Back Pocket Banter

The boys are back for Episode 92 of the poddy and welcome a huge special guest, Tom O'Neill-Thorne. 🎙

Tom grew up in Darwin and was confined to his wheelchair from the age of two with a congenital condition. But he didn't let that define him or stop him from being like any other kid his age. He tried his hand at a range of different sports before finding a love for basketball. 🏀

He grew up with aspirations of being an olympian, and now reflects on his career three paralympic appearances later. He also has a plethora of achievements and records to his name. We chat about travelling the world, training with Aus team at 12 years of age, being one of the youngest paralympians and find out his dream dinner guest.

Your hosts were back in a big way for Ep 91 of the poddy, a couple of weeks ago, they caught up with a special guest and long-time listener of the podcast, Andy Munro. 🎙

Andy has taken over social media in recent years with his footy jumper collection and knowledge going viral on TikTok and Instagram. He has more than 600 jumpers in his collection and has an insane knowledge of local football clubs across Victoria in particular. 🏉

The lads chatted about how his jumper collecting first began, as well as the most expensive jumpers he owns. Andy also reminisced on hanging out with the Marmalade boys, playing in the biggest game of Div 12 ressies football (kicking a snag too) and the boys find out his go-to feed at the local footy canteen. Thanks to Andy for coming on, get around it. 🤝

The boys are back and they're into the nervous nineties, they've been flat out with uni, internships and plenty of extra-curricular activities. They spoke about the footy finals which kick off tonight, as well as the trade period and what they got up to while they got home for a week. Stay tuned for some special guest eps dropping in coming weeks. If you haven't already, give last week's ep a listen, Harvey Langford is going to be a star.

What they've been up to

- Internships

- Blair kicking footy with Nick Butler

- Parking fines

- BYO Monitor policy to watch footy

- Lad Pad sesh / Hokball comes to an end

- Movie chat / Titanic debut

- Harrow/Balmoral dynasty

AFL

- Ken Hinkley / Ginni saga

- Prelim final match-ups and tips

- Dusty to the Suns?

- Shaun Mannagh

- Mac's Monster Deal

- GWS heartbreak again

- Coates League / Draft chat

- VFL grand final preview

Your hosts were back in fine form as Blair and Connor sat down with a potential No.1 pick in this year's AFL Draft, Harvey Langford. He has since played a game for Richmond's VFL side and his draft stocks continue to RISE. 📈🎙

Harv plays for the Dandenong Stingrays and has skyrocketed into contention for the No.1 pick which is held by his childhood club, Richmond. He received the Larke Medal and Vic Country MVP after a stellar U18 Champs. He is everything you want in a modern mid standing at 190cm tall and uses the ball beautifully. 🏅

The boys chat about his draft year and U18 Champs dominance, the AFL Academy experience and how he models his game on the Bont. They also spoke about being the big kid in the juniors, why Mornington is god's country and hit him with the Under Pressure segment. A seriously talented footballer and an even better bloke. Do yourself a favour and give it a listen. ❤️

Blair and Connor caught up with the most exciting, electric and dynamic small forward in the 2024 draft crop who has skyrocketed into first round calculations, Isaac Kako. 📈

The young talent has been part of Essendon's NGA academy since for more than five years and looks set to join the Bombers after the recent NGA changes. 🔴 ⚫️

The boys chatted about his dominant season with Calder Cannons, changing mentality to help scoring accuracy, the U18 champs, his snub from the AFL Academy and how he "took it personally". He loves Lebron, his hair is natural and the kid can bench some kgs. They also chat about how good the Essendon academy has been and the way it all started. A huge thanks to Kako for coming on, can't wait to see you at the top level. 🤝🎙

The boys caught up with a home-town star a few weeks ago for Episode 87 of the Back Pocket Banter podcast, chatting with Abbey Sutherland who continues to put her best foot forward playing basketball at a high level. Abbey is a 6" 4' centre who is strong defensively pulling down plenty of boards every time she steps on the court.

Abbey grew up in Hamilton vic attending Monivae College and dominating the junior pathways with Vic Country, before playing with Warrnambool Mermaids and moving to Houston to play College basketball for 4 years. She chats about her moving away, her College experience, the crazy crowds, matching up on Angel Reese and her psychology studies. The boys spoke with Abbey about hitting game-winners after the buzzer, big V titles and silverware, NCAA basketball and hit her with the Under-Pressure segment.

The Melbourne Tigers fell short of finals this season but Abbey will look to be an integral part of the team again next season.

Your favourite twins are back after a brief hiatus which has seen them travelling, working and consuming sport as per usual. The lads chat about Connor breaking down on the way to Broken Hill, Blair ringing Jono Brown for work, Dusty 300 and plenty of AFL chat. They look at the state of the game and chat all things suspensions.

The Olympics also start tonight so they chat about the goat himself, Patty Mills and the Aussies' chance of getting some medals. Their own basketball seasons have wrapped up and the boys also shed some light on a mishap they had at the U18 Champs grand final at Marvel (they love that place).

Breakdown

- Holidays, Jono Brown, Broken Hill & extra-curricular activities

- Dusty 300

- Connor MCG tour

- Dos and D, Sandy Sabres chat

- Make shift beer pong at Lad Pad

- U18 champs, sauce incident

- Jas BDAY celebrations

Olympics - boomers / swimming / medal chances

- Olympic Patty Mills is built different

AFL

- Tight race for finals & close ladder

- Rachele match-winner, what a game

- Pies woes, Ginnivan putting on a clinic

- Sydney lost 3 of last 4

- Suspensions / state of the game

- kids tickets shenanigans

THREE special guest eps locked in for coming weeks...

Connor and Blair are back chatting all things sport for episode 84. It has been a couple months since you last heard from the boys. They speak about going to Tigers vs Bulldogs and their thoughts, as well as uni life. They were back with the hottest takes on the AFL season, why they don't want shorter quarters, they make some big calls and chat about some of the most exciting draft talent in 2024. Before chatting basketball and cricket to round out the ep.

INTRO

AFL

BASKETBALL

CRICKET

Welcome back to an exciting episode 83. Connor and Blair sat down to chat with one of the most exciting prospects in the 2024 draft, Luke Trainor. The teenager has shot into TOP 5 calculations following some impressive form recently. 📈

The lads spoke about the AFL academy, getting BOG against Coburg, a positional change to defence, the great culture at the Sandy Dragons and his famous grandfather, Doug Wade. 🏈

They also spoke about him training with the Saints, playing footy with Brighton Grammar and the upcoming U18 champs with Metro and who his most annoying teammate is.

A huge thanks to Luke for coming on, and all the best for the rest of the year. 🤝