He Smashed Football’s Wildest Record. Then Got Cut

He scored 13 goals in one game a world record and still never made the World Cup squad.

Archie Thompson is a straight-up legend of Australian football. A Socceroo icon, a fan favourite, and the man behind one of the wildest performances the game has ever seen.

But this episode goes way deeper than goals. Archie opens up about being overlooked, what it’s like to carry a record no one ever touched and still feel forgotten and the identity crisis that comes with being remembered for just one thing.

Legacy, ego, regret, redemption.. this one is elite 🤌

🔥 Here's what is inside:

• The untold story behind Archie’s 13-goal world record
• Why he was never picked for the World Cup
• What it feels like to be remembered for just one game
• Behind the scenes of Australia’s football golden era
• Ego, identity, and life after being “the big fish”
• What every young athlete needs to hear

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
So 13 goals, world record and then make a move, you've got the
biggest goal to be. Broken.
I mean, this is the chance Fred through.
Archie Thompson puts that statistic right on the big
stage. We started having success. 2005
when the World Cup came around, everyone was like the football
fan that year. We did well.
We actually made it. So we kind of pioneered into

(00:21):
that World Cup after 35 years ofnot making it.
But when it wasn't going well, Iwas in fear because I didn't
want to be that person that madea mistake.
I didn't want to be that person that let the team down.
I don't want to be the person that let the fans down.
I didn't want the fans to think that I was no good with being an
athlete or 1% make it. Also too, everyone thinks that
you go over there and make a shit load of money.

(00:42):
We weren't paid for 2-3 months and had to borrow money from my
in laws. So it it's a hard gig.
You don't look like the sort of guy that loses confidence, but
can you remember a time that youdid lose it and what did you do
to get it back? Welcome to the Little Fish
podcast, bringing you extraordinary stories to inspire

(01:02):
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entire process. We get it done faster, cheaper
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(01:23):
Let's get into it. Welcome back to Australia's
number one podcast. We have a little fish.
We speak to the big fish about town each and every week.
Coming on, mate. No stress.
Really appreciate it. Yeah, No, thank you.
Hey. Mate, do you want to tell us
what your what your run here waslike?
Just first of all, if you're watching me, I haven't had a
stroke. I was just at the dentist
waiting to get a check up on a implant.

(01:45):
And then, you know, it was a check up and then that's why I
was probably a little late to this, but then they had to redo
it. So This is why I've got this
half corner bit going on. But yeah, mate, and coming from
Glen Waverley and you know, sometimes this was this party
was sort of how long ago that. We booked you in a while ago.

(02:06):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm organized.
Yeah, I'm, I'm useless at timings and so I'm like too.
Well, I think it was maybe too much.
Too much I. Reckon so.
Always things pop up and God, man, I'm probably drooling a
little bit here. Sorry.
Yeah. So it was a bit hectic, but I'm
here. No, no.
All good man in. A crazy setup.
It's awesome. No, it is good, man.
It's fresh. It's fresh.

(02:26):
We're a few, we're a few EPS in this year in this, in this new
setup. But yeah, it's nice.
It's exciting. Yeah.
Hey, mate, do you want to tell us where it all began?
Because, you know, Archie Thompson is a massive name in
Australian football. We've done some amazing things.
Just said it in the intro, you know, you know, talk to us where
it where it began. A young, young New Zealander.
Yeah, gosh, well, born in New Zealand, probably 5 weeks old

(02:51):
actually, when I came to Australia and my dad was a mad
football like fan, loved playingthe game.
But he was he came from a very religious background, seven day
Venice. So like he wasn't allowed to
maybe do a lot of the things that like sporting and football

(03:13):
and also to being in New Zealand, like soccer was
probably like, you know, least favorite or because you had
rugby and all these other sports.
So in a way, I guess growing up,he was sort of living football
through me. And you know, from for as long
as I can remember, I come from quite a big family and we all

(03:33):
played football from my brothers, sisters, my mum, my
dad. And it was in the station wagon
sort of every weekend, basicallymy whole childhood going to
football and spending pretty much all Sundays or all weekend
playing a game. And that's kind of where it all
all fell in for me. So it was always soccer.

(03:54):
Yeah, well, it was actually a bit of tennis like, like it
probably could have gone either way.
I I was not a bad tennis player.I won a few tournaments in the
Albury Wodonga area was the sortof place where I grew up.
And yeah, but you know, footballwas something that I was really
good at and, and, and I just, there was probably more of a

(04:16):
pathway there. Yeah.
So I just sort of slotted into that.
Orbudong, I'm from Wangaratta, OH.
Wang yeah, we used to. Yeah, well, mate, Wangaratta, we
used to have so many good, good matches against them though,
like a big Italian community, 100% yeah, 100.
Percent, I know you know, S Wangfooty over or you know, footy
over was where where they all used to play and I wasn't a

(04:38):
footy soccer player myself, I was Australian Rules.
But yeah, knew some of the boys that are that loved it.
Yeah, yeah. Good little rivalry between the
two towns, but yeah, so that wasthe era I grew up and played and
big football community down thatway.
Did you slot into soccer pretty well if rugby was the norm back

(05:00):
then? But was it different that you
were doing soccer, or was it sort of just even growing up?
Rugby. But I mean, just think
culturally, you say, because that was the norm and everyone
in your in your culture was into, into rugby, but then
you're playing soccer. Was it was it easy to transition
and change when when everyone was doing rugby?

(05:20):
Well, it was 5 weeks old when I came to Australia from New
Zealand. So like my, yeah, my mum's Papua
New Guinea, my dad's like a white Kiwi.
So man, like rugby was really never in our blood, thank God,
because I get squashed. And if you look at my mum, she's
about this tall on me and I'm, I'm a short ass as well.
So, but look, yes, for me, like no, that's what other than

(05:46):
tennis and rugby I made, footy was for me.
Yeah, gotcha. Yeah, Archie, amazing career.
You know, you would have been all the Rep teams up there, up
there in the north at Northeast Victoria and all that sort of
stuff. Were you someone that was always
going to get picked up and get to the top of the top of the
sport in Australia, do you think?

