Is it true that you've recently uncovered a creative streak while back home in Melbourne?

I wouldn’t say it’s any good, but I guess I have! We were sitting around home one day and Bridget, my sister, said let’s go buy some canvases and we’ll do a bit of painting. I thought yeah OK, why not. So we went down and I bought a little set with all sorts of paints and brushes in it, and a couple of canvases. We came back and my brother and his girlfriend were there, so we all sat down, put some newspaper over the table and got into it. Bridge got up a photo of a lady online and we just decided to sit down and paint that as best we could. It was really good fun and I liked it enough to do a few more since then, by myself and with the help of Bridge as well. She's a lot better than me.

Is it relaxing?

Yeah, very. I was actually thinking, it’s been the first time in ages that I’ve been able to sit down for a certain period of time and concentrate and focus but chill out at the same time. I find I sit there and don’t worry or think too much about anything else. When we first did it mum and dad were joking about how it was the quietest they’ve heard any of us in ages, we were concentrating so hard. I’d never really done any painting except for art classes at high school, so it’s been nice to find something that does help me relax like that.

What have you painted since?

I did my initials. I painted those on a black background but that didn’t turn out too well. But we all learn! And I've just done another one that turned out better, a painting of a couple of mountains and the sky on a small canvas. I actually surprised myself with that one, it turned out all right. I copied a photo online that I found; I left it up on my laptop and went from there, sketched it with a pencil to start with and then painted over the top. It’s kind of difficult and can get quite frustrating in terms of finding the right colours and that sort of thing. But I suppose that’s all part of the process and what helps make it enjoyable. Without having had to stop playing footy and come back home, I probably would have never thought to do it. I want to try and keep doing it every so often once life goes back to normal. Like I said, it’s a good way to sit down and chillax a bit.

Have you had good reviews?

I got a couple of good reviews on the small mountains one that I did. My sister’s version of the lady was better than mine, which was fair enough. People have been interested that I’m doing it, but I haven’t shared heaps of them yet. My parents have definitely enjoyed seeing us sit down to do something together instead of running around making a noise and carrying on like we usually do. I think they’ve liked having us all together for a little while, it’s been a while since we’ve been able to sit down as a family and do things like that.

Have you found it nice to get some time with the family?

100 per cent. It was funny, because driving down here I didn’t know if we were going to come back into the season at all. I was expecting I was going to be down here for a while, which it has been. So I’ve been able to relax a bit and actually enjoy my time with them. It's been like the old times, in a way, it’s been quite nice. And like I said, I think my parents have really loved it.

What do you have in mind for your next masterpiece?

I don’t know yet. The hardest thing is trying to find things that I do want to paint. I have one fairly big canvas left and I’d like to paint something before I head back up to Sydney, for my room. But I’m not quite sure what I want to paint, I’m open to ideas on that. I’ll do something, for sure. That’s where I think this time has been good, just to work out things that we like or don’t like to do that we never have the time to do but might actually be good for us.

You hurt your ankle just before games stopped. How is that feeling?

It’s a lot better now. It took its time in the early stages, the first few weeks. But now it feels good. I’m back to kicking on it 100 per cent again and running fine, I’m able to change direction and all that sort of stuff. I’m glad that’s sort of fixed itself now, it’s pretty much perfect.

It must have felt like the worst timing, when it happened.

I thought I’d be out for a fair bit longer so yeah, I was spewing. This time has actually been a bit of a blessing in disguise from a personal point of view. I’ve been able to get that right and I should be right to get back into training when we come back, which will be good.

How tough has it been to manage your rehab remotely, on your own?

The first couple of weeks were really good. I knew I had to be motivated to get my ankle right, so I was really good in terms of coping with everything, getting up and getting it done. My attention to detail was really good. After three weeks of isolation I found it started to get harder. I was doing it, but doing it when I felt like it and I had to work harder for that motivation. It was just a phase, though, and it got better. Knowing there’s a chance footy could be back soon kind of spurs you on to get up and keep going. So I’ve been going not too bad in terms of that, but I can’t wait to be back up in Sydney and to have footy back again.