Dan Hall: Auckland FC defender ahead of 'season-defining' semi-final

Auckland FC are striving for a fast start in this evening's A-League semi-final return leg against Melbourne Victory at Mt Smart.

The Black Knights take a one-goal advantage into the sold-out re-match, the last stop before the grand final.

Coach Steve Corica says a week off ahead of the first leg meant they were a bit rusty...but he doesn't expect that to be the case again.

Auckland FC defender Dan Hall joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview this evening's season-defining game. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
A League semifinal Leg two. Woh woh woa. It is
Auckland FC at home with the one zip lead already
over Melbourne victory six o'clock tonight. It is out, it's
mouth smart and we're joined now by mister Dan Hall,

(00:34):
man out of the team who has been instrumental in
their success. Indeed, if he can get through alright, look
the success this guy has ridiculous. This is a talismanic
character who brings glory and positivity to the side. Dan
Hall good morning.

Speaker 3 (00:51):
Good morning, good morning. Thanks having me on. How are
you going?

Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah, good, thanks for joining us. How do you suppress
the nerves? Do you have a method? Because you've been there,
done that, what third consecutive a league final for you,
so you've got a bit of skin in this. You
know how to deal with it, right.

Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, but of course you know every big occasion the
nerves are definitely there. I'm more, i think, just excited
to get out there in front of the home crowd
and put on a good performance.

Speaker 2 (01:17):
So you focus on the excitement as opposed to the
negative side. To that it's something you've always done or
something you've developed.

Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yeah, exactly, I think especially this year. You know, I
was out for three months with an ankle injury, so
just being grateful that I get to be back out
there playing. It's you know, what you grow up do,
wanting to do and to be able to live that dream,
you know, not taking it for granted. So I really
just excited to get out there tonight.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
What did you learn from the two occasions you've turned
up to the big dance and walked off with all
the lollies. In fact, you walked off with three sets
a lot, So I asked you, didn't you But you
must be sitting down and talking to some of the
less experienced teammates about what it means how you harness
their energy if you let it go. I'm not sure
what your mentality is going into this. So many athletes

(02:04):
dan have different theories around the best way to extract
that top performance.

Speaker 3 (02:10):
Yeah, as you said, I guess from person to person
it's obviously very different. But for me personally, I'm just
looking forward to going out there a big home crowd,
and I'm not trying to think too much into the game.
Obviously it's a big occasion, but just it's a game
of football at the end of the day. So hopefully
just going out there trying my best and hopefully by

(02:32):
the end of it winning, winning the game and taking
home the lollies as you say.

Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, the lollies. Well, and of course then there's the
next step and if you get that one done, that
is three times on the bounce, of course, winning that game.
I just got a little heat of myself. It's a
terrible in the media do that they start predicting you
want it already to your haters.

Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, obviously, you know here at Auckland f C. We're
very well grounded and we know the job's not done
and we respect every team we come up against. Obviously
we have a one nil lead coming into this leg.
But as you said, football you know, can change very quickly.
So we're just you know, not taking anything for granted
and you're going to try and win the game on
Merritt tonight.

Speaker 2 (03:11):
Do you start from scratch? Do you park a bus?
Do you go and knowing your one nil up? Do
you go and pretending your one nil down? What's the
mentality there?

Speaker 3 (03:22):
Yeah, obviously you know I'm not the coach, so.

Speaker 2 (03:24):
Oh come on, experience, tell.

Speaker 3 (03:27):
Me the coach. But for me, obviously, I think I'm
just going to go in the mindset that I want
to win a game of football and very competitive so
as on my teammates. So you know, we want to
go out there and you know, play our brand of
football and hopefully that leads in us moving on progressing
to the next the Grand Final.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
Describe your brand of football?

Speaker 3 (03:49):
Oh well, for my brand of football personally is win
the ball and give it to players that are better
than me. That's what I do. But I think the
team Auckland f S there's you know, there's obviously a
very talented group there and you know they play great
football and it's good to watch and I'm just glad
to be a part of it. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
Not a run or addresser here. It's somebod as close
as you're going to get last week in. Take the
good out of it and tell me and then take
the bad out of it. Stuff you want to drop
kick to the sideline from that first of two legs.