(06:09):
I don't know, because my path tobecoming a professional was like
a little bit like this. I was part of a lot of the Rep
teams like it. It started with country
Victoria, then Country NSW and you played in Nationals then you
got picked up for your national team there.
Like I think it was Joey's at the time.

(06:30):
And I was sort of in that age orthat generation of like a Harry
Kuehl, Brett Emmerton, all thesesort of superstars were like in
that age group. So, so my first sort of Rep
teams, I was playing against them and Sydney was always a
really strong football community.

(06:50):
And so when I started to make those teams my first ever billet
because we used to get billeted.So we used to like because I
was. Talking a country, I have a
family. Yeah, yeah.
So we'd go to Sydney and my first week in Sydney was with
Harry Kewell. So yes, I ended up staying with

(07:11):
Harry Kewell for a week, I thinkprobably about 12, 12/13 at the
time. And yeah, so and then because I
was living in Bathurst at the time, so that was one part of a
Rep team. Then there was like this, all
these sort of different academies and Rep teams that
you're part of. I was part of the NSW Academy.

(07:31):
So I used to drive up and down from Orbi Wodonga.
I mean not sorry, Orbi Wodonga, Bathurst to Sydney which is like
2/2 hour 3 hour trip through theBlue Mountains three times a
week. And your and your parents.
Yeah, Mark, yeah, yeah, rang me up and like we had there was
another boy I think from orange that was also part of it.

(07:53):
So we shared the travelling and so I would go up and.
And in that team was Harry Kill,Brett Emmerton.
And it was hard. Like it was hard because I was
in that sort of, I think age where it's like that doing that
for a couple of years where I was 1314 and that's when
everyone was like, you know, going to parties and, and, and

(08:14):
football was really taking up a lot of that time because it was
three times a week to Sydney, 6 hour trips.
So, so it was tough. So your weekend was gone, your
weekdays were gone. So I kind of like gave football
up for a little while because I,I, I wanted to have fun and that

(08:35):
was probably a crucial time whenyou needed to, I guess, be
dedicated to football and, and the sport you had chosen if you
wanted to go to the next level. And then so that kind of, I felt
like that kind of being my professional career where I'm
kind of like in it, then I'm outof it, then I'm in it then and
out of it. Like, because I wasn't that
someone that was like a, you know, fully dedicated to the

(08:57):
sport. Like I'd love to have a good
time, which probably got me intotrouble all the time.
But I, I think that's why peoplekind of related to me too,
because, you know, I was someonethat would have fun and, and,
and you know, when I need to be professional, it was, but I
still like that, the fun side ofit.
So I, I gave it up for a little bit and then I, I, I left school

(09:19):
because things weren't going well there.
I got kicked out of there and then.
So everything was going well forme.
You can tell I ended up working in a Chinese restaurant as a
kitchen hand and I might choose to take the piss out of me all
the time about it. And no, no.
And then I happened to see HarryKewell on TV and this is I was

(09:40):
sorry, I don't know the time brackets and stuff but.
Like what are you, sort of teenager?
We, yeah, 1516 years after you, yeah, we've been 16/16/17 and I
saw Harry Kewell up on the TV and he was doing amazing things
with, with his time at Leeds and, and I was thinking, man, I
was literally staying at his house.

(10:01):
And yeah. And also too, like, people
considered me to be sort of at that sort of level.
He was too. And he just signed a contract.
I think it was like 90 to $100,000 a week.
And he was only like, yeah, I think he was only 17.
And mate, I was only making 90 bucks.
So you both are 90. 9090 you know, yeah, I just was missing a

(10:25):
few zeros and then, you know, chopping onions and all this
sort of jazz. Well, I could make sweet sour
pork like mad. And then, so then when I saw
that, I was like, man, I've got to get, I made that decision
myself. Actually, like, and I was,
there's a few things going on, but I was 16.
I'm like, no, I, I knew I could do it.
I've been there before. People had said that I had a bit

(10:46):
of talent. So then I was like, man, I'm
going to do it. And was that so?
Was that the first time that youmade the decision that I'm going
to be a professional athlete? So before that you were in all
these elite squads doing all this travelling and stuff,
hanging out with Harry Kewell. In your mind, you hadn't
connected those dots. You were just playing soccer
because you grew up playing. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, pretty

(11:08):
much. And and then obviously seeing
that and I wanted that cash. I want a little bit of.
Something I played because I love.
It I want that money then like 90,000 bucks.
But then like obviously worked hard and, you know, a lot of
things happened in that time toothat led me to the Chinese

(11:28):
restaurant even like even I worked in an abattoir.
So yeah, man, I was, I've done some.
And the room that I was in in the abattoir was like cleaning
the shit out of the like, the the, I don't even know what he'd
call it like a shit bag. Like in this little room at a

(11:52):
like, big bulls would come down,I'll clean them out.
That was like my job. Mate I think anything going on
in abattoirs? Probably not much.
Fun now well, look, to be honest, like not trying to say
anything bad. The people that work in there
probably can't get jobs anywhereelse, you know, so, or they're
just straight out of somewhere. And yeah, jail.

(12:14):
And yeah, so, but I knew I had to kind of work in there to get
back in the track, back on trackbecause that Chinese restaurant,
the times that I was working there, I couldn't play with the
local team. So I knew that I had to find
another job. That was the only job I could
find. And it just worked perfectly
with me getting back in the football.

(12:34):
And that's, that's what I did for a little.
So I guess I, I, it was only a little period, but I, I know
what it's like to work that job and to work professionally.
So that's why I never took anything for granted because of,
you know, that was a hard road to get there.
Yeah, 100 percent, 100%, and we'll get to it later.
But that's why you're into the helping kids and and keeping

(12:56):
them on the right track and thatsort of stuff.
Yeah. Oh, I'll try.
Yeah. Well, well, they keep me on the
track. Yeah.
Yeah. But me keeping them on track, if
that's like, you know, we help each other.
So you were saying what was the thing?
So you made the decision then what was the next step?
What did you do? Did you have to move somewhere?
You felt you'll say you're finding a.
Team Well, these these are the things that kind of happened,

(13:16):
right? Like, yeah, there's one global
question. And then finish with how long
does it take for Harry to then start answering your calls
again? Yeah.
Well, it was funny because, yeah, like, I guess when you
make a decision and you, you. Yeah, yeah, I'm big on the
universe and, and, and attracting things and
manifesting things and just without even knowing it, I was

(13:39):
doing it at the time because I knew other OK, I'm going to be
like bang on it. And then things started to
happen. I've got a call out of the blue
from an old coach that used to coach for years and years ago
and said, look, I've got a trialwith with Gippsland Falcons.
So it was like hours and hours away from where I was.

