Barry Hall says he won’t die wondering against Paul Gallen

As Barry Hall prepares to fight Paul Gallen, the former AFL star chats with Grantlee Kieza about what motivated him to take the bout, his background in boxing and regrets from his footy career.

Former AFL player Barry Hall (left) shapes up against former NRL player Paul Gallen. Picure: Dave Goudie

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Grantlee Kieza visited Big Barry Hall at his remote training camp in northern NSW to go toe to toe with an AFL great ahead of Friday’s fight with Paul Gallen.

You’re 42 and you have no professional boxing experience. What makes you think you can beat Paul Gallen, who is a nationally rated heavyweight and who knocked out John Hopoate, a former Australian heavyweight champ?

I’m a person who loves to challenge myself. I guess you could ask Gallen why he is taking the fight. He’s had nine pro fights and he really should be moving up, not coming back down. The fight’s been talked about for a couple of years and I wanted to take the challenge rather

than die wondering. I respect what Gallen has done.

You’ve stipulated that this fight be over six two-minute rounds rather than three-minute rounds. That should suit your speed, making the fight more of a sprint?

Gallen has whinged about it but it’s either that or no fight. I’ve come off the couch to fight him with just seven weeks to get ready. He’s been fighting regularly but I hadn’t even sparred anyone for years before agreeing to this fight. He can’t have everything to suit him. I wanted more time to get ready but we didn’t have it. Size is one advantage for me, I have height and reach over him, but it’s also about being smart about the way I fight. I’ve got good guys in my corner too in Angelo Hyder and Tony Nobbs.

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Barry Hall training in Kingscliff ahead of his fight with Paul Gallen. Picture: Adam Head

We have Origin great Justin Hodges in Queensland who is now fighting as a pro. After Gallen will you be looking for other fights?

Look, I’m 42. It might be a big ask to keep going after this. I’m not planning to make a career out of boxing but we’ll see what happens with Gallen. I don’t want to disrespect the sport in any way. I’m not a boxer but people have to understand if we can put on a show and draw attention to the sport it’s good for boxing. If people tune in to see me fight Gallen they also get to see the (world title challengers) Moloney brothers on the same card and that can only help them. I hope the boxing fraternity also realise what I’m doing. I’m not like a lot of footballers jumping in there and fighting someone out of the pub. I’m going against Paul Gallen, an experienced professional boxer who is unbeaten.

You boxed as an amateur but it was a long time ago?

I had a few amateur fights growing up at Broadford, north of Melbourne. I was trained by my father Raymond. We had a gym in the backyard where all the local footy players worked out. I won a Victorian junior title at 51kg when I was 15.

Barry Hall jabs out at former Australian cruiserweight champ Ben Kelleher. Picture: Adam Head

I don’t think you’ll make 51kg again?

I’m about 103-104kg now. I played at 105kg but I haven’t touched weights for a long time. Angelo says weights make fighters slow.

You lost your radio job on Triple M last year after a crude on-air joke. Are you bitter about that?

Not bitter. If I didn’t say it, it wouldn’t have happened but I think they could have handled it better. I’m not blaming them because you have to accept responsibility for your actions.

It was an expensive mistake?

Absolutely.

So are you taking this fight for the money?

No, I don’t need to fight for the money. I’ve got a good steady job working in debtor and trade finance at Moneytech Limited. It’s a nice change of pace.

Hall is a big fan of Ukrainian fighter Vasyl Lomachenko. Picture: AFP

What involvement do you have in AFL now?

Not much. I wouldn’t have watched a match all year. I much prefer watching UFC or boxing. Growing up, Marvin Hagler was my favourite fighter. Vasyl Lomachenko is my favourite now.

So if you’re not at the footy, how do you spend your weekends?

Cars and kids. I collect old muscle cars – Camaros, Mustangs and Monaros. The ‘69 Camaro is my favourite. I’m at the beach a bit too. I moved up from Melbourne to Burleigh Heads with my partner Lauren and our two little boys Miller and Houston so I could train for this fight at Angelo’s gym at Kingscliff.

You played 289 games at the top in the AFL. The 2005 grand final must be the highlight?

Leading a side to an AFL premiership is every footy player’s dream. Regardless of what happens in life – even in this fight, if I win or lose I’ll always have that; captaining a premiership side.

Coach Paul Roos and Barry Hall raise the cup after the Swans’ 2005 grand final victory.

What was your favourite memory from that match?

The siren, for one. The relief of winning and just the journey of getting there. I’d played in the losing St Kilda side against Adelaide in the grand final eight years earlier and I was a bit naive thinking I’d win a title the next. But it was a hard road. We built the Swans from a mediocre side to one of the AFL powerhouses. Paul Roos changed the style of coaching to become more of a people manager. He knew to how to get the best of out of his team and to make sure his players were happy. Playing alongside Plugger Lockett for a season at the Swans was also a career highlight.

Wikipedia says your career ``was marred by a reputation for on-field aggression’’ which earned you the label of a football ``wild man’’?

I walked the line I guess. That’s how I played my best footy. Aggressive. You can’t have the attitude ``I better not play too hard because someone might not like it’’. Aggression is what you need in boxing, obviously, as well. You can’t hide in there. It’s a tough old sport.

While playing for the Swans you received a seven-match suspension for icing Brent Staker. What was all that about?

I was just frustrated. I’m regretful now and he had to live through it. I addressed that issue but I can’t take it back now.

Barry Hall knocks out Eagles player Brent Staker in an off the ball incident at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. PICTURE COURTESY NETWORK 10 .

When you were playing for St Kilda you broke Sam McFarlane’s jaw in three places?

Some stuff I’ve done isn’t great but it gets you the point where I am now and I learnt a lot. Those unfortunate incidents are in the past and right now I’m in a good place.

After leaving the Swans you had immediate success at the Bulldogs?

We won the NAB Cup in my first season. The last game I played at the Swans I got reported and was basically sacked from the club but I still felt I had some good footy to offer.

How would you like to be remembered in AFL?

I think I was a good team player. I wanted the team to succeed more than me individually and I think you can see that with my number of assists. I worked hard.

Former AFL player Barry Hall (left) and NRL Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks player Paul Gallen face off ahead of their Code War boxing launch in Melbourne. (AAP Image/Stefan Postles)

You were pretty fast for a big man. That’s important for this fight?

Yeah, well, I’d love to be Benjamin Button and be able to turn the clock back to when I was in my early 30s. Athleticism and speed were part of my game and I was very fast over 20 metres. We’ll see how the hand speed is on Friday night. The pressure is all on Gallen. He’s got the experience. Everyone thinks he’s going to win but what happens if he doesn’t? I’ve got nothing to lose.