Speaker 3 (04:17):
Yeah, obviously the one nil result was huge. I think
any result, you know, even a nil all going away
down to Melbourne and trying to get anything out of
there we would have been happy with. So to come
back one nil up is a great, great start and
we want to build on that and hopefully, you know,
secure that spot in the Grand Final.

Speaker 2 (04:37):
What's the general talk being around the team, sells around
the fan base about what you've achieved so far? Dare
I put words in your mouth, But you haven't really
achieved anything, have you? Unless you win that title? Nothing
else matters, even the Premiers Play.

Speaker 3 (04:55):
Yeah exactly. I mean, obviously during the season, you know,
the Premiers Play's very important and we were very grateful
to win that and I think were well deserved. But
obviously one we've celebrated that one. You know, we've put
that one to bed and we're looking ahead now to
the Grand Final. So the boys are very excited to
hopefully make it to the Grand Final. Played a good

(05:17):
football game tonight and once we get into that Grand
final touch wood that you know, we're looking all steam
ahead for winning the Grand Final trophy.

Speaker 2 (05:26):
You'll be looking forward to not playing in a swamp.

Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yes, exactly exactly.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
Must make things difficult with those conditions, but you'd expect
it to be a good track come the seed not
six o'clock at kicks off.

Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yeah, yeah exactly. If obviously last week where the conditions
weren't ideal, but I mean that's football. So looking promising
tonight for a great night out and hopefully we get
a good home support to cheer us over the line.

Speaker 2 (05:53):
I think you'll get good home support. I think that's
an absolute given what's happened this year. The Port are
going off. How was that little section of them in
the crowd last week just going mad for it? This
tiny wedge in the corner. I don't know if the
victory fans over impressed, but you guys must love that.
I mean, you'll just power it over there. At the
ind of it, it's like.

Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yes, we're here, yeah exactly. I mean the Port have
been unbelievable. I think if you were to ask me,
you know, eight months ago, before the season started, if
we would be getting about two hundred fans to travel
across the ditch to support us, I wouldn't think that's possible.
But you know, they've proven me wrong. And we you know,
with the boys and I we want to do it
for them is just as much as we want to

(06:31):
do it for each other. So I think it's you know,
something Auckland can look ahead of and we want to
make everyone proud.

Speaker 2 (06:38):
And finally, one last thing, how do you turn off? Dan?
You just can't breathe and think football constantly. You go
and say, oh, maybe you do, but is there a
way for you to actually just set everything down and
call your jets and just not do football.

Speaker 3 (06:54):
Yeah, of course, I think for me personally, it's all
about just reconnecting with my mates back in Australia and
all over the world, just you know, trying to get
your brain off football because obviously it's pretty quite demanding.
So and you can switch off from the game for
a little bit, it's obviously good. And yeah that's what
I've been doing. And obviously he's going to start building

(07:14):
back up for the big game tonight.

Speaker 2 (07:15):
Well let's go come tonight before six. But when it
really counts, I know you'll make it count. Dan Hall,
Thanks so much for joining us. Sorry to put the
curse on you by saying three consecutive A League finals
because it hasn't happened yet, but we we're immedia. You
can't blame us, right Dan.

Speaker 3 (07:34):
Exactly right. No, I appreciate you having me on. Thank
you very much, thank you.

Speaker 2 (07:40):
I nearly blew it then, but I think we're okay.
I think we're still friends. We get excited, all right,
we're enthusiasts. It's old On FC taking on Melbourne VICTORYFC. Tonight.
It's at home. It's a semi final up one zip
aggregate score, not away goals rubbish and we can spought.

(08:01):
Jason Pine is going to be broadcasting live from Tyler
Street Sport in rit to mart That's from mid day,
expert analysis, exclusive interviews and the ultimate true blue pregame atmosphere.
Second Listen here at Newstalk ZB or get on down
join Pineyer at Tylers Street Sport. It's the new home
of sports in Auckland City, delivering the ultimate bar experience

(08:25):
for all sports fans and foodies alike.

Speaker 1 (08:28):
Get amongst for more from the All Sport Breakfast with
Darcy Watergrave. Listen live to News Talk st B on
Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio