The start off our 2010-2011 PLAYER SPOTLIGHT series, what better player to showcase than our 2010 Hamilton Wildcats AFC Best & Fairest Winner & 2010 Hamilton Wildcats AFC Leading Goal kicker Brett "Nuts" Aiken. We sat down with "Nutsy" earlier this month to discuss all things footy, his travels through Canada so far as well as his thoughts of the Club's chances in 2011!!!
Brett "Nuts" Aiken
POSITION - rover/follower/forward pocket
JUMPER - #1
AGE - 31
2010 GAMES PLAYED - 10
CAREER GAMES PLAYED (for Hamilton) - 15
2010 GOALS - 17
CAREER GOALS (for Hamilton) - 21
JOINED CLUB - 2009 (played 5 games)
PREVIOUS CLUB - Bentleigh FC (VAFA)
HIGHEST LEVEL PLAYED - WAFL (w/ West Perth FC)
GRAND FINALS - (1) w/ Bentleigh in '09 (actually flew home to play in the GF for his home Club while playing w/ the Wildcats)
FAVOURITE AFL CLUB - St. Kilda
FAVOURITE AFL PLAYER - "too many to list, but Lenny Hayes is a gun."
FAVOURITE FOOD - Lemon Meringue Pie
OCCUPATION - Plumber
WC (Wildcats) - "What brought you to Canada?"
BA (Brett Aiken) - "Moved here with my girlfriend, as she was going to school at McMaster University on a research grant."
WC - "So, you're saying that she's a lot smarter than you then?"
BA - "Yeah mate...but I’m better looking...or at least that's what I tell myself."
WC - "How did you learn/hear about footy here in Canada?"
BA - "Actually, through an old footy mate of mine from back home, Emile Studham (Etobicoke Kangaroos/Northwind). He'd been playing here for a number of years, and we used to play against each other back in Phillip Island. He mentioned there was a comp in Ontario and since I would be living in Hamilton he put me onto Tim Wilson (Hamilton President). Emile said the Wildcats were a great bunch of blokes, he couldn't have been more on the money there."
WC - "Were you surprised by the standard of football here in Canada, as you've played pretty high levels of football back in Australia?"
BA - "absolutely, very surprised. Definitely not what I’m used to back home, but I’m sure many of the Aussies on other Clubs here in Canada would say the same." "The Canadians play a hard brand of footy, great tackling and lots of passion, but you can definitely tell who's Australian and who's Canadian when watching a game from the sidelines."
WC - "What's been your least favourite part about your time here in Canada so far?"
BA - "definitely the weather...but that's it."
WC - "What's been your favourite part about your time here in Canada so far?"
BA - "playing footy for sure...the guys on the team and around this Club have been incredible!!!"
WC - "If someone back in Australia was to ask you about your time playing footy here in Canada; what would you say was the best part about this experience?"
BA - "oh, the social part of the Club for sure...great bunch of blokes that have turned into some of my best mates, plus a solid football team that plays with a lot of heart and passion...I like that. I love playing footy, but playing with some top blokes who know how to have a good time off the field was just 'dead horse on the dogs eye', if you know what I mean!!!"
A special thanks to current Wildcat & 2010 Club Best & Fairest + 2010 Club Leading Goal kicker Brett Aiken for taking the time to be our first victim...I mean subject, for our 2010-2011 PLAYER SPOTLIGHT series. Stayed tuned for PLAYER SPOTLIGHT #2 in the coming weeks!!!
C'arn the WILDCATS!!!
Last Modified on 02/03/2011 05:31