Last week we asked the BigFooty crowd for questions to ask Ricky Nixon – former AFL player, pioneering player agent and one of footy’s most colourful characters.
As expected, the questions were a very mixed bag, but Ricky has been good enough to answer a good number of them.
If you enjoy reading his responses, his new book My Side is available now from his website, www.rnsport.com.au.
How long in the making was the book?
The original draft of the book started two years ago, but its fair to say in that time my health improved and when I started to take ownership of my mistakes it changed dramatically and was finished in August 2015
Did any moment in your life prompt you to write the book?
Yes my ex-wife saying, “Everyone makes mistakes Ricky its what you do about it for the sake of your two sons that matters”.
What was your favourite part of the book?
The last page which talks about where my two sons are at now and how my grandmother told me when I was in rehab to “never let the bastards beat you” and to be honest. That applies not only to the negative people in this world but the do-gooders and haters that exist on this site.
What was the hardest thing to write about?
The hardest thing to write about was when I asked my son what I could do for him and he said, “I just want my dad back, that’s all I want… I just want my dad back”
You’re no longer an agent to the elite AFL talent, do you ever foresee yourself going back to that or is that part of your life finished?
I can’t see myself going back at all to any position within AFL because I felt that the way I was treated by the AFLPA was a bloody disgrace after all I had done for them. I am considering just doing “gun for hire” contact negotiations for stars of the game (a few have asked me) but I’m in no rush. I’m an entrepreneur and prefer to climb new mountains.
How has the management side of footy changed of late? There seems to be more publicity over the contract signing salaries and management side of things these days more than ever, do you think that sort of scrutiny is warranted?
The management today is all about who can sign who in the lead up to the draft. The Agents of today show no initiative whatsoever to create new revenue streams for their players through marketing, media or endorsements. They are basically order takers.
“Without going into detail Ricky, do you think there would have been more salary cap scandals if the AFL knew everything that was going on behind closed doors?”
Yes, if only the AFL knew how they are blindsided by ways to get around the TTP Total Player Payments or Salary Cap.
“The game is starting to feel like watered down commercial rock… what does the game need to do to bring back the characters and the interest?
The game is dull boring and in my view not entertaining at all. My remedies are as follows:
Shorten the game. Just like Big Bash people want short, sharp sport. In my view it should be 4 x 15 min quarters.
Bring back the key forward – the characters and heroes to kids. High marking and multiple goals kicked by big men. To do this they need to stop this ring-o-ring-a-rosie football by no kicking backwards, and rewarding scoring, i.e. if you win you get 4 points if you score over 80 points you get 2 bonus points. If you lose but score more than 80 points you get 2 points.
Cut out this rubbish of TAC Teams only listing kids who are athletes. I am constantly amazed at the kids who miss out who are natural players yet because they are not athletes are overlooked.
It feels like the fans are being left behind in the search of more money and a cleaner image (even though we still end up with controversies, so you have to wonder if this is even a benefit at all)” – Defacto
Could not agree more. The game has been taken over by do-gooders and the moral police. I have had numerous kids say to me they are not interested in playing AFL because they want to enjoy their lives with their mates not be restricted in what they do off the field. I think we will be looking back in 10 years time with huge regrets about the direction of the game.
“The biggest player movement that nearly eventuated and that didn’t get out to the media/public?” – saintkildaman
Geelong offered North Melbourne a million dollars for Wayne Carey. At the time North were in big financial strife and the million would have warded off the bank closing them down.
The other deal that never saw public light was when North merged with Fitzroy (which was later reversed). I had put a clause in Wayne Carey’s contract along these lines “Should the club merge, relocate or lose it license to operate in the AFL, the Club shall pay the Player’s contract out in full and 1 million dollars”. Fair to say the CEO of North at the time (Greg Miller) nearly had a heart attack when he realised.
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“Ricky, what were some of the best/worse midnight or early morning calls you received as a player agent?” – Mofra
No doubt the most horrific was trying to call Mick Martyn in Bali and his phone was not answering after the bombing.
