One on One

In a preview to episode 11, Australian-born snowboarding superstar Scotty James reflects on life as a child prodigy.

Having been to his first Olympics at 15 years of age, James knows what external pressure can do to someone who may not be mature enough to handle it.

The two-time Olympic medallist shares his experiences with the joys of competing on the international stage, while subsequently crashing out when expected to win at such an early age. Through tears, dejection and external noise, James offers an insight into breaking through those barriers to come out more experienced and prepared for the rigours of elite sport.

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What makes one of the AFL's most elite players tick?

Andrew McGrath unpacks the mentality behind what makes Essendon Captain Zach Merrett the best of the best. Despite Merrett describing himself as "not the quickest, not the tallest and not the fittest", the three-time Crichton medallist explains how his success can be broken down into the art of competitiveness - the will to succeed in leaving no stone unturned.

Leadership also becomes a pertinent topic, most notably as Merrett describes bouncing back after being dumped from Essendon's leadership group in 2020, to being the club's vice captain only two years later.

This ep is a must-listen for anyone looking to be at the top of their game in any chosen field or those who are interested in learning about what makes one of the Bombers' most valuable players tick.

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In a preview to episode 10, Zach Merrett reveals the raw moment he found out about being nominated as the next Essendon Captain.

This mini ep showcases not only the determination Merrett showed to land the role, but the unbridled joy of earning it, which included a special passing of the baton with previous skipper Dyson Heppell.

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Since the inception of the AFL draft in 1982, only 39 people have experienced what it's like to be taken as the first overall selection.

Andrew McGrath is one of them.

The top pick from 2016's AFL Draft swaps hosting his own podcast to being the guest and delving into the crazy would which surrounds being a No.1 draft pick.

McGrath insightfully breaks down having to initially deal with the hype and scrutiny from media, clubs and the footballing public, to entering an AFL club as a first-year player and earning your stripes in an established team.

From quirky draft recruiter stories to the seriousness of having to mature into a professional athlete almost overnight, this episode offers a unique insight into something only very few people get to experience.

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It sent shockwaves throughout the AFL community when Essendon midfielder Darcy Parish parted ways from hosting the much-loved Rish & Rath podcast with Andrew McGrath.

Out of the ashes of its predecessor, One on One has taken flight and now, welcomes back Parish into the fold to bury the hatchet once and for all.

All joking aside, one of the AFL's most damaging players delves into what's been happening since his podcasting days, most notably talking about getting married in the off-season and recounting a treacherous story of being stuck on the side of a Tasmanian mountain in hurricane-like conditions thanks to McGrath's daring nature.

Parish also reflects on his upcoming 150th match, giving raw insight into having to mature as a player and become a more consistent performer in his formative playing days.

His joking mannerisms aside, listeners get to hear the fierce determination Parish holds which has helped him become one of the Bombers' most important players. 

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Delve into the brutal world of professional boxing.

Boasting a 4-0 record with ambitions to rise the ranks, Matt Avdoulos opens up to host Andrew McGrath about the harsh realities of boxing. Having gone through Commonwealth games trials and sparring with some of the world's best, the 25-year-old details the experiences of being thrown into boxing, which is full contact from an early age.

The episode also goes into the different challenges facing boxers and AFL players, with McGrath and Avdoulos sharing the similarities of competing, which largely centres around facing one's fears in the heat of action. 

Anyone who doesn't know much about the sport of boxing will find this chat a fascinating one.

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Professional boxer Matt Avdoulos has seen it all in the ring, but maybe didn't see being punched by a No.1 AFL draft pick coming.

In a preview to an intriguing episode seven with the rising Australian boxer, McGrath recounted a story between him and the 4-0 fighter in a sparring session. A long-time friend of McGrath's, Avdoulos hosted Essendon's halfback for a pre-season sparring session.

As a punishing session with the gloves neared to an end, McGrath accidentally slipped past the pads and landed a punch square in Avdoulos' face. Expecting the worst, the aftermath for McGrath wasn't what you'd expect!

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One of the more famous father/son selections in recent AFL history join One on One. 

Alwyn and Jayden Davey journey into their upbringing, breaking down growing up in their father Alwyn Snr's spotlight.

The twins talk about how they dealt with pressure and expectation of being Essendon's next father/son selection, the challenges of moving 3,800kms away from home to pursue their AFL dreams in Melbourne and Jayden delves into his struggles of battling an ACL injury in his debut year.

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In a preview to next week's full episode of One on One, father/son draftees Jayden Davey and Alwyn Davey Jr join Andy McGrath.

Jayden reveals the extent of suffering a season-ending knee injury in his draft year and how it affected him mentally, with the anxiety of potentially not joining his brother Alwyn on an AFL list.

