Family has been the focus for retired Freo defender Garrick Ibbotson since hanging up the boots in season 2017.
The 30-year-old and his wife, Sophie, have a five-month-old daughter Matilda, who Ibbotson credits for making transition out of AFL easier.
“She’s a great baby, we have been really lucky with her, she sleeps well,” Ibbotson said.
“The fact that I’m not playing footy anymore helps, it means I am able to be home every night, and Soph isn’t on her own for three nights every second week when I would have had to travel.
“Obviously I miss playing football when I watch the games, but having Matilda and getting to spend time with family has kept me occupied and made the transition easier.”
After retiring from AFL Ibbotson took up a job as a sales executive with the Home Buyers Centre, and although he isn’t currently involved in footy, it’s not something he has ruled out for the future.
“I am still completing my degree in property development, and I am enjoying that new role. It’s the first time I’ve had an office job so I’m still getting my head around it.
“No footy for me at the moment, but it’s something I’ll look into again down the track.”
Ibbotson played 167 games for Fremantle during 12 years at the club and was awarded life membership in 2015, and honour that he has only just been able to reflect upon.
Speaking at the Fremantle Dockers’ life membership dinner in East Perth on Thursday evening Ibbotson said it is now something he is really proud to be a part of.
“It means a lot, it’s not something I realised when I was playing or something I set out to do when I started my career,” Ibbotson said.
“But the longer I was at the club and as the milestone was approaching and seeing other guys getting inducted at Doig Medals it started to be something I really wanted to achieve.
“It’s good to have nights like these, I see ‘Pav’ every week because we train at the same time.
Peter Bell was my first captain when I got the club in 2006 so it’s good to see him and also the club physio Jeff (Boyle) and doctor Ken (Withers).
“It’s nice to be able to swap some stories.”
