Welcome to Person Number one podcast. You're listening to the Jamo and Dylan Show.

Welcome to Person Number one podcast. You're listening to the Jamo and Dylan Show.

Yeah, yeah, we're on the way to Dance bra little Man trip.

Yeah, yeah, we're on the way to Dance bra little Man trip.

Gooday, guys, and welcome back to the Jamu and Dylan Show. Today is a very special episode. We have a Perth boy. We have Damon the heat header on the show. Welcome back home.

Gooday, guys, and welcome back to the Jamu and Dylan Show. Today is a very special episode. We have a Perth boy. We have Damon the heat header on the show. Welcome back home.

Cheers, cheers for having me boys. Thanks making the time. We appreciate it.

Cheers, cheers for having me boys. Thanks making the time. We appreciate it.

It's handy that you grew up around here and you're not too far away at the moment, so it wasn't too much of a hassle to get here.

It's handy that you grew up around here and you're not too far away at the moment, so it wasn't too much of a hassle to get here.

Which is great. Yeah, easy pasy. Just all the open roads and the ey parking and the space. It's definitely different than the UK.

Which is great. Yeah, easy pasy. Just all the open roads and the ey parking and the space. It's definitely different than the UK.

Yeah, and we were just talking before the show. You're living in the UK. For those who don't know. Damon is a professional darts player and he is ranked number one in Australia, which is great.

Yeah, and we were just talking before the show. You're living in the UK. For those who don't know. Damon is a professional darts player and he is ranked number one in Australia, which is great.

Yeah, that's the easy job. Number one in the world sounds better. But yeah, we yet to get there. You're not far off, yeah getting there. I'm in the single digits. Yeah, yeah, I can't. Can't complaining too much.

Yeah, that's the easy job. Number one in the world sounds better. But yeah, we yet to get there. You're not far off, yeah getting there. I'm in the single digits. Yeah, yeah, I can't. Can't complaining too much.

Ranked number eight and it's called the Order of Merit, right.

Ranked number eight and it's called the Order of Merit, right.

Yeah, so it's a two year rolling system on the main Order of Merit and then we've got all these other rolling systems on the Yeah, that get you into certain tournaments and stuff like that. But yeah, I could be here for days talking about that and you still won't understand. Yeah, very true.

Yeah, so it's a two year rolling system on the main Order of Merit and then we've got all these other rolling systems on the Yeah, that get you into certain tournaments and stuff like that. But yeah, I could be here for days talking about that and you still won't understand. Yeah, very true.

Yeah, a lot of our fans probably don't know too much about darts and probably don't know too much about you, So it would be great for you to just give us a little bit about yourself let our listeners know.

Yeah, a lot of our fans probably don't know too much about darts and probably don't know too much about you, So it would be great for you to just give us a little bit about yourself let our listeners know.

So our listeners it's actually quite like.

So our listeners it's actually quite like.

A wide age range, male and female, So if you could let them know a bit about yourself and a bit about darts and how you got into it as well.

A wide age range, male and female, So if you could let them know a bit about yourself and a bit about darts and how you got into it as well.

Yeah, yeah, take a seat. Sorry, that was four questions. Look. Yeah, so grew up in Meadow, went to Branfield Park Primary School. Yeah I think it's still kicking. Yeah, it's probably updated and got air con now air con back then and forty degree heat. Oh yeah, some kids got to go home, some did, but no. Yeah, I went there, then went to Maddington High and then from there a little bit at Seven Oaks, but straight after that, yeah, I went straight into a trade. I didn't stick around, wasn't. Yeah. I was more of the sports type, more of just hands on guys. So yeah, I just yeah, straight into yeah, making some money pretty much. So I got an apprenticeship, did a roofing, roof plumbing, smashed that out, and then I started my own small company as well, and working for people and picking up contracts here and there. So I did. That became life, you know what I mean. And I started I did start darts at say fourteen fifteen something like that. So, and the only reason I got into that was my parents played. I was I was playing other sports, so I played. I grew up playing rugby league. I played that for a few years, and then I did like a little bit of karate and stuff as well, basketball, cricket, just pretty much anything i'll get my hand, softball at a pretty good level. Yeah. I just didn't you enjoyed all sports, you know. I wasn't much into AFL and been playing footy, but all my mates played, So I played that for a couple of seasons just to play, yeah, just to get atad yeah yeah, yeah, so yeah that was good. And then from there, yeah, pretty much fourteen fifteen filled in my parents said, oh, look, we're looking for it, like can you just fill in for one night and whatever? And say all right, And because we had a board set up at home, I might have had a chuck there a little bit, but nothing too serious. I didn't really know the game. So I went there and I played, and sure enough I was you know, I beat a couple of oldies that's been playing for years and years, and it's like, oh, they were frowning upon it, you know what I mean, Like because at that time, like kids weren't allowed at the sporting pubs and clubs. There was like a tiled a tiled section before the bar you weren't allowed to step over that time. I remember see you in a little section. Yeah, pretty much. And then yes, I played, end up playing and I averaged like fifty for my first year. That's not And I was like, I was pretty yeah, I just had the hand eye and got a lot of things and yeah. So I was like and the only reason I really got into it was because being at that age, Oh, I get to stay up till ten o'clock at night and you know, chucking some darts abub and like, yeah, it's a fun environment. Yeah, pretty much. So I did all that and then I played. I jumped into because I had a mate Kyle Anderson, and he passed away and he was the one that was at like we went. I went to school with him and he played darts and he'd been playing dan since he was like nine or eight or something like that. So I jumped on board and he said, yeah, there's like he pretty much opened it up to me where there's juniors and you can play for your state and then you go away and you know, then you can play for Australia. And I was like, oh, this is nice. Though, this is cool. So a monk'st doing softball and rugby and like it was just chokers. So that then your life starts ticking on say sixteen seventeen, and then you're like, oh, well, what's more, what's the importance of whatever? So I wasn't pretty much knew like I wasn't going to make it as a as a rugby player, like at to the next level. I was good but not great, so and then you know I wasn't. I didn't go to the proper schools for it, or I didn't go to so it felt like, yeah, I was always on the back foot already, so I was like, oh, well, look I give this darts a go. And and so I made the state team pretty much straight away, and I played in the juniors and I played in the men's state team and then and then I ended up making the Australian team for one year as well. And but after that it just felt like that was it for darts. That was probably it sort of it for me. So we then I just come back and then, like I was very work oriented, a very job driven, very money driven, and I wanted to all right, getting married and building a house and I've got to get life sorted. So I just played the darts one night a week and stuff like that. And then after that it wasn't until yeah, two thousand and eighteen. I mean the PDC main the main DAR. They'd done a world series and I think it started in twenty ten or twenty eleven, and they came over to Australia to play to boost the game and put on like an exhibition pretty much, and everyone's going, oh, you get to in the darts scene or was that You get to be on TV and you get to do this and that, And I didn't I didn't follow darts really, so I was I was keen on it, but I didn't really know the players, and I didn't know how it really worked. And that in the other side of things, because there's two different associations and stuff like that. There's another story.