(13:59):
And my dad was like, you know, you know, this is a real big
opportunity to get back into football.
And so I was playing local. I get a call, I go to Gippsland,
which were playing in the old National League.
So like the the A League, but before the A League.
So the National League's NSLNSL.Yeah.

(14:20):
And mate, I went there and it was Frank Errock.
He's like an icon of Australian football.
But I know I knew nothing about Australian football, man.
Like I, I probably still don't know work in it.
And but yeah, he, he said, OK, we're going to have a trial.
And where we trial was in the, in the not even on the pitch.

(14:42):
It was in a gravel car park outside the pitch.
The this is a sort of he was just a wacky character, like he
thought a little bit outside thebox.
And I knew that that was me opportunity.
And mate, I, I, I took it like Iwas probably a little bit mad
because the way that I was sliding and diving on this

(15:02):
gravel car park, like all my knees and all that were cut up.
And, but the next day I had a contract and that that's kind of
where it all started. And yeah, and with Harry Killer,
I started obviously doing well and then went into the
Socceroos. And I actually thought that time
had passed and he'd gone on doneamazing things.
So I didn't think he'd he'd Remember Me.

(15:24):
But it was funny. He went in the camp and as soon
as he saw me, it's like Archie, man, it's so great to see you.
And it was, yeah, it was great. You know what that says that
just goes to show that and whichis what we try and get across
here is that these guys and you included the big, big fish.
Even you were looking at Harry thinking the big fish, they're
just like everyone else, right? It's just it's just another
dude. Of course he's going to remember

(15:44):
you, dude. He was in the room that you were
in and he remembers you just like you did.
And that's just the crazy thing in that, that where your mind,
when you see things, people do big things and think, well,
they're different to me. Like he, he may not have.
Yeah, he's probably got way moregoing on, so he's not going to
remember. Me, yeah, that's crazy.
Well, that's kind of like me going into that Socceroo

(16:04):
environment, national team environment, because I've looked
up to a lot of these guys and then all of a sudden I'm like
thrown in there and I'm thinking, God, are they going to
like me? Are they going to think that I'm
worthy of being there as is my football ability worthy?
Like, you know, you start playing all these scenarios in
your head and then they, they were just the most beautiful

(16:28):
guys, like, and then we became brothers basically through our
time and our journey with whatever we did and what we did.
Run. Yeah, with a mad run and stuff.
And like, good parties too. Like like we used to be so
excited to be part of the soccerroute team, not even the play
football, but knowing that we'regonna have a good night

(16:49):
afterwards. And man.
The Australian way, man. Man, the Australian way, like we
had a really, I think it was just before the World Cup
actually. We had a great night. 16.
Yeah, yeah, 06/06, yeah. In in London where, you know, a
couple of guys stole something and stole the car and lifted in
somewhere. And actually, no, they did.

(17:11):
I don't know who stole it. Yeah, yeah, I don't know who
stole the car. And now we didn't have heavies
come to our hotel and try and figure out who it was.
We didn't do that. But it was pretty, pretty
amazing times. And that's what kind of
connected us all. And it's not, it's not like what
it is now, but it's, I guess it's a different kind of
brotherhood that they they will have.

(17:32):
It just kind of evolves. Times times are different.
Right. Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Yeah, I think that's in all the sports and.
Yeah, I know. Well, I was I was funny because
I was at a something in Tassie and I saw David Boone like my
like I grew up watching it like you know, when you.
Think what's the record like youthink of big.
Fish. I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I was like, man. Boo, that's a good point.
Yes, yeah. Well, there you go.

(17:53):
Booty, booty. And like, you know, he's telling
his story about how he sunk so many beers.
On the on the flight to London like.
Yeah, there's no way I could do that like.
You you board up, you did some amazing things.
One thing I know that's burning the we've got a the third end
goals. Oh yeah.
Tell us about that, David. They've got a.
Premiere of the the movie they made from that game.

(18:16):
Bullshit. Yeah, yeah, I can't remember the
guy's name, but he was on the movie Free guy.
He was the the New Zealand got New Zealand actor.
He's going out with the singer. No, no one.
'S good anyone? Anyone from the ground Ryan
Reynolds. No, the other dude.

(18:38):
Oh, Joe Kiri. He's a Kiwi.
Guy Oh tiki. Bob Tiri.
That's it. You heard of him?
No, I haven't. He's going out with.
He looks pretty serious. He's not, but he's going out
with a singer. Yeah, click on that because and
he. Played Antoine in.
The did he? Yeah.
Oh yeah. What's what's shit?
Rita Ora? Rita Ora?
Rita Ora's Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah, he goes from London.

(18:59):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, she's a singer.
Yeah, yeah. She's like a pop star.
Dance music. Yeah, so I was, I was hoping
he'd be there, but I he's not. He's not there and there's
another. So it's a Hollywood movie and I
think it premiere over there andit's premiere here.
And that picks up your story. Yeah, it's that.
Next goal wins. So it's like because they were
the worst country, worst ranked country in the world.

(19:21):
I think even after our game theygot put this.
I mean, there's a lot of countries.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And they're the worst.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So they made a movie and like,
there's a comedy 1 of it, I think.
And so that's got to be premiering.
Yeah, that's it. So Anil got 13 goals.
So thirteen goals, world record and then making movies.
And then making a movie and you're still holding the.

(19:42):
Talk about big fish mate, you'vegot the biggest.
Yeah, I agree. I agree.
I've got a question. Was it 2006 because I'm shit
with dates instead of saying wasit 2006 the World Cup where
Italy where it was that that wasfucked up, man.
So can you tell me how did you like, how do you deal with that
or how did you, what were the emotions?

