Retiring ruckman Aaron Sandilands can’t wait to get started with life after football and see what the next generation of Fremantle ruckmen can do.
The 2019 season will be Sandilands’ last in the AFL, with up and coming ruckman Sean Darcy set to take over from the four-time All Australian and two-time Doig Medallist.
Sandilands has played a mentor role for Darcy in the same way that former teammate and current assistant coach Simon Eastaugh passed his knowledge on to Sandilands when he first arrived at Fremantle in 2002.
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“I’ve got the utmost respect for Sean, he’s a great young man and he’s going to turn into a great player,” Sandilands said.
“Like Simon did with me, if I can pass on as much information as I can to him and help him out in any way, I’m willing to do that.
“Sean’s like a sponge, he just absorbs everything and he’s a great young human being.
“I’m excited to see what he can do at the footy club over the next 10 years.”
Sandilands said he has no immediate plans to take on a coaching role but instead is looking forward to getting more involved with his family landscaping business, Gecko Contracting.
“I’m not sure (about coaching) at this point in time, I’ll see how the dust settles,” Sandilands said.
“I’ve got a family business that I’m really keen on getting involved in. I want to enjoy the next couple of weeks at the moment and see where I go from there.
“I love it (landscaping), it’s something that I did before footy and I’m in a position now where I can be involved with my dad and my brother.
“I really enjoy it, being on the tools, there’s a lot less stress sitting on a lawnmower.”