Also some calls to admit to questions I’d put to a player the night before regarding a mistake they might have made was always a nervous wait and also activated many other things immediately.
“Playing your last game against Adelaide in a losing effort in a 1993 Elimination Final, you picked up a respectable 14 disposals and a goal and had kicked a goal in each of your four outings in 1993. Although you’d struggled to break into the Hawthorn side, did you feel that you still had more football ahead of you or did you already know that your playing career was over?” – Engimal v2
I did feel I could play on and the club wanted me to, but in the end the sheer buzz and excitement off the field with the player management made it and easy decision. Ironically I felt I played in a era not suited to my frame and athleticism. I played my first game at 69kg in and era of body contact and physical one on ones. My body couldn’t cope and I missed over 200 games with injury. I hold the dubious record of the 2nd least amount of games (behind Luke O’Sullivan) for players that have played over 10 years of AFL. Ironically I made a successful comeback last week at 53 years of age. Not too many can do that!
“As a player agent, who were the best clubs to deal with? why?”
Probably the best always coincided with who was winning hence North with Carey in the mid to late 90’s then Brisbane early 2000 then Geelong.
How do you feel about the more controversial deals such as Buddy Franklins move to Sydney and Tom Boyds move and contract with the Bulldogs?” – LanceRomance
Don’t have a problem with the Buddy deal, but I thought the Bulldogs/Boyd Deal was silly and will come back to bite them on the bum the next few years. All you ask at a Club is that you have a ladder of who is paid what they deserve – not have a player at the top who is ranked 10+.
“Ricky, what are your thoughts on Women’s football? And.. Do you harbor any ambitions to also manage female players? Is that something you are considering? In the immediate term, what does the future hold for you Ricky?” – Farm Boy
I actually like watching Women’s footy, it’s improved out of sight and the girls now play a more physical (thus watchable) game.
For the game to better they need to encourage girls to learn the skills at an earlier age.
I’m not sure about the game being played before the AFL Senior Games. I personally think we should have a U21 Men’s feeder system comp to a draft. The draft age should be 21. Hence a reserves style comp where you can watch the potential draft picks coming through.
I have considered management of women footballers but there is not enough money in the game to warrant it.
What the AFL should be doing is starting a Club 10 (like I did 1995) but of the top 10 women’s players. Therefore they would be promoted all over Australia and we would get to learn more about them. Then when you go to a game you feel like you are connected much more.
“Ricky, what word of caution would you give to any current players looking to go into management post-career? Or do you encourage them to try that particular avenue of work?” – Gibbsy
Interestingly, I am speaking to some current players at the moment about becoming an Agent. They want me to coach them. Trouble is, the AFLPA have no idea how to run the accreditation process and its is flooded with useless Agents who have no idea what they are doing. The system should be run like a taxi licensing system whereby you have A, B and C licenses worth money and if you want to go in to the industry you have to sit a course to give you experience then you buy and existing license from an Agent.
“Ricky, given how the public now perceives you, do you have any regrets over your time as a manager? If you could go back, what would be the first thing you’d change?” – Allikat
How the public perceives me? Oh I see, you mean the do-gooders, the wankers who have never made a mistake, the miserable losers who thrive on negativity and hate their lives. I never look back in regret. Why? Because you end up becoming one of those miserable losers. Get on with it. Shit happens.
“You played with some of the all-time greats of St Kilda, including Trevor Barker, Nicky Winmar and Tony Lockett.
Can you give us a little insight into what they were like off-the-field? Did you or some of the other Saints players ever get a little star-struck by someone like Plugger, given that he was such a star with a cult-following at the Saints?” – sainter3and7
Trevor Barker not only my hero as a kid but the best bloke I have ever met in footy (apologies to Matthew Richardson). When I started in Player Management he did speaking gigs for me for free to help establish me.
Nicky Winmar was the first player I played with who delivered sheer magic on the ground. Ripper bloke as well.
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“Strawberry flavour Big M or Eggnog?” – bugalugs213
Ex-wife was one of the original Big M Girls so I better be careful how I answer this one – haha! But Banana was my go.