(20:03):
And stuff around that, because it genuinely felt like that's
the closest we we've, we've gotten.
Would you agree? And we were there, man.
Like, yeah. Well, well, just this last World
Cup, they got to the same yeah, yeah, yeah, they did.
But and yeah, but like, well, they had a man down, they

(20:24):
conceded, we conceded a penalty right at the end.
Like it could have, it could have gone either way, like
really. And then they went on and won
the World Cup. Yeah, exactly.
Yeah, that was the. Crazy part, I think we've
that's. Where?
How close we Yeah. We're part of World Cups that
the teams that we play actually go on and win the World Cup.
So I think we we played who we played Italy, they went on and

(20:47):
won that World Cup. We played Argentina.
They just recently they went on and won the World Cup.
I think there was another show, there was another country that
went on and won the World Cup that we had played also.
I can't remember what it was. Who we got, Jack?
France. France.
Yeah, it might have been France,yeah.
Do you I guess like when you look at those and do you have

(21:09):
like what ifs and play all that,how long does it take you?
To well, there was a big what iffor me because I I never
actually got onto the ground in that 2006 World Cup.
So like, and then I've been partof World Cup qualifiers to maybe
get that opportunity again. Yeah.
And I've done my knee 2010 in inthe grand Final.

(21:29):
So I missed that opportunity to go to a World Cup. 2014.
We had Holger Osic that got us to the World Cup.
And then there's a conspiracy theory behind him getting out.
Like, man, we qualified and thenthey decide to go and play
France. No, France.
Was it France? It might have been Germany and

(21:50):
Brazil, two of the greatest flooding football nations
straight after each other. And we lost six nil, 6 nil.
He gets the axe and then and Posta Goggly goes in and then he
and just sort of cleaned it out a little bit and everyone that
had been part of that World Cup qualifier.
That was probably my last chanceto make.
It turned it all. On turned it on its head and I
missed that opportunity. So, like, maybe I just wasn't

(22:13):
meant to, but you know who can? None of those players can say a
movie was made about. Yeah.
But also I think. You know what I mean?
Think some timing. So there's unlucked, but looking
at the glass half full with you arch from the outside looking in
the A league was good to you, right, Like you were the like
you was the and as far as the timing, like your timing and
your rise was in parallel with the that massive boom of the a

(22:37):
league when. It was perfect time because and
it was funny because I was playing in Europe at the time in
Belgium and I had one of the best years I had there, like one
of the leading goal scorers. And then the they gave me a call
to come back to the A League andI'm like, Oh no, I don't, don't
know if I should. But because I'd been part of the
old NSL that had kind of fallingapart and then they explained

(23:03):
about this new A League, I was thinking, now I'm not sure about
this. Like I just started to do well
in Europe after four years. But then my wife at the time was
pregnant with our second child. People don't realise how hard it
is to be over in another countrywhen you're when you're starting
a young family, especially when it's not an English speaking

(23:25):
country. Also too, everyone thinks that
you go over there and make a shit load of money.
We weren't paid for 2-3 months and had to borrow money from my
in laws and you know, over that time, like over those years.
So it's not war the big dream, but it teaches you a lot about

(23:45):
things. And so for you know what, it was
probably perfect time where maybe I had to put my family 1st
instead of myself, which we as athletes, you do.
It's just it's that selfish mindset that you've got to
always have. And so I came back and I thought
being one step backwards ended up being a million.
It's a masterstroke, a. Masterstroke.

(24:07):
Yeah, like. Put you back in the Olympic,
like I mean you sort of got yourself the qualifiers and more
opportunities. Like people talk about Kicked 7
in, yeah, seven in a granny, 55 in a granny, yeah, probably.
Probably. Should adds.
Yeah, I reckon I was. There.
Yeah, Yeah, you probably better had about 7 years and forgot

(24:28):
about the school. Yeah, that's what that that's
what that number was. Memory.
I just remember the sentiment, do you know?
Oh yeah, yeah, I remember you had a big day in the Grand.
Was it Adelaide? Yeah, Adelaide.
Adelaide, yeah. So I do, I just don't remember
the. Specific.
No mate, all the time. Yeah, I don't remember, but did
he say that was? The A League was on fire, the
stadium 55,000. I think it was the record, yeah,

(24:48):
yeah, record at the stadium was on fire and you were at the top
of the game, man. Yeah, so it all worked out
perfectly. Our first work year wasn't
great, like top of the league halfway through Olympic Park was
full. Like, you know, I think 1314
thousand was full at the time. And mate, no one had seen that
kind of viable that like the atmosphere.

(25:10):
They probably did a little bit in the NSL, but it was week
after week and we were like the hottest ticket to go watch for
years. And then we started having
success and and I kind of was atthe front of that, which was,
you know, unbelievable. And I probably wouldn't have the
career. I wouldn't probably be a big
fish if that didn't happen. Like and.

(25:34):
And you think about the reason you made that decision as well.
It wasn't a decision thinking that it was a career positive or
net positive. It was really a sideways move
thinking of your family. But in the end it worked out.
Man, it worked out brilliantly and and I've gone on to like,
you know, having the career here, who's to say if I had a

(25:55):
career overseas and come back that like a, you know, a media
opportunity? Absolutely.
Yeah, media opportunity would happen.
It just it, I don't know who knows, but I'm, I'm sort of
blessed that I've, I'm now part of media.
I'm doing all these crazy eventsthat I would never have thought
I'd be doing. Australia's number one podcast.
Right. Yeah, yeah.

(26:16):
Australia's On One podcast. It seems like this, Yeah, well,
it seems like there's a lot of pioneering.
So you're pioneering the the culture in your family.
You're pioneering being soccer player in Australia when back
then soccer wasn't, it's only now starting to become like even
my kids are talking about soccerwith the Matildas and watching
Welcome to Wrexham and all thosesorts of things.
So yeah, so and then you you pioneer in the A league.