Yeah, yeah, take a seat. Sorry, that was four questions. Look. Yeah, so grew up in Meadow, went to Branfield Park Primary School. Yeah I think it's still kicking. Yeah, it's probably updated and got air con now air con back then and forty degree heat. Oh yeah, some kids got to go home, some did, but no. Yeah, I went there, then went to Maddington High and then from there a little bit at Seven Oaks, but straight after that, yeah, I went straight into a trade. I didn't stick around, wasn't. Yeah. I was more of the sports type, more of just hands on guys. So yeah, I just yeah, straight into yeah, making some money pretty much. So I got an apprenticeship, did a roofing, roof plumbing, smashed that out, and then I started my own small company as well, and working for people and picking up contracts here and there. So I did. That became life, you know what I mean. And I started I did start darts at say fourteen fifteen something like that. So, and the only reason I got into that was my parents played. I was I was playing other sports, so I played. I grew up playing rugby league. I played that for a few years, and then I did like a little bit of karate and stuff as well, basketball, cricket, just pretty much anything i'll get my hand, softball at a pretty good level. Yeah. I just didn't you enjoyed all sports, you know. I wasn't much into AFL and been playing footy, but all my mates played, So I played that for a couple of seasons just to play, yeah, just to get atad yeah yeah, yeah, so yeah that was good. And then from there, yeah, pretty much fourteen fifteen filled in my parents said, oh, look, we're looking for it, like can you just fill in for one night and whatever? And say all right, And because we had a board set up at home, I might have had a chuck there a little bit, but nothing too serious. I didn't really know the game. So I went there and I played, and sure enough I was you know, I beat a couple of oldies that's been playing for years and years, and it's like, oh, they were frowning upon it, you know what I mean, Like because at that time, like kids weren't allowed at the sporting pubs and clubs. There was like a tiled a tiled section before the bar you weren't allowed to step over that time. I remember see you in a little section. Yeah, pretty much. And then yes, I played, end up playing and I averaged like fifty for my first year. That's not And I was like, I was pretty yeah, I just had the hand eye and got a lot of things and yeah. So I was like and the only reason I really got into it was because being at that age, Oh, I get to stay up till ten o'clock at night and you know, chucking some darts abub and like, yeah, it's a fun environment. Yeah, pretty much. So I did all that and then I played. I jumped into because I had a mate Kyle Anderson, and he passed away and he was the one that was at like we went. I went to school with him and he played darts and he'd been playing dan since he was like nine or eight or something like that. So I jumped on board and he said, yeah, there's like he pretty much opened it up to me where there's juniors and you can play for your state and then you go away and you know, then you can play for Australia. And I was like, oh, this is nice. Though, this is cool. So a monk'st doing softball and rugby and like it was just chokers. So that then your life starts ticking on say sixteen seventeen, and then you're like, oh, well, what's more, what's the importance of whatever? So I wasn't pretty much knew like I wasn't going to make it as a as a rugby player, like at to the next level. I was good but not great, so and then you know I wasn't. I didn't go to the proper schools for it, or I didn't go to so it felt like, yeah, I was always on the back foot already, so I was like, oh, well, look I give this darts a go. And and so I made the state team pretty much straight away, and I played in the juniors and I played in the men's state team and then and then I ended up making the Australian team for one year as well. And but after that it just felt like that was it for darts. That was probably it sort of it for me. So we then I just come back and then, like I was very work oriented, a very job driven, very money driven, and I wanted to all right, getting married and building a house and I've got to get life sorted. So I just played the darts one night a week and stuff like that. And then after that it wasn't until yeah, two thousand and eighteen. I mean the PDC main the main DAR. They'd done a world series and I think it started in twenty ten or twenty eleven, and they came over to Australia to play to boost the game and put on like an exhibition pretty much, and everyone's going, oh, you get to in the darts scene or was that You get to be on TV and you get to do this and that, And I didn't I didn't follow darts really, so I was I was keen on it, but I didn't really know the players, and I didn't know how it really worked. And that in the other side of things, because there's two different associations and stuff like that. There's another story.

But you think that was like a benefit in a way, you being a bit more naive about it than others.

But you think that was like a benefit in a way, you being a bit more naive about it than others.

Like, was there less nerves and stuff like that?

Like, was there less nerves and stuff like that?

Yeah, I think so, Like it wasn't. It's not be all end all for yeah darts, you know what I mean. Yeah, I wasn't. I wasn't at that level just yet or at that stage just yet. So yeah, like I said, when it comes to twenty eighteen, I ended up being in the World Series before that, and it was just like, yes, I get to get there and I get to play, and it was all a bit of experience and stuff like that. Enjoyed it, but I never really seen anything after that going. I wonder if I could do professional And it wasn't until we had twenty eighteen when they came over and and I ended up you know, I've won a couple of games and then I won, Yeah, and I was speaking to the professionals Gary Anderson, Michael Smith and I was speaking to them the twenty eighteen and going and then the missus and it was just us four at a table before going out to play pretty much for a couple of hours, and they just go, oh, why don't you give it a crack and see how you go? You know, the life's like this and we get to you get to travel the world, you get you know, you get paid, well you get I'm like, oh, you know, might might see how it goes or whatever. But then it was pretty much them convincing my missus to go, all right, give this a full crack, and so then I ended up doing that following year. I would go all right, I'm just gonna work a bucket load and play darts. And what I wanted to do before even thinking about going over and giving a crack was play the Australian circuit, so on the DPA side of things, so that's on the more of the professional side of things. So I was like, yeah, I'll go do the DPA. If I'm not number one or number two, then I'm not gonna bother because the UK is next level. There's like, you know, for every one person here that's averaging eighty plus. There's two three hundred there that are averaging eighty plus.

Yeah, I think so, Like it wasn't. It's not be all end all for yeah darts, you know what I mean. Yeah, I wasn't. I wasn't at that level just yet or at that stage just yet. So yeah, like I said, when it comes to twenty eighteen, I ended up being in the World Series before that, and it was just like, yes, I get to get there and I get to play, and it was all a bit of experience and stuff like that. Enjoyed it, but I never really seen anything after that going. I wonder if I could do professional And it wasn't until we had twenty eighteen when they came over and and I ended up you know, I've won a couple of games and then I won, Yeah, and I was speaking to the professionals Gary Anderson, Michael Smith and I was speaking to them the twenty eighteen and going and then the missus and it was just us four at a table before going out to play pretty much for a couple of hours, and they just go, oh, why don't you give it a crack and see how you go? You know, the life's like this and we get to you get to travel the world, you get you know, you get paid, well you get I'm like, oh, you know, might might see how it goes or whatever. But then it was pretty much them convincing my missus to go, all right, give this a full crack, and so then I ended up doing that following year. I would go all right, I'm just gonna work a bucket load and play darts. And what I wanted to do before even thinking about going over and giving a crack was play the Australian circuit, so on the DPA side of things, so that's on the more of the professional side of things. So I was like, yeah, I'll go do the DPA. If I'm not number one or number two, then I'm not gonna bother because the UK is next level. There's like, you know, for every one person here that's averaging eighty plus. There's two three hundred there that are averaging eighty plus.

He's gaping quality from here to there.

He's gaping quality from here to there.

It's still quite big, Yeah, it is. Yeah, and it goes to show when they do come down or you know, some players do go there to try and get their tour card and it's only Yeah, it's a it's a tough gig.

It's still quite big, Yeah, it is. Yeah, and it goes to show when they do come down or you know, some players do go there to try and get their tour card and it's only Yeah, it's a it's a tough gig.

Yeah, that's what you were saying.

Yeah, that's what you were saying.

Making it here as a professional isn't really a thing for full time money. So you have to make that jump and go over there and play and put yourself up against the best.

Making it here as a professional isn't really a thing for full time money. So you have to make that jump and go over there and play and put yourself up against the best.

Yeah, it would be lovely for it to yeah you know what I mean. Then yeah, it would probably be own playing. But no, yeah, you just can't do it. It's just not it's just not there. But the game is, it's still growing and it's still getting massive, like even now and over there and especially like Germany and Belgium and Holland and they're all like all for darts and it's it's it's next level. I've never seen anything like. It really opened my eyes the first time I went there, really. Yeah. I went to a tournament and it was like four or five hundred people at a local tournament. Yeah, like, oh jeez, this is crazy. And then but compared to home, if you just went to a local complight today or something or tonight or if there was one on, you'd probably get like thirty two people max like and it's it's just different. It's very different. But yeah, like so twenty and eighteen nineteen, that's it. Oh, we did the Australian circuit. Yeah, and I got to number one, and I've done it pretty I don't want to say comfortably, but I was ahead of the head of the everyone else pretty much and I could see in my game where yeah, I gave him my full attention. So my game did rise up that bit. And then the and I knew straight or lot. I knew that was going well at the start. Then that twenty nineteen year when the when they came coming back down, I was in because I was number one. I was invited to play in the World Series. And before that there was an Australian Open on the other association and that was that was quite a big deal as well. So there was two players from England that came over to play in that. It was Jim Williams and Scott Mitchell. They came to play in it, and and yeah, I ended up I ended up winning that. Like I didn't really know who they were even Where was that one that was in moamma? Okay, yeah, yeah, so that was a that was Yeah, I said there was two different associations and that that was their biggest one of the year. And I only got through on that for qualifying through something else, and yeah it got the gig. So yeah, happy days.

Yeah, it would be lovely for it to yeah you know what I mean. Then yeah, it would probably be own playing. But no, yeah, you just can't do it. It's just not it's just not there. But the game is, it's still growing and it's still getting massive, like even now and over there and especially like Germany and Belgium and Holland and they're all like all for darts and it's it's it's next level. I've never seen anything like. It really opened my eyes the first time I went there, really. Yeah. I went to a tournament and it was like four or five hundred people at a local tournament. Yeah, like, oh jeez, this is crazy. And then but compared to home, if you just went to a local complight today or something or tonight or if there was one on, you'd probably get like thirty two people max like and it's it's just different. It's very different. But yeah, like so twenty and eighteen nineteen, that's it. Oh, we did the Australian circuit. Yeah, and I got to number one, and I've done it pretty I don't want to say comfortably, but I was ahead of the head of the everyone else pretty much and I could see in my game where yeah, I gave him my full attention. So my game did rise up that bit. And then the and I knew straight or lot. I knew that was going well at the start. Then that twenty nineteen year when the when they came coming back down, I was in because I was number one. I was invited to play in the World Series. And before that there was an Australian Open on the other association and that was that was quite a big deal as well. So there was two players from England that came over to play in that. It was Jim Williams and Scott Mitchell. They came to play in it, and and yeah, I ended up I ended up winning that. Like I didn't really know who they were even Where was that one that was in moamma? Okay, yeah, yeah, so that was a that was Yeah, I said there was two different associations and that that was their biggest one of the year. And I only got through on that for qualifying through something else, and yeah it got the gig. So yeah, happy days.

And at that time in your career, so this is like twenty eighteen, twenty nineteen, how much were you practicing throughout the week.

And at that time in your career, so this is like twenty eighteen, twenty nineteen, how much were you practicing throughout the week.

Yeah, just as much as I could. I'd like to I dedicated it. I'd like to think at least an arrow day. I think that's yeah, pretty much, only because you know, when I was working, like I worked flat out. I was tigne up till sun down. So you know, when I'm getting home at you know, six seven o'clock, I'm like, oh, all right, now I've got to put that hour in. I'll tell you that. Yeah, I just knew what was on the line, so I just I just went for it. And then yes, I won that and that and then the following week was the Brisbane so and then I went so from there, I went back to work, did like ten twelve hour days, flew out on like a Thursday, played Friday Saturday, and like ended up obviously winning that, and then I went back to work the next I flew back for work the next week, and then I flew over to play. I think it was like Melbourne. Yeah, you know, I won my first game there, then bailed out of the second game and whatever. I played alright, and then yeah, I went back again work and then flew out to Auckland on the Thursday and played the Friday then, and I was just I could just feel that I was gone, Yeah, I just thrown that much darts for the last month that I was like, oh, yeah, no, I need to obviously to build that up. You have to be darts full time, don't you. So I just rode rode my luck so to say, or like everything, Yeah, it just happened for me, and I was yeah, so I knew that, like, yeah, all right, a bit of cash in the bank and all that, and when that was the plan to go over there and not rely on anybody because there's a lot of players that have managers. Yeah, obviously they're going to take a cut as well. But then when we looked at the scale at that time, we looked at the scale and the numbers and what people are making, and it was like to be top sixty four might not even be enough still, Like I would earn more money back here. Yeah, And I said, well, we're not going to just go there just to be comfortable. You want to be Yeah, doing really well on the money side of things as well. But I mean we're given it our full attention for two years. Whether whether I got there or not, we're still giving it the full crack because the worst thing that could happen is just come back here and go back to roofing. Yeah. That was pretty much the goal there, and it was great that she was on board. And we don't have kids, so that made life very easy. Yeah, and we have a family that live at our place. They just they looked after the house while we're gone. We just literally, yeah, packed our bags, clothes, just went and gave it a full stab. It's been five years. Yeah, five years absolutely, man.

Yeah, just as much as I could. I'd like to I dedicated it. I'd like to think at least an arrow day. I think that's yeah, pretty much, only because you know, when I was working, like I worked flat out. I was tigne up till sun down. So you know, when I'm getting home at you know, six seven o'clock, I'm like, oh, all right, now I've got to put that hour in. I'll tell you that. Yeah, I just knew what was on the line, so I just I just went for it. And then yes, I won that and that and then the following week was the Brisbane so and then I went so from there, I went back to work, did like ten twelve hour days, flew out on like a Thursday, played Friday Saturday, and like ended up obviously winning that, and then I went back to work the next I flew back for work the next week, and then I flew over to play. I think it was like Melbourne. Yeah, you know, I won my first game there, then bailed out of the second game and whatever. I played alright, and then yeah, I went back again work and then flew out to Auckland on the Thursday and played the Friday then, and I was just I could just feel that I was gone, Yeah, I just thrown that much darts for the last month that I was like, oh, yeah, no, I need to obviously to build that up. You have to be darts full time, don't you. So I just rode rode my luck so to say, or like everything, Yeah, it just happened for me, and I was yeah, so I knew that, like, yeah, all right, a bit of cash in the bank and all that, and when that was the plan to go over there and not rely on anybody because there's a lot of players that have managers. Yeah, obviously they're going to take a cut as well. But then when we looked at the scale at that time, we looked at the scale and the numbers and what people are making, and it was like to be top sixty four might not even be enough still, Like I would earn more money back here. Yeah, And I said, well, we're not going to just go there just to be comfortable. You want to be Yeah, doing really well on the money side of things as well. But I mean we're given it our full attention for two years. Whether whether I got there or not, we're still giving it the full crack because the worst thing that could happen is just come back here and go back to roofing. Yeah. That was pretty much the goal there, and it was great that she was on board. And we don't have kids, so that made life very easy. Yeah, and we have a family that live at our place. They just they looked after the house while we're gone. We just literally, yeah, packed our bags, clothes, just went and gave it a full stab. It's been five years. Yeah, five years absolutely, man.

So's it worked out better than you thought it would have? Or did you always believe that you would be sort of in this top top ten?

So's it worked out better than you thought it would have? Or did you always believe that you would be sort of in this top top ten?

I was very unknown. I think I did. I have goals or I have things, but like, yeah, hard to believe that. Yeah, by this time, I'm going to be number four in the world. And that's good. Like it's always just an out there dream, isn't It's not going you know, No, I believe this is going to happen, and it's like yeah. So I set little targets of sixty So I was like, all right, so in two years, I've got to be sixty four to keep your card, yea. So that was the goal and I did that in my first year, got to sixty. I was like, oh, I've set the bar a bit low yere, but nah, it all and I think it just came down to obviously, I stopped work, like once I left, I worked right up till I left literally the day before, and then I had a job going and I got it to a certain level and then I had to leave one mate just to do the finishing touches pretty much. And then after that I had everything finished, everything planned. I was like, all right, next day, I'm off to England and I don't know when I'm back or so yeah, well I went there and then yeah, I did the Q school and got myself familiarized. But I just played. I practiced. I went from one hour day practice to my four hours plus a day practice to be full attention. That was it and that's all I did. And not only that, because I had such a physical job, I didn't keep up with the physical stuff. And I was just eating full English breakfasts every day. I couldn't get enough of it. And I'm just like, yeah, smashing bacon and eggs every day, and yeah, so that changed eventually down the line, but yeah, I just couldn't. I was like, I can't keep doing that. And that's just an easy slipped into lifestyle that could happen just from like the darts and the darts scene. But yeah, I played. Yeah, I did all that practice and Q school and I just found that playing with all better players, my game started upping as well. And because I was practicing along with it, I was picking up great habits rather than bad habits, and things were just kept projecting going up and up and up, and I was like, all right, I'm in the mix here and this is this is good. And then you know, I win my first game on on the pro Tour. I get in the room and you got all these pros everywhere and everything. It's a bit how you're doing. But I was lucky. I was very lucky. Obviously, Kyle was there, so he introduced me to his management company and need like all the all the players that he managed, and they all sat at there and and welcome me into sit at their table. So straight away when I walked into the room, I sat with a bunch of guys. I saw it and knew you know what I mean, because you knew my mate, and then he's spoken about me as well, and so yeah, I felt like very comfortable straight away. Where if you're fresh on the scene and didn't know anyone or anything, you're going, oh where do I sit or what do I do? And then you're not comfortable straight away.

I was very unknown. I think I did. I have goals or I have things, but like, yeah, hard to believe that. Yeah, by this time, I'm going to be number four in the world. And that's good. Like it's always just an out there dream, isn't It's not going you know, No, I believe this is going to happen, and it's like yeah. So I set little targets of sixty So I was like, all right, so in two years, I've got to be sixty four to keep your card, yea. So that was the goal and I did that in my first year, got to sixty. I was like, oh, I've set the bar a bit low yere, but nah, it all and I think it just came down to obviously, I stopped work, like once I left, I worked right up till I left literally the day before, and then I had a job going and I got it to a certain level and then I had to leave one mate just to do the finishing touches pretty much. And then after that I had everything finished, everything planned. I was like, all right, next day, I'm off to England and I don't know when I'm back or so yeah, well I went there and then yeah, I did the Q school and got myself familiarized. But I just played. I practiced. I went from one hour day practice to my four hours plus a day practice to be full attention. That was it and that's all I did. And not only that, because I had such a physical job, I didn't keep up with the physical stuff. And I was just eating full English breakfasts every day. I couldn't get enough of it. And I'm just like, yeah, smashing bacon and eggs every day, and yeah, so that changed eventually down the line, but yeah, I just couldn't. I was like, I can't keep doing that. And that's just an easy slipped into lifestyle that could happen just from like the darts and the darts scene. But yeah, I played. Yeah, I did all that practice and Q school and I just found that playing with all better players, my game started upping as well. And because I was practicing along with it, I was picking up great habits rather than bad habits, and things were just kept projecting going up and up and up, and I was like, all right, I'm in the mix here and this is this is good. And then you know, I win my first game on on the pro Tour. I get in the room and you got all these pros everywhere and everything. It's a bit how you're doing. But I was lucky. I was very lucky. Obviously, Kyle was there, so he introduced me to his management company and need like all the all the players that he managed, and they all sat at there and and welcome me into sit at their table. So straight away when I walked into the room, I sat with a bunch of guys. I saw it and knew you know what I mean, because you knew my mate, and then he's spoken about me as well, and so yeah, I felt like very comfortable straight away. Where if you're fresh on the scene and didn't know anyone or anything, you're going, oh where do I sit or what do I do? And then you're not comfortable straight away.

Sounds a little bit like high school, doesn't it?

Sounds a little bit like high school, doesn't it?

Literally, and they act and they act like high school kids. Yeah, a lot of bands are going on there, that's for sure. That's see.

Literally, and they act and they act like high school kids. Yeah, a lot of bands are going on there, that's for sure. That's see.

We were talking just before we recorded about how darts has grown recently and how I've gotten into it and how Deal has gotten into it and how just much it's exploded recently.

We were talking just before we recorded about how darts has grown recently and how I've gotten into it and how Deal has gotten into it and how just much it's exploded recently.

And one thing that I would love to see is the PDC.

And one thing that I would love to see is the PDC.

Come to Perth.

Come to Perth.

Now that might be way down the line in the future, but do you could you see that happening potentially?

Now that might be way down the line in the future, but do you could you see that happening potentially?

The thing is it's happened before. Okay, yeah, I don't know if you know, but it happened. It was one of the first ones when it came over, and it came here for about three years, I'm going to say. So. They had it at the Challenge Stadium, which was perfect. You had teared seating and it was and it was like a good feel, you know what I mean, and people on the floor tied and then it was like it was packed. It was. It was really good. It was a great atmosphere. And I remember that as well. I didn't play in it, but I went and watched it. I went Kyle and I watched a few other boys and jetam on and whatever, and it was and it was brilliant. The last time that they had it here, they had it at the Exhibition Center. Exhibition Convention Center is the one in the city. Yeah, yeah, so they've had it there. There was no tiered seating. It's like high ceilings and it could have filled I don't know, seven thousand people or probably even more. And that's what they opened it up to rather than having putting up a tear and just like closing it off to bring in that atmosphere. Yeah, nah, they had it opened, and I think they might have only had I don't know, two thousand people if your last year recon and not only that, the venue have their own security, don't they, So they don't know what their darts is about, like especially when you watch on TV and in the UK and when you're there. So when they had their own security, I don't think they knew what to expect. So once people started, you know, everyone came in dressed up and stuff like that. There was that going on as well, So that was good. And there was no real chanting and songs because it's fresh in the scene is and they don't know their thing and so. But yet if someone did try to start something or just like get up and whatever, the security we're onto it because they didn't understand. Yeah. The one I realized, I was like, oh, so that just I felt like that just killed it. And I sat in the crowd that year and I've just gone, nah, this is crap. Yeah, there was there was too open. It was too Yeah, there was no atmosphere and that's what killed it, I think, and that's why. But if you got the numbers and the it all comes down the numbers and money and all that as well, doesn't it. So I think I think someone would have to come to the party with the money side of things and yeah, but I think it would be brilliant. Yeah, i'd take it back to the Challenge day. I don't know if it's still there or if they've changed it all or I'm not even Yeah, I couldn't tell you. I don't really go that side of the river. So but it would be cool.

