TARKYN LOCKYER’S GAME OF SECURITY

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IN-DEPTH NEWS FEATURE:

Tarkyn Lockyer, Collingwood midfielder, trains hard and looks after his health and fitness so he can be at his best on the footy field, and he uses the same strategies in investment, seeking minimal risk and making hay while the sun shines.

Born on 30 October 1979 in Western Australia, Tarkyn Lockyer, a midfielder for Collingwood Football Club, says that when he debuted in round 8 on 15 May, 10 years ago, he was blown away by the size of the crowd and the magnitude of the game.

“Compared to the MCG, I played country football before playing for Collingwood. I remember being I in awe my first game; the size of the MCG, it is massive, and the game pressure was enormous, but fantastic,” Tarkyn said. “I also could not get over the support from members and fans; it was huge. On average there are 60,000 fans at one of our games, so when they cheer you can really hear it.”

Since his debut, Tarkyn has played over 200 games with Collingwood and has scored over 140 goals, earning him the title of ‘a consistent veteran’ amongst his fellow players and peers. In addition, Tarkyn has won four Best and Fairest trophies: the RT Rush Trophy in 2000, the Jack Regan Trophy in 2001, the JF McHale Trophy in 2002, and the JJ Joyce Trophy in 2007. He also finished runner-up for the Copeland Trophy in 2000 and has accumulated 16 Brownlow votes.

Tarkyn believes his success on the field comes down to a number of factors. “The brand of Collingwood is big, we train at second-to-none facilities, everything is there, and we are spoilt,” Tarkyn said. “Winning is more than just a victory. Post-game recovery pays off when you win, and you wear your bruises and scratches with honor. It is about putting in the effort and then getting the reward; that is what drives you week to week. I cherish this feeling after the game.”

During the 2009 season, Tarkyn played 22 games, scored 30 goals, and ranked 1st in total marks taken, averaging more than 18 disposals per game. His season highlights included 29 disposals, 21 kicks, and 14 marks in the Brisbane match on 17 April, and four goals against North Melbourne on 1 May 2009.

However, at only 178cm and weighing 81kg, Tarkyn Lockyer, who wears the number 24 guernsey for Collingwood, admits he is not the largest player on the field, and that can be a disadvantage, especially when most players have a height and weight advantage.

“I am not overly tall or quick; therefore, I have learned to do everything correctly away from footy, so that I can be professional on field and leave no stone unturned,” Tarkyn said.

But the veteran makes up for what he lacks in height and speed with tenacity. In 2007, Lockyer led the league in marks with an impressive 203, proving that even those with a disadvantage can succeed.

“I don’t think I am unique, but I do think what sets me apart from others in AFL is the fact that I know my strengths and weaknesses, and I work on making these advantageous. My preparation for the game focuses on developing my skills, and often this is intense.”

Lockyer has worked progressively to establish himself as one of Collingwood’s key midfielders, and at times as a defender. To reach the top in sport, Tarkyn believes understanding the game on and off the field is key to success.

“Purely from a footy sense, a good understanding of structures and good game play enables you to be successful. If you are not smart enough to read the game, then you will not cope with the pressures of the game; it is that simple,” said Tarkyn. “It is important to be able to use and dispose of the football under duress. Plus, you need to get your body to a level where you can perform consistently.” Tarkyn pauses and then adds, “For some players, it is so easy to get distracted and off-track, especially when they have to deal with the points of view of the media, the public, and the supporters. So it is important to be a role model and avoid bad publicity; keep a level head and make the publicity fun so you don’t get caught up in the Hollywood-style hype. Honestly, it is about coming into the game with hopes, and then developing your skills so that you cope with the game on and off the field, so that you don’t get caught.”

But Lockyer’s football career with Collingwood has not been without its challenges.

Tarkyn Lockyer injured his knee during the 2003 season (April 12^th), in a game against Geelong. He turned awkwardly and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a tackle with Geelong’s David Wojcinski. The club doctor, Paul Blackman, said at the time that he expected Lockyer to be unable to play for 6 to 9 months, and at worst, up to 12 months before a full recovery. Some 14 months later, Tarkyn returned to the field after having a knee reconstruction and recovering from stress fractures to his right foot.