(26:38):
So it's kind of like, was there many people, you said Harry Q
early, but was there many peoplethat you were trying to model on
or was it just all sucking it and seeing it as you went along
through most of your career? No, I don't know.
I think because there was there was a lot of players that were
doing well over in Europe. It probably just wasn't in the
spotlight, only just the football fans.

(27:02):
And then, you know, we started having success 2005 at a iconic
kind of moment in sport, I wouldsay, because, you know, you
think Kathy Freeman 2000 when she run that 400, like we all
knew where we were. Yeah, everyone knew where where
they were when they're watching that 2005 qualify because you

(27:22):
didn't even need to be a fan. That's like you just needed to
like every sort of three or fouryears when the World Cup came
around, everyone was like the football fan and wanted us to do
well. And that year we did well.
We actually made it. So we kind of pioneered into
that World Cup after 35 years ofnot making it.
That was early in the morning. You drive down the Ring Rd.

(27:42):
people are hanging out the windows and stuff.
It was epic, mate. It was all the tradies.
I remember being in the panel van with me, brother man.
And we're like, yeah, because itwas the timing was like you
meant to be at work, but you know what I mean?
You've been up all night. Yeah.
So that's kind of like that and and then the A league being part
of something new and fresh. Yeah.

(28:03):
So I've been really blessed in, in terms of having all these
amazing moments in football thatsort of go down in history.
And, you know, and now we're starting to see all these other
athletes have doing the same thing.
The Matilda's like, man, that was just absolutely insane.
I watched that. And I, you know, being in

(28:23):
football long enough, you kind of sometimes lose that bit of
spark in that you're like, OK, you go to work and you, you
watch the game and you want to feel the energy and you do for
some of it. And then you know, OK, it's then
it's back. Had to work about it that
Matilda's journey and seeing theexcitement actually lit
something back up and hear aboutme enjoying.

(28:45):
Football Sam Kerr goal oh, I like I'm not a I'm not a full
soccer fan, but my. Footballer, yeah, I couldn't hit
something like that even if we tried.
Like, you know, she, she like they were all amazing.
That man give me goosebumps, mangive me goosebumps, man that.
Just but that that that just made A and that was straight off

(29:08):
the back of the boys doing well in the World Cup, you know?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. But we sports.
It was started from you guys back in the 2005 qualifying and
doing all of that. Yeah, going back to your
pioneering point, man, it's crazy.
I probably lost a bit of juice by now, but still, when it spins
back like we had the, I think itwas the 20th year anniversary

(29:31):
with that qualifier. Oh, no, 19 years or 20 years?
It's all bonded you. Is it like the I know the, you
know, the 1990 mighty Magpies, you know, they're always
catching up and they're, they'rebonded like brothers.
Is it like that for say, say victory back in those days And
and then also the. Not.
No, it's. Probably not.
They look, I will say well, LukeWilkshire was part of that World

(29:55):
Cup and like he's from Wollongong.
I travel up to Sydney and he bunk with me for the week
weekend. So there you go.
We caught up there, but. He's not doing 10 years and 20.
Years well actually in January we're we're having a little
catch up with a lot of the old golden generation that made that
2005 World Cup. But you know we're in the

(30:16):
football world we we see each other at I see each other ex
teammates and now coaching the Aleague that were part of that or
part of Socceroos. So we're always catching up and
sort of seeing how everyone's doing.
Probably don't do it on a on a like, you know, a level of like
we got. Away from the AFL players, it's
like they they, they the the second they win a premiership,

(30:38):
they become family for life, youknow, Yeah.
And that did you agree PK what they I feel like they they do
the 10 year, the 20 year and they just it's just acceptable.
To carry on, there's no doubt. Yeah.
What about retirement, Arch? Like, you were right.
We were just saying like, genuinely, I was part of it,
man. I was there going to those games
at those time and you were riding high.

(30:59):
Victory was riding high, the A League was riding high, and
we're in the sporting capital ofthe world.
Yeah. Yeah.
How do you transition from from being in the spotlight to being
such a humble guy that's coming today to to then find your place
in the world once that stops? Oh.
Look, I don't think well, there's so many people that talk
about it. It's it's just hard like it's

(31:21):
it's really hard. I I didn't find my way because I
was going through so much when that all happened.
Like they say things coming through like it felt like I did
it because I was like I was separating with from my ex-wife
at the time. I just been told that I wasn't
going to be playing Melbourne Victory, that I kind of spent

(31:43):
eleven years with and basically then I hadn't really no other
team to go to. So all those sort of three,
three things happened or two or three I.
Was about to say what was the 3rd.
Yeah, I did. Wasn't that kind of the no?
That's kind of 1/3. It's 2 of.
An hour not having a team? Oh well, I don't know actually.

(32:04):
I'll give you that. Yeah, yeah, maybe 2.
So it wasn't hard as what I thought it was back then.
Yeah. So it all came at once and.
But it is, it is sorry to cut you off, but it is because you
were the face of it. You were the 11 years in and
then it's sports brutal, right? Time, time doesn't stop for #1
and all of a sudden you were, you were there.
And then they're like, you're not back.

(32:25):
Next year, yeah. I think it was just the way that
I thought about things too. It's like I, I thought been
there 11 years, victory wouldn'tbe victory without me.
And you know, that's, that's kind of ego that you.
That's true. But mate, you as soon as you're
out, someone's gonna come in. Yeah.
And as soon as you come to gripswith that, yeah, then it's OK.

(32:46):
And it took me hard to. It's a bit like when you're a
kid, you know you've got those those bubbles and you blow them
and they come really big. And when you're in it, that
bubble is you. And then at some point it pops
and then the kid grabs it and just blows another one.
You're going, hang on a second. That bubble was all about me.
And I, I feel like that's Hugh Jackman said that when he's on
stage, he goes, I don't go to after parties or anything like

(33:07):
that because I can't replace thefeeling that I've got on stage
by anything I do afterwards. And I wonder how that feels for
Someone Like You who's going through those amazing times,
crowds, all the adulation, and then that bubble pops.
Yeah. Well, you don't do it.
Well, I don't think anyone unless you're ready for to
finish, then you'll kind of, I feel the transitions may be a

(33:30):
little bit smooth. You still got to find your way
because you know, you're in thatbubble.
Everything's handed to you. You're almost in a way not even
grown up. You know you're not grown up
because a lot of things get donefor you.
There's no really accountability, there's no
responsibility. Then all of a sudden, like bang,
here you go, you got to do it. I asked.