The thing is it's happened before. Okay, yeah, I don't know if you know, but it happened. It was one of the first ones when it came over, and it came here for about three years, I'm going to say. So. They had it at the Challenge Stadium, which was perfect. You had teared seating and it was and it was like a good feel, you know what I mean, and people on the floor tied and then it was like it was packed. It was. It was really good. It was a great atmosphere. And I remember that as well. I didn't play in it, but I went and watched it. I went Kyle and I watched a few other boys and jetam on and whatever, and it was and it was brilliant. The last time that they had it here, they had it at the Exhibition Center. Exhibition Convention Center is the one in the city. Yeah, yeah, so they've had it there. There was no tiered seating. It's like high ceilings and it could have filled I don't know, seven thousand people or probably even more. And that's what they opened it up to rather than having putting up a tear and just like closing it off to bring in that atmosphere. Yeah, nah, they had it opened, and I think they might have only had I don't know, two thousand people if your last year recon and not only that, the venue have their own security, don't they, So they don't know what their darts is about, like especially when you watch on TV and in the UK and when you're there. So when they had their own security, I don't think they knew what to expect. So once people started, you know, everyone came in dressed up and stuff like that. There was that going on as well, So that was good. And there was no real chanting and songs because it's fresh in the scene is and they don't know their thing and so. But yet if someone did try to start something or just like get up and whatever, the security we're onto it because they didn't understand. Yeah. The one I realized, I was like, oh, so that just I felt like that just killed it. And I sat in the crowd that year and I've just gone, nah, this is crap. Yeah, there was there was too open. It was too Yeah, there was no atmosphere and that's what killed it, I think, and that's why. But if you got the numbers and the it all comes down the numbers and money and all that as well, doesn't it. So I think I think someone would have to come to the party with the money side of things and yeah, but I think it would be brilliant. Yeah, i'd take it back to the Challenge day. I don't know if it's still there or if they've changed it all or I'm not even Yeah, I couldn't tell you. I don't really go that side of the river. So but it would be cool.

Like I'd love to go to an event live and we went to the UK together in August. I don't know if there are any events on it that time in England because we would have loved.

Like I'd love to go to an event live and we went to the UK together in August. I don't know if there are any events on it that time in England because we would have loved.

To have gone.

To have gone.

But yeah, no, it's just we love the atmosphere, love the sport and we wish that it came here because yeah.

But yeah, no, it's just we love the atmosphere, love the sport and we wish that it came here because yeah.

They do go to Yes over east. Yeah, so we've got the Woollo and gone that's on. I think it's like the eighth and ninth of August and then the week after it's in Auckland.

They do go to Yes over east. Yeah, so we've got the Woollo and gone that's on. I think it's like the eighth and ninth of August and then the week after it's in Auckland.

Is that a good vibe when you get to come back to Australia.

Is that a good vibe when you get to come back to Australia.

Yeah, yeah, it's brilliant obviously. Yeah, I just play the part and yeah they're all they're all for me, you know, they're all singing. It's like in the crowd because in the halftime breaks and stuff. Yeah, woollo Loong's a nice arena there. They've got yeah the teared and and it's fieled. It is packed all the time. So that's why it's probably always gone back there because it's packed all the time. And it's yeah, it's brilliant. It's absolutely brilliant. And yeah, you know they're just playing in between the songs and the crowd are singing that, you know what I mean, And they got Yeah, the crowd's getting so much better, I think. Yeah, more are getting involved in the darts scene and know what it's about. And then they start and getting that party atmosphere and that's all it's about, and just going out with your mates having a good time. And then yeah, I mean you probably having a little sneaky bet on the darts as well. And but what you want to say is, you know you got the big guns coming over. You want to smash them. You want to see the underdog, you want to see the Australians get through you want to yeah, and that's just yeah. So if more stuff like that happen, the more yeah exposure, it would be you know what I mean. So that's why. And I realized that straight away once I had done some Every time I've done some good things over there, and it does get played back here in the media and stuff like that. I noticed when I come back and I go out to dinner or wherever I'm going to, someone might go, you're that Dart's player, aren't you. Oh, I may get a photo like and where I realized from the start, when I was coming back there was none of that. There was none of that. But now, yeah, I'm noticing more that people are recognizing the sport and what you and I think it's it's more of the financial side of things that get more people interested, going, wow, you actually can make money doing that. And that's the reaction I'll get when I mean, I need a haircut now, but yeah, I go get a haircut and you know where the barbers they talk to you, don't they what do you do for a living? And I'm like, fro darts what yeah, a how much money can you do doing that? Rah? Rah and I was like, well, I live in England and RaRo own it's good and yeah, so it's not a bad wage and that's they spin out and it's like, wow, I didn't even know darts existed.

Yeah, yeah, it's brilliant obviously. Yeah, I just play the part and yeah they're all they're all for me, you know, they're all singing. It's like in the crowd because in the halftime breaks and stuff. Yeah, woollo Loong's a nice arena there. They've got yeah the teared and and it's fieled. It is packed all the time. So that's why it's probably always gone back there because it's packed all the time. And it's yeah, it's brilliant. It's absolutely brilliant. And yeah, you know they're just playing in between the songs and the crowd are singing that, you know what I mean, And they got Yeah, the crowd's getting so much better, I think. Yeah, more are getting involved in the darts scene and know what it's about. And then they start and getting that party atmosphere and that's all it's about, and just going out with your mates having a good time. And then yeah, I mean you probably having a little sneaky bet on the darts as well. And but what you want to say is, you know you got the big guns coming over. You want to smash them. You want to see the underdog, you want to see the Australians get through you want to yeah, and that's just yeah. So if more stuff like that happen, the more yeah exposure, it would be you know what I mean. So that's why. And I realized that straight away once I had done some Every time I've done some good things over there, and it does get played back here in the media and stuff like that. I noticed when I come back and I go out to dinner or wherever I'm going to, someone might go, you're that Dart's player, aren't you. Oh, I may get a photo like and where I realized from the start, when I was coming back there was none of that. There was none of that. But now, yeah, I'm noticing more that people are recognizing the sport and what you and I think it's it's more of the financial side of things that get more people interested, going, wow, you actually can make money doing that. And that's the reaction I'll get when I mean, I need a haircut now, but yeah, I go get a haircut and you know where the barbers they talk to you, don't they what do you do for a living? And I'm like, fro darts what yeah, a how much money can you do doing that? Rah? Rah and I was like, well, I live in England and RaRo own it's good and yeah, so it's not a bad wage and that's they spin out and it's like, wow, I didn't even know darts existed.

That's so cool living in the UK.

That's so cool living in the UK.

Did you find it easy, like as soon as you landed fitting in over there? And do you enjoy living in the UK? Do you miss home?

Did you find it easy, like as soon as you landed fitting in over there? And do you enjoy living in the UK? Do you miss home?

Yeah? At the start it was hard. I actually because we went in end of October, so no November. At the start, we just did a little bit of hotel hop and just I just went to tournaments wherever tournaments were in the country. I just drove there, played and that drove there like when I needed to get that experience and they needed. So we weren't really going, oh, we need to be settled right away because I didn't know. I didn't have a visa at the time. Yeah, until I have to. You have to be a professional to apply for a visa, and because I was over twenty five, I couldn't just apply for a working visa or something. I had to wait till I got a card to do that. So we'll just hotel Hoppen for the first seven weeks so that ate a bit of the budget as well. It wasn't very pretty, but yeah, but I did it, and I actually I did quite well, to be honest. I won some local comps. You know, I was picking up like a thousand pound for a day here and I was five hundred pound there. I was like, this is crazy, Like I've just earned a week's wage in two gomps. That's insane. Yeah, I just blew my mind. And how many people were going to these comps and stuff. So I did that, and I had the Worlds to play in in December time, so you know, I went to the hotel there and then be all set up for that. But yeah, I ended up getting I ended up getting a rental in the Midlands area. We're just like, well, it doesn't matter where I live, so we just picked all right Kyle, Well, Kyle lived not too far from Nottingham area, so we looked for a spot around there and then that way I'm close to someone that I know, and yeah, so perfect, got this place, got a one bedroom flat, fully furnished, and I'm we paid like five hundred or five hundred and fifty pounds a month, which was pretty cheap. Yeah, but like it's a one bedroom apart room. Yeah, and then yeah we did that and yeah I played some of the season and then COVID hit didn't it yep? Oh wow. So once yeah, once we heard that and people were like, yeah, come home. Yeah, we just booked a ticket once we heard and seen on the red Yeah, booked a ticket. Next day, we're on a plane coming home. And yeah, then we I was back here for like three four months.