When asked about the ups and downs he has experienced in his career, and how he has coped, Tarkyn said, “From an injury point of view, routine and preparation help me get back to my former fitness; I just put everything I can into getting me back on top. I can’t speak highly enough of the sports medicine team at Collingwood; they are incredible when it comes to rehabilitation and assisting players to get back what they had, and to feel success again.”

Tarkyn is grounded and family-focused when it comes to life and lifestyle. “My whole life is clearly sport and football and the single most important thing I have to put my mind to, but my family is my number one accolade. I remember when my son came along, I then had an opportunity to put everything I had done into perspective,” Tarkyn said. “The five most important things in my life are my family, my health and well-being, football, financial security and assets, and friendships.”

Tarkyn’s son, Charlie, is only one of the people he loves; the other two are his wife, Benita, and his daughter, Leni. These individuals inspire Tarkyn to focus on his future and work toward greater financial stability.

“My driving force when it comes to investment is life after footy. When I exit the game, I want a solid base and equity to support my young family, so I can pay for my children’s schooling and then sit back and watch my kids grow. I want something behind us, for us to have no mortgage to pay and to not have to be concerned with how the children’s schooling will be paid for, Tarkyn said.”

Predominantly a bricks-and-mortar investor, Tarkyn also professes that he dabbles in shares and has an investment portfolio and a broker. “When it comes to investment, I guess I like to see my investments; this is why I elect to invest in bricks and mortar mostly. Early in my career, I sought ideas and perspectives from people I trusted, like my parents, when it came to investing. My mum and dad kept telling me to buy a house. So I did. This was my first investment, and the feeling of home ownership was truly monumental,” said Tarkyn.

Tarkyn believes that when it comes to investment, you make hay while the sun shines, and this for him means minimising risks and looking at longer-term investments rather than short-term.

“When it comes to investment, do the research, because if you have enough information you can then work out if the investment is good or bad. I honestly believe in talking to as many people as you can,” Tarkyn said.

“Talk to financial advisors and other people you trust and respect, and ask them questions, get a lot of advice and tips, but just remember that you need to sort out the good information from the bad, and that you need to work out your investments for you and your own personal requirements. Keep your goals in mind, and be disciplined, for example – focus on paying off your house and paying your debts as soon as possible, and don’t get sidetracked with other things that involve higher risks and give you no apparent rewards.”

“I have a lot of faith in my manager, and the financial people who help me. I have my finances set up so I can concentrate on footy, and I don’t have to worry about payments or financial stress.”

“I firmly believe it is about finding value for money and portfolio growth. If you are not making money, you need to change something. I am all about security; I need to know where my money is growing,” Tarkyn said. “I watch stocks with my broker, and I have a hands-on approach. This comes back once again to advice.”

In addition to being a Collingwood player, Tarkyn owns and runs Elite Lifestyle Solutions (ELS), a health, well-being, and team-building initiative, in conjunction with fellow Collingwood player Nick Maxwell. ELS operates out of the Lexus Centre and includes group and one-on-one training sessions that incorporate running, riding, swimming, free weights, and football skills, as well as innovative fitness and training concepts to improve lifestyle and the quality of life.

The philosophies he teaches at ELS shape Tarkyn’s ethics for life, as his future is about enjoying a quality of life with those he loves most.

“Lifestyle is really important; for me, it is about enjoying my family, watching kids grow, and spending time with them when my footy career ends,” said Tarkyn.

“However, when it comes to my future investments, I would have to say that I am intrigued by the housing market and how we are going to go in an investment sense, because of the recession. Many people have told me to invest in certain share portfolios because we have seen the worst and are out of it, but others say we are still in it and should just sit still. Me, I am sitting on my hands at present, and just waiting to see what unfolds.”

For more information on Tarkyn Lockyer, or ELS, please visit http://elitelifestylesolutions.com.au

Please Note: This article was originally written by Tricia L. Snell and published in Lifestyle Investor Magazine Vol. 1.3 | Issue November/December 2009. This article has been re-printed with the permission of the Lifestyle Education Group.