(33:50):
I when I finished, got asked to do an e-mail signature on my
emails and I was like, where do I sign it?
I don't know where the sign is saying and like, and then they
go, no, that's what. So these little things that, you
know, people find really easy, Ididn't because it all got done
for me. And that's why I kind of had to

(34:12):
grow up and try to learn all these things.
Open bank accounts and do taxes and.
I guess you've got this this period of time too, whether it's
peak earning capacity as well. So you add money comes really
comfortably for for a few peoplewith high profile.
Then you've got this, this people are doing stuff for you.

(34:33):
It's just this world that if youif you're not getting the right
advice at the right time, when that ends.
Yeah. My observation is a lot of
sports people go lots of cash, lots of spending at the end.
They they, they wish they had done a whole lot of things
different. Did you did you get exposure to
many mentors to help you think about particularly finances
after after sport? No, that's why I'm broke.

(34:56):
But probably happier that I like, you know, I'm probably
happier now than when I had all those bloody fancy things.
Because I just think you, you gothrough life and if you, you
find out what's kind of more important and you know, what
purpose you have. And for me, money and cars and
fucking houses and all that sortof stuff doesn't, doesn't appeal

(35:18):
to me anymore. I think what appeals for me is
peace. Like, you know, just peace.
I think we all try to strive forpeace.
Yeah, just. Inner peace, right?
Yeah. Peace.
And that's kind of where I'm at now, and I feel good about it,
but I'd never really had the mentoring of that.
It was like, you know, but I hadthe mindset of like, you're in
the moment, why not just enjoy? Yolo.

(35:39):
Yeah, Yolo. Let's.
Just go, let's spend that man. And you know, I probably could
have made things choices or decisions are a little bit
better, but I had fun and, you know.
But it's not unusual to hear that story, right?
I've spoken to people across NRL, soccer, AFL, It's a similar
story where there is just this feeling that it is never going

(36:03):
to end. Yeah, yeah, that's right.
And that's that would be intoxicating.
I've never experienced it, of course, but I'd imagine it'd be
so intoxicating. And for some people who don't
have the same opportunities thatyou have now to be in media and
talk on these podcasts, it can be super dark days or.
It is and there are a lot of guys that I know, mates of mine
that have gone through dark periods of the transition, still

(36:28):
not knowing what what to do, where's money going to come in.
But that's I think that's life. But when you're kind of like you
said, being in this bubble and now the training and education
is a lot different than when my generation came in.
So there are a lot of people struggling and you know, they'll

(36:49):
find. Identity it's just so connect.
I was actually thinking about that when we spoke.
I think it was last week, a couple of weeks ago, Bryce, and
we're talking about, you know, you're the OJ of the the podcast
game with the property couch. And I was thinking to myself
that a lot of your identity, professional identity is
connected to that. Would you agree?
So in some kind of way, people know you as Bryce from the

(37:11):
property couch more than I wouldsay in power wealth, because
that's the frontline sort of thing.
Would you agree? A. 100%.
So you've been doing it for 10 years.
So for now, for you it would be probably not on the scale of
Archie, but if you could, would you imagine what it would be
like if you know when the property Couch stops and then
that is not part of your the entity?
Anymore gets the, gets the tap on the shoulder and goes.

(37:34):
He goes PK we. Decided, yeah, there's a new
number one in town now. I have, I have thought a bit
about that, but I've never experienced what Archie's
experienced. I've never experienced that
concentrated adulation. I've had the opportunity to do
the television shows, but I get,I get more people stop and chat
about what happens from the podcast than I do from the

(37:56):
television shows because it's been an opportunity to add
value. So it's kind of you add value
through entertainment, we add value through information.
But I, I, I haven't experienced what you've experienced, but I,
I've, I've interviewed enough people in your line to know that
it's, it seems to be a similar experience.
Yeah, it is a similar. Story And so my question to you

(38:16):
is someone's listening to this and they are just in the sports
game and and it's hard for them to understand that what you're
saying could be a reality for them.
But how, how do you think you'd get their attention to go?
This is a finite period of time.You are as good as a decade
without injuries, maybe if you're lucky, 12 to 15 years.

(38:38):
So what would you say to them just so that they can land the
message that you're trying to land?
Well, I think the important thing now is that there's a lot
of knowledge and education out there and the lucky thing for
them is that who's coming through is that it's you can
access it. You know, unfortunately for us
it was probably in the early stages of that.

(38:59):
So there is some still some benefits I think for a lot of
those guys that you know had a long careers.
Our player union still looks after some of us older guys.
We've maybe, you know, you know,if you saw something that you
wanted to maybe upgrade your, your educational knowledge and
they'll fund a little bit to it,which is really fantastic.

(39:23):
But the, the, The thing is, I, Isaw it always sort of sticks
with me because I saw it with being an athlete or especially
in professional athlete in football, 1% make it.
And you know, like of a young, young youngsters, 1% of that 1%

(39:45):
make it. Then that one percent, 1% make
it on to having like a like a career.
Then 1% of the 1% of that have asuccessful career where they're
able to, you know, I guess accumulate a lot of money and
wealth. So it's a hard gig.
Like it's a really hard gig. So when you're in that, there's

(40:06):
almost like you don't have, you can't have all that outside it.
I guess distraction, you've got to have this mentality of
selfish focus and sometimes it'shard.
That's where you've got to builda really good network and team
around you that can, you know, sort out all those sort of

(40:27):
things. But it's being done a lot better
these days. Is it hard for you to work out
who's actually in it to help Archie and who's actually in it
to help themselves? Well, it's funny because you
when you're in that bubble, you've got a big crew.
Like it seems like everyone's, you know, there for the good
time Archie, there for the therefor the successful Archie.