After witnessing his brother go through injury hardship, Alwyn expresses his gratitude for being injury free and how he's drawn inspiration from his sibling's rehab journey.

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In a One on One exclusive, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti joins the latest episode of One on One, brought to you by TRADIE.

After retiring in round 10 last year, the fan favourite reveals the full story for the first time behind his time away for the game and the inspiring origins for his comeback.

McDonald-Tipungwuti's inspiring return to the game he loves is one not to be missed.

The man also known as 'Walla' also details his newfound mentoring role for Essendon's young Indigenous players, how he deals with being one of the competition's most famous faces and what Sir Doug Nicholls Round and Dreamtime at the 'G means to him.

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In a preview to next week's full episode of One on One, superstar Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti joins Andy McGrath.

Fans can hear McDonald-Tipungwuti's thoughts on the meaning and magnitude of Sir Doug Nicholls Round and the Dreamtime game.

McDonald-Tipungwuti reflects on how the round brings his community together and educates the wider community on Indigenous history within the AFL. 

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Australian Olympic and Commonwealth Games middle distance runner Luke Mathews joins Andrew McGrath for episode four of One on One.

As a 21-year-old, the diehard Bombers fan had earned selection for the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 800m and 1500m events. Mathews delves into achieving early international success and a promising build up to the Olympics, to being eliminated in the heats and having his medal chances dashed.

His story is one of maturity and learning to deal with heartbreak and turning it into motivation for improvement, culminating in a bronze medal in the 800m event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

As he currently takes a year away from running after a spate of lengthy injuries and the want to do "normal bloke things", Mathews' episode is one for a wide perspective on turning harsh learnings into results.

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In a preview to next week's full episode of One on One, Australian Olympic runner and mad Bombers fan Luke Mathews joins Andy McGrath.

Fans can hear Mathews' first-hand experience in dealing with performance anxiety as an elite runner, which can feel often isolating as an individual athlete.

Mathews reflects on how it initially affected him earlier in his career before he gradually learned to overcome his nerves.

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Young mid-season pick-ups Jye Menzie and Sam Durham join Andy McGrath for a chat about coming into the AFL 'the hard way' and both growing up in single-parent households.

Teammates on the field and housemates off it, this chat explores the realities of missing out on being picked up in the national AFL draft, the sacrifices their mums made for their AFL pursuits and being young men in a demanding industry.

On the lighter side, the guys also throw banter about their golf games, all living together and what it's like to go on your first ever date.

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In the first One on One mini, Andrew McGrath hosts teammates Jye Menzie and Sam Durham.

With the full episode to be released next Monday, April 24 at 5pm, listeners can get a preview into the stories of Essendon's brightest young stars.

In this clip, Durham and Menzie detail their upbringings in Victoria & Tasmania respectively, reflecting on their supportive families who helped push them through the struggles of initially being overlooked in multiple drafts before being selected as mid-season picks.

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In one of the more raw interviews, Andy McGrath chats with Essendon forwards coach Dale Tapping about his battle with Myeloma, a type of blood cancer.

Tapping delves into being diagnosed with the disease earlier this year, the gut-wrenching conversations with his family and how he balances working as a full-time coach while receiving weekly treatment.

For those looking for inspiration and an example of courage, Tapping's interview is not to be missed.

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Introducing One on One, the Bombers' newest club podcast brought to you by TRADIE.

After the unfortunate lapse of one-season sensation Rish & Rath, incumbent co-host Andy McGrath has kept the elements of its predecessor alive in the newest version of audio storytelling.

Dropping at 5pm every Tuesday, McGrath will bring out the raw and unfiltered stories behind some of Essendon's and society's most famous faces.

In the introductory episode, McGrath details:

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Two of Essendon's inaugural AFLW side's biggest stars join the boys on the final episode of season one. Bonnie Toogood and Maddy Prespakis preview a historic AFLW season as Rish & Rath handover the baton to the Bombers' newest podcasters.

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Perth's very own Prince Matt Guelfi joins hosts Darcy Parish, Andrew McGrath and Brynn O'Connor in his first-ever podcast appearance. Guelfi delves into the painful experiences of being an electrician while vying to be drafted from WAFL side Claremont, his foray into a potential modelling career and the dynamics between him and his best mate Sam Draper, which includes a reveal-all on Drapes' extensive hair care routine. Guelfi also answers questions from a fan Q&A, while Rath uncovers Rish's former car habits, highlighted by 'knee-deep' rubbish in his daily dilemma. 