Yeah? At the start it was hard. I actually because we went in end of October, so no November. At the start, we just did a little bit of hotel hop and just I just went to tournaments wherever tournaments were in the country. I just drove there, played and that drove there like when I needed to get that experience and they needed. So we weren't really going, oh, we need to be settled right away because I didn't know. I didn't have a visa at the time. Yeah, until I have to. You have to be a professional to apply for a visa, and because I was over twenty five, I couldn't just apply for a working visa or something. I had to wait till I got a card to do that. So we'll just hotel Hoppen for the first seven weeks so that ate a bit of the budget as well. It wasn't very pretty, but yeah, but I did it, and I actually I did quite well, to be honest. I won some local comps. You know, I was picking up like a thousand pound for a day here and I was five hundred pound there. I was like, this is crazy, Like I've just earned a week's wage in two gomps. That's insane. Yeah, I just blew my mind. And how many people were going to these comps and stuff. So I did that, and I had the Worlds to play in in December time, so you know, I went to the hotel there and then be all set up for that. But yeah, I ended up getting I ended up getting a rental in the Midlands area. We're just like, well, it doesn't matter where I live, so we just picked all right Kyle, Well, Kyle lived not too far from Nottingham area, so we looked for a spot around there and then that way I'm close to someone that I know, and yeah, so perfect, got this place, got a one bedroom flat, fully furnished, and I'm we paid like five hundred or five hundred and fifty pounds a month, which was pretty cheap. Yeah, but like it's a one bedroom apart room. Yeah, and then yeah we did that and yeah I played some of the season and then COVID hit didn't it yep? Oh wow. So once yeah, once we heard that and people were like, yeah, come home. Yeah, we just booked a ticket once we heard and seen on the red Yeah, booked a ticket. Next day, we're on a plane coming home. And yeah, then we I was back here for like three four months.

So did that halt all data events as well?

So did that halt all data events as well?

Yeah? Yeah, that stopped everything. You couldn't you couldn't do anything good. So I come back home. I had to do like two weeks isolation and I just went straight back to work after that. Pretty much, I did the same thing. I was like, well as well make money while I'm still there, and so I did that. But I only did I worked for someone and for like Warritar roofing, and all I did. I was like, nah, I'll just do my eight hours eight and out the gate. Pretty much that was it, because I knew I'm going back to play darts. So because I was you doing eight hours work when I got home, Oh yeah, doing my two hours three hours practice because it was that's all I was focused on was just starts. I'm like, all right, i've been I've had a taste of it. I know what it's about. I didn't have a great start, but I was playing well and I was losing games to like high quality players, and I was playing well, and I was like, oh, I need that a little bit of edge. I know what it's about. Was back on the board, and my routine sort of changed, like my practice routine, or I picked up little things here and there rather than doing what I was doing before. And I just grew with the game pretty much.

Yeah? Yeah, that stopped everything. You couldn't you couldn't do anything good. So I come back home. I had to do like two weeks isolation and I just went straight back to work after that. Pretty much, I did the same thing. I was like, well as well make money while I'm still there, and so I did that. But I only did I worked for someone and for like Warritar roofing, and all I did. I was like, nah, I'll just do my eight hours eight and out the gate. Pretty much that was it, because I knew I'm going back to play darts. So because I was you doing eight hours work when I got home, Oh yeah, doing my two hours three hours practice because it was that's all I was focused on was just starts. I'm like, all right, i've been I've had a taste of it. I know what it's about. I didn't have a great start, but I was playing well and I was losing games to like high quality players, and I was playing well, and I was like, oh, I need that a little bit of edge. I know what it's about. Was back on the board, and my routine sort of changed, like my practice routine, or I picked up little things here and there rather than doing what I was doing before. And I just grew with the game pretty much.

And was it like that you're was it one aspect of your game that needed improving or was it like across the board? I think it was just more yeah, more broad yeah, so more or less at the at the end of the game, the checkout part. Yeah, so just picking up numbers straight away, all right, do this, do this, do this, do this, do this, do this. And so I did a lot of checkout practice games because that's where I found most of it came down to, was, yeah, scoring, Once you got that phase in your game, it becomes almost robotic or almost normal, and that's the that's pretty much the easy part. I mean, if you haven't got it. The scoring downpacked at times. Ye, yeah, you start to struggle a little bit, but you'll find it. I think it's just you have little patches in games. But it's when it comes to the crunch. It doesn't matter if you scored well or not. If you've got a shot to win the game or to win that leg, you're going.

And was it like that you're was it one aspect of your game that needed improving or was it like across the board? I think it was just more yeah, more broad yeah, so more or less at the at the end of the game, the checkout part. Yeah, so just picking up numbers straight away, all right, do this, do this, do this, do this, do this, do this. And so I did a lot of checkout practice games because that's where I found most of it came down to, was, yeah, scoring, Once you got that phase in your game, it becomes almost robotic or almost normal, and that's the that's pretty much the easy part. I mean, if you haven't got it. The scoring downpacked at times. Ye, yeah, you start to struggle a little bit, but you'll find it. I think it's just you have little patches in games. But it's when it comes to the crunch. It doesn't matter if you scored well or not. If you've got a shot to win the game or to win that leg, you're going.

To go for it. That's all that's important. That all the rest don't matter then. And yeah, it's just the way you think about things, I think. But yeah, I just I think it was just putting the time in. I did change my throw a bit where I was very methodical before, but now I've got like a rhythm throw or a bit more of a rhythm. And that's just due to I think, practicing and practicing and just going around in circles and I've just picked it up a bit quicker. Yeah.

To go for it. That's all that's important. That all the rest don't matter then. And yeah, it's just the way you think about things, I think. But yeah, I just I think it was just putting the time in. I did change my throw a bit where I was very methodical before, but now I've got like a rhythm throw or a bit more of a rhythm. And that's just due to I think, practicing and practicing and just going around in circles and I've just picked it up a bit quicker. Yeah.

One thing I noticed it was in there.

One thing I noticed it was in there.

I was doing some research as we do a very professional outfit here the game that you played against Luke Littleer where you beat him at the UK Open. I noticed with your darts throw, and this came from a YouTube comment, it was that in your left hand where you're holding your other two dark. You're rolling it down to your fingertips as you throw with your right hand, all right, you don't even know that, it just happens. So when you're throwing your first dart, your left hand is rolling the dart down to your fingertips so you can switch it over to your right. And someone in the comments said, like, how incredible that is that it's just muscle memory that I guess you practice so much that you're like a gun you're reloading.

I was doing some research as we do a very professional outfit here the game that you played against Luke Littleer where you beat him at the UK Open. I noticed with your darts throw, and this came from a YouTube comment, it was that in your left hand where you're holding your other two dark. You're rolling it down to your fingertips as you throw with your right hand, all right, you don't even know that, it just happens. So when you're throwing your first dart, your left hand is rolling the dart down to your fingertips so you can switch it over to your right. And someone in the comments said, like, how incredible that is that it's just muscle memory that I guess you practice so much that you're like a gun you're reloading.