(40:50):
When that goes away, it's like, oh, hang on.
Where are you? Where are those guys?
So you actually really you find out who who, who your mates are
and who you get close. That helps with that inner
peace, too. Yeah.
Because you start to realize yougo, oh, OK, this is my career.
Yeah. Because in that time, Yeah.
Everything's moving so quick. Everyone's talking.

(41:10):
They're gonna. Yeah.
Yeah, and you manage your time. Better, but I was thinking to
say arch the 1% of the 1% of the1% of the 1%.
Of the 1% of the. 1% what are the fucking chances to to kick
13 goals, get the world record. You know, like what are the
chances man? And did did I hear there was a
movie? And there's in the movie.
And there's a Hollywood movie. And a Hollywood.

(41:32):
Movie so that's do you pinch yourself sometimes that's.
Yeah, of course. And, you know, like I still get
stopped and go. You're the soccer guy, aren't
you? You're the soccer guy.
You know, it's slowly starting. Oh, you're actually, you know,
you do. You're on TV or you like, Oh
yeah, you did the you did the spring carnival or I saw you on
the Formula One, you know, or you were in MasterChef.

(41:54):
MasterChef, yeah. That is so I feel like the
identity. Is the Spring Racing carnival a?
Little bit, yeah. The spring carnival man.
Yeah, the spring Carl, the mayorof everywhere, they call me MO
mayor of everywhere. So that's my title.
And so, yeah. But like, you know, you through
it all, you kind of find your identity at the at the end of

(42:17):
the day. And you know that that's just
show you go in there, you, you bring, you bring, got to bring
yourself to it. You got to there's got to be a
bit of authenticity to everything that you do.
But I know when I go in front ofthe camera here, it's Showtime.
Like, you know, when that red light goes on, I'm a different
beast. I feel like this, this rush, I
get that, like I get that because that substitutes.

(42:38):
I feel like what I used to get when I walked out onto a pitch
man like that, I'll become this different person again.
Still a little bits of my like, no, a lot of myself because I
can be myself, but there's just something about that camera and
I love it. And so I'm kind of blessed that
everything is happening how it'smeant to happen.
You know, I'm, I'm feeling, I'm really good.

(43:00):
And like you said, thirteen goals.
Yeah, it's crazy A. Movie.
A record, that's how. So that's how.
How long the wow? Over.
Biggest. It won't and.
It's not about I'm about to be the biggest.
It's not about to be. No, that's gonna, I guess it's
gonna stand the test of. Time.
Yeah, we'll get a bit nervous when.
They don't be one of those guys.I'll play as someone to beat it,
man. Fuck that.

(43:21):
You want to? You want to hold it forever.
I do like, that's that part of me I like, you know, bring to
the camera. Yeah, yeah.
But I go back and I don't want anyone talking about 30 goals.
Is anyone what's the closest sense?
Is there anyone that's? Oh, I think someone's got 9 has.
Anyone blown up here on the text?
It's just a random time. Go do turn your TV on.

(43:41):
Yeah, there has to be moments when someone will tag me in a
school and I'm like. Nah, he's got.
He's still. I don't care.
I don't care. On my foot, Yeah.
Organize someone to rush the field.
Take. Him.
Out and he didn't cop it from the boys on the day to say, hey,
how about passing it a bit more?Sounds like they all feel their
boots. To be honest, my one of me,
yeah. Because we end up winning 31.

(44:02):
Yeah, yeah. And then my, I think it was my
teammate Dave Zrulich. He got nine.
Yeah. So I mean like.
No one's talking. No one's.
Talking now, it remembers second.
I almost forgot. Almost forgot his name.
You know I love you, brother. That's Showtime.

(44:22):
You know, it's for the cameras, baby.
It's for the cameras. Yeah, but anyone could have had
it. I've just like I've been.
I'm blessed. Yeah, absolutely.
I'm I'm pretty. I'm grateful.
You don't look like the sort of guy that loses confidence, but
when, when you're on the pitch, can you remember a time that you
you did lose it and what did youdo to get it back?

(44:43):
Well, one thing I will say is like a lot of times, like
playing professional sport and being football, I used to always
say, you know what, being on thepitch was the safest.
I, I felt like, you know, I feltconfident.
I felt every time Now when I think about it, I was in fear
the whole time. I was fear when I walked out
onto the pitch. The only time fear left me was

(45:06):
when I did something well. I scored a goal, but when we
wasn't going well, I was in fearbecause I didn't want to be that
person that made a mistake. I didn't want to be the person
that let the team down. I don't want to be the person
that let the fans down. I didn't want the fans to think
that I was like no good. I was an imposter.
I I was like, you know, I wasn'tas good as what you know, I'm,

(45:26):
I'm telling everyone I was so man, I I don't confidence only
came when I did something good and it.
Was short lived. Yeah, short lived like.
Short lived confidence, yeah. You're just carrying that the
whole time, yeah. It's a lot of.
Stuff that's mentality, isn't it, of an elite sportsman,
Because that sounds fucking. Well, I don't know.
Some people like, you know, wantto be that Michael Jordan.

(45:48):
Yeah. You know, like I tried to be as
that as much as I can, but it was like there was always
someone that wanted it more because they were they were
happy to be in that position. Where if I missed, I missed.
But I look I took that shot. Sometimes I I found it hard.
Yeah, I'm, I'm more like you. Yeah, I'd rather not take the.
Shot. Well, it just goes to show there

(46:09):
is a price to pay to be in the position because everyone goes
well, I'd love to be Archie Thompson playing for the victory
in the heyday. But they, they don't realize all
the costs that you are doing, which is you're behind the
scenes because all they see is the highlights reel.
And I, I think it's just a good reminder that the reason that
the 1% of the 1% of the 1% actually do do it like you did
is because there is a price thata lot of people are not prepared

(46:31):
to pay. Yeah.
And, and, you know, there's a lot of, I kind of feel like that
imposter syndrome that I had to show that like, because I think
that's what people wanted to hear.
And you know, and you got to have that like, but I think
there's real humility in knowingthat you're not going to get it

(46:52):
and you're going to feel that certain way.
And, and I think if kids know that, that they don't have to
always feel like they have to bethat person.
Like you can go in and have complete fear the whole time and
have fear that you're going to not live up to everyone's
expectations, your own expectations.
I think you're better for it when you when you get yourself