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It can honestly be described as one of the most incredible sports comeback stories. Michael Hurley joins the podcast fresh off of playing his first game of football in 666 days after overcoming a career and life-threatening hip infection. Despite being pressed for time on the episode due to work commitments, one of the club's most loved and respected players speaks about the emotions of returning to the game after being sidelined for nearly two years and the journey he went through to get back to playing. Hurley also speaks about his many unique hairstyles over the years, re-piercing his ear while in the hub and an eye-opening run-in with extremists while attending Pamplona's Running with the Bulls festival. 

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Sam Draper, one of the biggest cult figures in the AFL, joins this week's episode. Hosts Andrew McGrath, Darcy Parish and Brynn O'Connor bury the hatchet after shade was thrown both ways between Rish & Rath and Draper's own podcast 200Plus. The boys reflect on Draper's formative years at the club, which saw the young ruckman wear a gold watch and 'microphone head' haircut on day one. The show features Draper's and Rath's ability to switch to their native accents instinctively, while also uncovering the origins of Draper's famous mo/ mullet combo.

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You've heard about him countless times and now, Rath's housemate and all round good guy, Sam Durham joins the boys for this episode. A laidback country larrikin, the man known as 'Doozy' delves into the origins of his nickname as Rath spills the beans on his unique house habits which often leads to hilarious conflict. The boys also learn about the infamous 'Mr Seymour' event and Durham's run-in with Zach Merrett during pre-season training.

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Clunes’ biggest star, Nick Hind, joins this week’s episode of Rish & Rath. Hosts Darcy Parish ('Rish'), Andy McGrath ('Rath') and Brynn O’Connor hear of Hind’s incredible journey from country Victorian football all the way to the AFL via the VFL Dons. Hind delves into his unusual days as a full-time plumber, which includes a horror story involving retrieving possums under a house’s floor. Rath dips his toe back into bathroom etiquette in his daily dilemma, while the boys find out Hind’s unique habits around the house and with his partner.

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A podcast favourite, Mason 'Red Dog' Redman makes a stellar debut on Rish & Rath. In this episode, he delves into a brutal 2015 state footy battle against Rish, before receiving a grilling over his reputation as being a ‘stingy operator’, which includes tales of milk being stolen from the NEC Hangar. Rish gets fired up over poor driving etiquette in the latest daily dilemma, while Rath reveals an embarrassing confession he’s hidden about first meeting Redman.  

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With game 200 coming up for Dyson Heppell, the boys finally get their wish to have their skipper on the show. In this 'Heppisode', we learn about Heppell's meeting with childhood hero James Hird the night before the 2010 draft whilst holidaying at a caravan park, club photoshoots gone wrong, his bladder issues, hair regime (or lack thereof), experiences with the old pool at Windy Hill, and the best memories along the journey from a Leongatha Parrot to Essendon great. Rish and Rath explain a bizarre pre-game that led to a spirited win over the Hawks, while bathroom etiquette is again on the agenda for Rath's latest daily dilemma.

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Essendon wheelchair player and former Navy serviceman Sam Maraldo joins hosts Darcy Parish, Andrew McGrath and Brynn O’Connor for an Anzac Day edition of Rish & Rath. In this episode, the boys talk through Sam’s experiences in the Defence Force, partaking in two Invictus Games, and the challenges he's faced from his physical and mental health conditions. The boys also discuss the Bombers' disappointing loss to Fremantle, and preview the significance of the club’s Anzac Day blockbuster with Collingwood.

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'Two-Litre' Peter Wright joins Darcy Parish and Andy McGrath, fresh off his red-hot start to the season. The generous big man comes bearing gifts and continues to deliver throughout the show, sharing his impressive talents in the kitchen. The boys discuss their favourite nicknames at the club and senior coach Ben Rutten's tendency to butcher them, while also questioning assistant coach Blake Caracella's new-found serious side. A new segment challenges the boys to solve an important daily dilemma, while a few more home truths on teammates are revealed.

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The engine room is together as Dylan Shiel joins fellow midfielders Darcy Parish and Andy McGrath on the show. It hasn't been smooth sailing recently for the trio, with car problems messing with their routines and leaving them second-guessing Mercedes and Tesla. Shiel puts the darts saga to bed with a heartfelt apology to McGrath, but reveals a couple of on-field altercations with his close mate. After a disappointing start to the 2022 season, the boys own the loss to Geelong and look to make amends.

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The honour of inaugural guest goes to Jordan 'Rib Eye' Ridley, who joins hosts Andy McGrath, Darcy Parish and Brynn O'Connor to kick off the show. In this episode, the boys uncover a few home truths about their teammates, including a certain star's obsession with throwing darts at ceilings. We get to know our hosts a bit better, plus look ahead to a huge 2022 season.

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