So that's a funny little thing, isn't it. I'll keep an eye on. Yeah, thanks for telling me now, because I'll get up there throwing down. Now you're thinking about it left hand, I should be thinking about going with this nah, hang on, Yeah, it is rolling.

So that's a funny little thing, isn't it. I'll keep an eye on. Yeah, thanks for telling me now, because I'll get up there throwing down. Now you're thinking about it left hand, I should be thinking about going with this nah, hang on, Yeah, it is rolling.

But maybe I only think about that in practice on the stage. Don't think about us. I've got a couple of like quick fire questions here that we put together. Your favorite moment in darts so far.

But maybe I only think about that in practice on the stage. Don't think about us. I've got a couple of like quick fire questions here that we put together. Your favorite moment in darts so far.

Winning the World Cup? I think, yeah, I think that's that's a big one, especially Yeah, for Australia, like the first time, and Simon as well. He deserved it after the career he's had, and yeah, it was a yeah, I didn't realize what I'd done until yeah, just come back and did me thing, and I was like, brilliant. And that's that's when I realized as well that time that I had to, yeah, get on the treadmill. I did the celebration and my sure come up. Oh my friends just took the pisce ones back here, like look at this fat that's unreal.

Winning the World Cup? I think, yeah, I think that's that's a big one, especially Yeah, for Australia, like the first time, and Simon as well. He deserved it after the career he's had, and yeah, it was a yeah, I didn't realize what I'd done until yeah, just come back and did me thing, and I was like, brilliant. And that's that's when I realized as well that time that I had to, yeah, get on the treadmill. I did the celebration and my sure come up. Oh my friends just took the pisce ones back here, like look at this fat that's unreal.

That's probably the first time that I ever saw you was on TV. The news had a whitlock and had I get it done for Australia. That was a great moment. And even though I wasn't involved in the darts world whatsoever, I still felt pride.

That's probably the first time that I ever saw you was on TV. The news had a whitlock and had I get it done for Australia. That was a great moment. And even though I wasn't involved in the darts world whatsoever, I still felt pride.

I was like, yeah we did. It's like watching Olympics or any other randoms. It does if you see Australia winning the best in the world. Yeah, of course we are.

I was like, yeah we did. It's like watching Olympics or any other randoms. It does if you see Australia winning the best in the world. Yeah, of course we are.

Another question, who are your favorite players in darts? They can be current, they can be passed whatever.

Another question, who are your favorite players in darts? They can be current, they can be passed whatever.

Yeah. So my best mate was Kyle Yeah, yeah, and obviously he passed away. But now yeah, I've got a I've got Jim Williams who I practice with. Yeah, he's a he's a good egg and he lives down down the road from me. So every Tuesday we have a truck and yeah, he's down to earth, you know what I mean. And yeah, so and I hang around with the sports management company and all them guys and Mac Elk and the manager and stuff like that. But yeah, my wife, Yeah, my wife is my best friend. Yes, yeah we are. We travel, we do everything together pretty much. Yeah, I'm not away from a very rarely.

Yeah. So my best mate was Kyle Yeah, yeah, and obviously he passed away. But now yeah, I've got a I've got Jim Williams who I practice with. Yeah, he's a he's a good egg and he lives down down the road from me. So every Tuesday we have a truck and yeah, he's down to earth, you know what I mean. And yeah, so and I hang around with the sports management company and all them guys and Mac Elk and the manager and stuff like that. But yeah, my wife, Yeah, my wife is my best friend. Yes, yeah we are. We travel, we do everything together pretty much. Yeah, I'm not away from a very rarely.

So yeah, coming up to twenty years, I think or is it twenty years that you've been with your wife?

So yeah, coming up to twenty years, I think or is it twenty years that you've been with your wife?

Yeah, we've been yeah, since we're eighteen. So yeah, yeah, I saw it.

Yeah, we've been yeah, since we're eighteen. So yeah, yeah, I saw it.

But we're doing some research and we saw that. Yeah, you've been together for twenty years.

But we're doing some research and we saw that. Yeah, you've been together for twenty years.

It was just unreal. So we're done to you too, because it's not easy, is it. Yeah it is if you don't have kids.

It was just unreal. So we're done to you too, because it's not easy, is it. Yeah it is if you don't have kids.

Nah, top three blokes on the tour that you'd love to go on a night out with, so just the most fun and whatever.

Nah, top three blokes on the tour that you'd love to go on a night out with, so just the most fun and whatever.

All right, So probably yeah, if you get if you're going out Dave Chisnell, ye, and I think a lot of people will get that. Yeah, I think, I think, I think I think Joe Cullen he'd be Yeah.

All right, So probably yeah, if you get if you're going out Dave Chisnell, ye, and I think a lot of people will get that. Yeah, I think, I think, I think I think Joe Cullen he'd be Yeah.

I've heard a lot of say that he's one of the funniest.

I've heard a lot of say that he's one of the funniest.

Yeah, Yeah, he's pretty funny and I think I don't know, I might maybe Aspinall is just the Lad's lad. Yeah he's the Yeah, he's that guy and he's pictured as that. So yeah, I think that, Yeah, there would never be a dull moment. That's unreal.

Yeah, Yeah, he's pretty funny and I think I don't know, I might maybe Aspinall is just the Lad's lad. Yeah he's the Yeah, he's that guy and he's pictured as that. So yeah, I think that, Yeah, there would never be a dull moment. That's unreal.

I want to talk about your walkouts as well. One thing that I love about you and what you do with your walkouts is you tailor it to wherever you are. So like I saw in Amsterdam you did the links wretch or so they do that for the World Cup and for the Euros and stuff. And yeah, when the Euros happened recently, we did a sweep steaks and I had Netherlands as sweepstaks, so obviously I was getting around them. Yeah, I saw all the social media clips of them jumping from side to side.

I want to talk about your walkouts as well. One thing that I love about you and what you do with your walkouts is you tailor it to wherever you are. So like I saw in Amsterdam you did the links wretch or so they do that for the World Cup and for the Euros and stuff. And yeah, when the Euros happened recently, we did a sweep steaks and I had Netherlands as sweepstaks, so obviously I was getting around them. Yeah, I saw all the social media clips of them jumping from side to side.

Walk out something you used.

Walk out something you used.

Yeah, so what is like your thoughts behind your walkout? And is that a way for you to get the crowd on your side? Like, what are your thoughts behind walkouts?

Yeah, so what is like your thoughts behind your walkout? And is that a way for you to get the crowd on your side? Like, what are your thoughts behind walkouts?