(47:13):
into those sort of. Positions it's great at all it.
Comes as superpower, doesn't it?Yeah, It comes as superpower
because it's almost been able to, you know, live in the chaos.
You know what I mean? And, and just to know, like, I
think what I've known is like now we just try to do the best.
I know that I just do the best that I can.
Yeah. I think when I if I had that,
what mentality more when I was playing like, I just want the

(47:35):
best. I just want to do the best that
I can and so that's what I. Think about the result.
No, no. Yeah, correct.
That's really just. The journey, the process.
Yeah, that's all I can do now. It's like I do the best that I
can. Obviously I stopped bloody
drinking about God almost two years.
Yeah, nice. Well.
Done. Yeah.
So I feel like two years before that were like, I mean, the two

(48:01):
years before now were just chaos, so.
Sounds like you didn't miss out.I gave you a good shape.
That's why I stopped. Well, I don't know if I, I was
the one that stopped it or people were telling me maybe
ever think about your behaviourswhen you drink?
And so, but I'll tell you what I, I, I feel so much better and
clearer focused. You know, I might have been a

(48:24):
little bit late, but I, but I want to get here.
I want to do the best that I canyou.
Sent about 12 messages man, which was cool.
So we knew. We knew you.
Were and you saw my face. I couldn't hide the fact that I
was at the dentist. On the Party 2006, who's running
the show, who's who's picking the venue and and and.
I think we're looking at him, yeah.

(48:44):
No, I just rocked up. Yeah, yeah, it was Showtime.
Yeah. No, I don't know.
I think about Lucas. Neil was someone that was.
Good. Yeah, he was a party planner.
He was pretty good. Fucking not bad player too.
And Timmy was not too bad. I think.
Timmy. Was OK, yeah.
Now he's all stiff. He's like, you know, he's making
all that money. Anybody where he's making it,

(49:04):
he's got to keep really focused and professional.
Yeah. That was everyone.
Everyone was throwing their hands up like, yeah, yeah.
Well, I think the, the, the action is so incredibly
important because we've been talking about this before that
anyone who's successful, the number one success trait they've
got is they actually took some form of action.
So. And secondly, you just need to

(49:25):
be directionally. You don't have to be a sniper.
You don't have to get up every morning and meditate perfectly
or have your gratitude. You just got to be directionally
correct and say, is this action getting me further or closer or
further away from my goals. And you know, if you think to
you speak to anyone who's mindful about their actions,
they have some form of gratitude, they have some form

(49:45):
of meditation and they have someform of connection to something
bigger than themselves. So.
Well, I parked at a spot in PortMelbourne and like, and I came,
came up and this was this old, it must have been an old Italian
guy or something. And like this, you can park
there. Like you can just park there.

(50:05):
There's no time on it. And he sort of came out and he
goes, oh, is that your car? And I go, yeah, he goes, please
don't park here. Why?
You probably start getting angry.
I'm like, well, why? Like the things there and then,
and then he's like my, my grandkids or my granddaughter
parks here and like, but there'sno, there's no parking.
Yeah, yeah. And I, I, I, I didn't give him.
I didn't give him the opportunity to speak.

(50:27):
I was like, but I didn't get really angry, which I would have
done in the park. But then I like, I drive away
from there and I always park there, like in that street, like
every Tuesday. So as soon as I saw him, I was
like, man, I didn't like the waythat I behaved that week ago.
It wasn't sitting with me the whole week basically, or I knew

(50:48):
that I was going to get that opportunity to try to right that
wrong. I went back, I saw him, I gave
him the opportunity to talk. We came to an understanding.
And then I was like, OK, I won'tpark there anymore.
But these are those little things that, you know, you try
to be mindful and give everyone the time, whether you kind of
feel like that you're right or wrong.
I think there's a humility. But, you know, you just gotta, I

(51:11):
think that's where I'm at, whereI don't want to try to, yeah,
have this because of my own behaviours.
Yeah. And if you check your own
behaviour, it's, you know, your life's a lot more cruisier.
Sounds like you're in a good place Arch.
Oh my. Yeah.
Well, it ebbs and flows. You got me on a good day.
Despite the time. I could be a shit storm
tomorrow. Be on the front page of the

(51:36):
news. That this is not even going to
be seen now. What a distance to yourself
probably now. Hey mate, this has been an
awesome chat. Anything else you want to leave
us with? Any shout outs?
The book What's going on? The.
Book people people will be able to check out check out the movie
The. Book.
What was it? What does it kill your movie
stronger? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

(51:57):
You know you did. You actually launched that book,
Sam Pang, you know, same thing before he became famous.
And, you know, you could get himto do book launches in the
bottom of Amy Park in the cafe. Now you can't get him to do
anything. He's like, top dollar.
But yeah, But that book, seriously, like, it was in that

(52:19):
first week, it was buy one, get 2-3 free.
Yeah. And I never even read it.
I didn't even read it. I didn't even know what I said
in it. The title, there you go.
What if that in the description,the title, the title was fire.
Yeah, the title. What doesn't kill you, what
doesn't kill you makes you stronger, which which goes back
to take action, learn the lessons and go again.

(52:41):
So. Shit, you know, yeah, I'll
probably, I would probably change a little.
I'll change a lot of things. I don't know what that time.
Was, but yeah. You know when you evolve and you
change and you like life? Well, you did that publicly,
right? We didn't, we didn't have to do
that publicly. So you've been out there, and
one version of Archie's been outthere that we've all saw.
Yeah. And we're talking to a different

(53:02):
version today. Yeah, yeah, that's right.
Could be a different 1:00 tomorrow.
Awesome Arch, All right mate, great chat, really appreciate
your time, but thanks. Boys, really, you're alleged
time. All right guys, please like
share, subscribe, subscribe, review or follow.
Be part of a winning team. People can find a better version

(53:23):
of themselves if they choose you.
Just need to go start some shit action is all that.
Matters. See a man, if you would think, I
look back now and I'm like, well, that took some guts.
We can't. We can't.
We can't. See you at the top.