There was a bit of drama on the team bus ahead of Fremantle’s four-point win against Collingwood at the MCG in round 11.
Speaking to Fox Footy’s ‘On the Mark’, Michael Walters told the story about how Bradley Hill tried to play a prank on the superstitions forward/midfielder.
Walters revealed why he can never be the last player off the team bus.
“I hate it! (the superstition),” Walters said.
“I remember, I was saying to Michael Johnson about six or seven years ago, that I don’t want to be last off the bus. I think I might have had a bad game when I was last off the bus.”
Hill tried to push Walters buttons as they arrived at the MCG, and Walters said it didn’t go well.
“The other week, the Collingwood game, Bradley was being an idiot like he usually does, when I went to get off, he stood in front of me and tried to run off the bus in front of me,” Walters said.
“I grabbed him by the back of the bag and said ‘you’re not going anywhere, I’m getting off first’.
“I said ‘Brad I can’t be the last you know this’. I got angry and he said ‘alright’, so I quickly got of the bus.
“Later, I tried to make up with him and he got a bit sooky at me.”
Walters said that he’s susceptible to be wound up by Hill.
“Yeah, I can’t take it. Especially with Bradley,” Walters said.
“He carries on a bit too much and you have a joke with him, but he carries on with it way too long - and his laugh, it does my head in!”
One relationship Walters embraces behind the scenes is with senior coach Ross Lyon.
Walters said that Lyon helped save his career when he was considering giving up the game early in his career at Fremantle.
“Yeah, I’m definitely the coach’s pet and we’re good mates,” Walters said.
“Ross has been there ever since I got sent back (to the WAFL) he’s the one who gave me the tough love when I needed it.
“Having a younger group, it’s sort of brought out his softer side.
“It might be unusual to a lot of other people but behind the lens, you really see what Ross is like at the club.”