Yeah? It was for myself when I started this or not once they started I felt like it. Yeah, I didn't just go all right, I'm going to do this. It wasn't just the same thing. It was what I did. I look back on some games, and the games that I was winning, a lot of them were when I was having a bit of fun, when I wasn't. Yeah, I wasn't so rigid and focused. And because I remember when I first started and stuff like that, and when I played stage games and that, because we don't get that exposure, the stage exposure. But over there you got a lot of chances, and a lot of chances are playing in bigger crowds and stuff, where here you couldn't. So I didn't really yeah, I didn't have that exposure, but yet I found that once. Yeah, once I was having fun and watching the games that I did, I was playing, well, all right, I need to do something or you know, I had I was, I was interacting with the crowd before getting on. I did a little dance at one time. And then and it wasn't until I went to a euro tour in Munich and I was like, I just want to I want to change it. I want to change my song. And this was at backstage before I'm about to go on, like a couple of hours before and the main dude from PDC Europe he goes, oh, perfect song for you, use this rah rah. I was like, okay, So I googled it and what it was and what it's about, and it's about like I think it's about prostitute in there or something. I was like, oh, no, all right, well, if you've allowed it, mate, okay, we'll go for it. And it's a song that's within that area and yeah. And I was like, oh, what's a what's a German dance or something that can go along and whatever? And I was like all right, cool. And then another guy goes, oh, we'll grab a hat from the crowd. He said you could use this and ra okay, chuck it on. We'll give it a go. And yeah, sure enough they this song. It's called scandal am Spurs of Bic something like that anyway, and yeah, and then sure enough the whole crowd knew like all the words and the chorus and they're just going maun. I'm like, how good is this? Like? I just it worked well. So I've gone up there and I you know, I won my game. I played a right and I'm like, oh, I really enjoyed it. And I was like, oh, what's So next week I was playing in Austria. I was like, what Austrians do, I'm thinking of skiing and snow in the out So I was like, all right, I've got to find a skiing song that's that's German or Austrian because they speak German over there, and and I come with a little dance and then I was like, all right, I'm getting some skis and some goggles and less let's go for it. And yeah, sure enough. It just that all worked down a treat as well. I'm like, and I not. It wasn't really for the crowd. It was more for myself just to be relaxed and before getting up there. And then once I'm up there, I do my nine practice starts and I'm ready to go. Now all that's out, I'm settled, I'm happy, Let's go for it. And that was to me. It's more of a mindset for myself and I just went along with it for a bit there. It's the yeah, and that's all it was. It was never a lot of people like to go you you're doing it for yeah, tension and you're doing it for bad reasons or different different goals. And I was like, well, no, I'm literally doing it just for myself because that's how I feel. And and now with the walk Ons and stuff like that, I'm not doing so much different ones. I'm keeping the Links and Rex because I think it's a brilliant one, you know, the whole. All the crowd know it. There's a German version and a Dutch version, so pretty much most of the euro tools done with that, and it just gives people now to relate. So once I hear that song, they know Damon had a dark player, you know what I mean. And so if I have the same sort of thing going on, and that's what I'm trying to do, like like in England as well, just keep the same thing now and just people know when they hear that song, oh yeah, that's the head, that's the So it's yeah, it's all about being a character, isn't it as well? So you've got to have you got to have character.

Yeah? It was for myself when I started this or not once they started I felt like it. Yeah, I didn't just go all right, I'm going to do this. It wasn't just the same thing. It was what I did. I look back on some games, and the games that I was winning, a lot of them were when I was having a bit of fun, when I wasn't. Yeah, I wasn't so rigid and focused. And because I remember when I first started and stuff like that, and when I played stage games and that, because we don't get that exposure, the stage exposure. But over there you got a lot of chances, and a lot of chances are playing in bigger crowds and stuff, where here you couldn't. So I didn't really yeah, I didn't have that exposure, but yet I found that once. Yeah, once I was having fun and watching the games that I did, I was playing, well, all right, I need to do something or you know, I had I was, I was interacting with the crowd before getting on. I did a little dance at one time. And then and it wasn't until I went to a euro tour in Munich and I was like, I just want to I want to change it. I want to change my song. And this was at backstage before I'm about to go on, like a couple of hours before and the main dude from PDC Europe he goes, oh, perfect song for you, use this rah rah. I was like, okay, So I googled it and what it was and what it's about, and it's about like I think it's about prostitute in there or something. I was like, oh, no, all right, well, if you've allowed it, mate, okay, we'll go for it. And it's a song that's within that area and yeah. And I was like, oh, what's a what's a German dance or something that can go along and whatever? And I was like all right, cool. And then another guy goes, oh, we'll grab a hat from the crowd. He said you could use this and ra okay, chuck it on. We'll give it a go. And yeah, sure enough they this song. It's called scandal am Spurs of Bic something like that anyway, and yeah, and then sure enough the whole crowd knew like all the words and the chorus and they're just going maun. I'm like, how good is this? Like? I just it worked well. So I've gone up there and I you know, I won my game. I played a right and I'm like, oh, I really enjoyed it. And I was like, oh, what's So next week I was playing in Austria. I was like, what Austrians do, I'm thinking of skiing and snow in the out So I was like, all right, I've got to find a skiing song that's that's German or Austrian because they speak German over there, and and I come with a little dance and then I was like, all right, I'm getting some skis and some goggles and less let's go for it. And yeah, sure enough. It just that all worked down a treat as well. I'm like, and I not. It wasn't really for the crowd. It was more for myself just to be relaxed and before getting up there. And then once I'm up there, I do my nine practice starts and I'm ready to go. Now all that's out, I'm settled, I'm happy, Let's go for it. And that was to me. It's more of a mindset for myself and I just went along with it for a bit there. It's the yeah, and that's all it was. It was never a lot of people like to go you you're doing it for yeah, tension and you're doing it for bad reasons or different different goals. And I was like, well, no, I'm literally doing it just for myself because that's how I feel. And and now with the walk Ons and stuff like that, I'm not doing so much different ones. I'm keeping the Links and Rex because I think it's a brilliant one, you know, the whole. All the crowd know it. There's a German version and a Dutch version, so pretty much most of the euro tools done with that, and it just gives people now to relate. So once I hear that song, they know Damon had a dark player, you know what I mean. And so if I have the same sort of thing going on, and that's what I'm trying to do, like like in England as well, just keep the same thing now and just people know when they hear that song, oh yeah, that's the head, that's the So it's yeah, it's all about being a character, isn't it as well? So you've got to have you got to have character.

That's awesome. Just on your nickname the heat. Wikipedia says that it's just your last name flipped around. Yeah, is that what it is? How did that come about?

That's awesome. Just on your nickname the heat. Wikipedia says that it's just your last name flipped around. Yeah, is that what it is? How did that come about?

Yeah? It was so I've had at the start, I did have some stupid name, like I put in the Crusader and I was like oh yeah, it's so it worked all right, And I'm like and then how And then getting down the track, I'm like, yeah, it's just not it's just not me. Not just not me. I mean it's a it's a good name, but it's just not me. So I went to my mate's, well, a few mates places, but I went to one of them and just you know, for a whole weekend, all right. The goal is we were to come up with a proper nickname and I'm going to stick with it, all right, Yeah, and we're just rambling on, rambling on, and my other mate was dead set on you should be the power Tool. What I was like, Nah, mate, you're missing a trick. It's got to be. I'm like, no, it's not happening. So and then that, like the Heat just made sense right, you know what I mean. I'm a roof of Australian. Yeah, Heat like just everything worked. My last name obviously as well. The only the only downside to that is is that there was a previous player. It's no like he's been not been on tour for for years and years and his nickname was the Heat, right yeah, and his walk on song like was the Heat is on, I'm not all right, I'll get the name because I think it works, and he's not in the scene, so it's like, well, yeah, it's all right. I think it's all right, but I'm not going to use the walk on as well because then it looks a bit like come on, yeah, come up with your own Yeah. So yeah, and that's where you, yeah, just mix it up and see what works, what doesn't work and yeah. And then then I was just obviously at the moment, I'm still flicking through going what really like for the English side, what really works and what yeah, and what sort of gets on like having the heat in it or fire. Yeah, So I'm still yet to I did use at the moment, I've got Fallout Boy Light them Up. But it's not it's not a sing song. It's more of just a groove song, you know, you just thing. But yet, yeah, the crowd over there, they love a sing song, don't they. And that's what it seems to be at the moment, is everyone, if you've got a one that you can sing to, the crowd seems to just carry on after the music's been cut down. So you've got to Yeah, I've sort of got to come up, Yeah, come up with something like that or yeah, any options here.