimes that can make it harder.

Robbo asks: Would you ever consider a coaching role in the AFL?

Warwick Capper: I get asked that a lot. No, I wouldn't consider a role, as you have to be that way inclined. I enjoy the media work that I do and the coaching that I do for my son. I want to be able to spend time with my family, as I was away for 20 years. I don't want too many grey hairs, I like it blonde!

MeDudsAreTooTight asks: What has been the biggest hurdle you have had to jump since playing football?

Warwick Capper: I would say the hardest thing was getting recognised and getting a game and adjusting to the training when I was playing. It was very demanding. Since I have left, the biggest hurdle was finding something that I liked doing that had a good income. I have found that I enjoyed public speaking the most. I didn't like it at first, but now I have mastered it. Mark Jackson helped me a lot with my media work and public speaking.

Nick asks: Do you still keep in touch with all the players that have retired as well?

Warwick Capper: Good question. I only keep in touch with about two or three. It is a different life when you retire. You get different friends after you finish. Most of the Brisbane Bears players have big heads anyway, a lot of them are bananas. They didn't like me up there, they were a bit jealous.

Tumut asks: Did you ever consider playing other codes? Rugby league/union, maybe gridiron even?

Warwick Capper: No, I never thought about it. I started playing at eight years of age. It was my passion. I tried cricket for a while, I didn't try league or gridiron, I did do some ice hockey and ice skating for about five years part-time. I think if you want to play a professional sport, it is important to put your time into it rather than get sidetracked. There are a lot of distractions these days.

Troy asks: You have obviously got a good financial head on you. When you were playing for Swanees and then Bears, would you have thought that you may have been successful off the field as on it?

Warwick Capper: Yes, I did. I had good advice and always acted on it. I always took advice from people who had more than me, who had what I wanted, and I didn't listen to losers. Opinions are like armpits, they can stink at times!

Nicpoo asks: Sheeds is certain that AFL will take off overseas, what is your opinion on that?

Warwick Capper: Yes, I think it will. I have played overseas a few times and they love it over there. We don't wear armour. Americans say "You Aussies are crazy, you jump high and wear no armour!" I have done international speaking shows in Singapore and London. They have seen games on cable and they love it 'cause it is fast action.

Chuck asks: Warwick, do you believe that there is now too much money in football?

Warwick Capper: Yes I do. They should do more work and cut wages by a third. There should be more showmanship in the game. Jason Ackermanis is a showman. We need more of that. The game needs more of that. They are missing players like me, they should bring back white shorts and white boots and the Swanettes!

Jessie asks: Do you have any favourite players these days?

Warwick Capper: Jeff Farmer, because he takes good marks. Jason Ackermanis is very fast and a good showman. Jonathan Brown, who plays for the Lions, has lots of courage.

Liam asks: Warwick, many people see you as a showman and this sometimes overshadows your legendary football career. What do you think is the greatest thing football-wise you have done?

Warwick Capper: Probably kicking 100 goals and taking some of the greatest marks week after week. The kids do the "Capper cry". They say, "Let's go and do a Capper!" and I like being remembered like that.

BrisbaneLion asks: Mr Capper, I recently bought a bright yellow suit for my school formal at the end of this year and am hoping to get some two-tone shoes as well. Where did you get yours from (they were very nice!)?

Warwick Capper: I got them from a shop called The View in Perth City. If you mention me you will get 20 percent off!

collingwood365com asks: Warwick, who has been your inspiration in life? Why?

Warwick Capper: I like a few players, but I just wanted to perform at my highest level. My inspiration was always to try and please my father. I admired players, but I didn't want to be like them, I just wanted to play at the highest level. Just always try and get the best out of yourself.

Mullet asks: Who would you choose for the Brownlow this year?

Warwick Capper: I would say James Hird. He is very courageous. Maybe Simon Black from the Lions, he is very consistent; he gets the ball and does something with it.

Rach asks: Do you ever get sick of people asking you about footy?

Warwick Capper: Yes, a little bit. But you have to put up with it. Sometimes you do lose privacy, but it is better than getting a real job!

Wickedwilly asks: If you could change one thing in your career, what would it be?

Warwick Capper: Not much, but I would have liked to have played another four or five years. The politics didn't allow me to do that, there was a lot of politics and jealous people and it cost me a few years.

Interviewer: Unfortunately we are out of time, do you have any last words for those that have joined us tonight?

Warwick Capper: People who want to achieve at sport have to be fair to themselves, train hard, be thick skinned and not be concerned with what other people say. Second is not an option. Thanks for being a great audience.

Interviewer: Once again Warwick, thank you and good night.
This concludes our live chat with Warwick Capper, August 8, 2004 Produced by ninemsn.com.au in Sydney, Australia ninemsn.com.au ©2004