For the rest of 2021–22, Pop opened with the same question. All through 2022–23, she stuck to the script. In my final season at Geelong, 2023–24, nothing changed. Although, on a couple of occasions, she led with, “You really going to live in America!”
“How’s the book going, Speaky?”
She said it almost mockingly—in the most beautifully innocent way, though.
It was as if she knew my tendencies: acute procrastination, a lack of self-belief, and precious little conviction in what I was doing.
Perhaps she did.
Was I that transparent?—which worried me. Coaches, like magicians, are only supposed to give so much away. It’s not open-source software. Effective coaching is meant to be a secret sauce.
It just kept coming.
“How’s the book going, Speaky?”
That wry smile. The stealthy stare-down. I knew she thought I was blowing bubbles, talking crap. There was no book. He was just saying that.
“Pretty good, Pop. Making progress. I have your chapters written.”
“Oh, yeah.”
She didn’t believe me. She was right not to. Not then.
Now in the 2026–27 season, Pop has just turned 15. Her cricket is evolving, she still plays footy in the winters, and her personality hasn’t wavered—other than she walks and talks with more confidence, and is less reliant on Dad.
Her cricket.
Pop is at Geelong with her older brother, Oscar. She was picked in the Senior Women’s Premier Seconds for the first two rounds, and on Sunday bowled her full allocation, finishing with 9-0-36-3, including 27 dot balls—half of her 54 deliveries—with an economy of 4.00 and just one wide. Prahran made 6/194, and Geelong chased it down in just 35 overs to win by 4 wickets. Batting at No. 8, Pop finished 12* from 14 balls and hit her first ball for a boundary.*
“Who do we play next week, Speaky?” Haha, Pop didn’t say that.
She’s on her way. Pop has also represented School Sport Victoria Under 12s and 15s, and Vic Country U16s.
There are a few key motivating factors to sitting down at my Ikea kitchen desk every morning. Most you know about—and now you know another.
Pop, 190-odd posts, 48,000 words, all written in plain sight. And yes—your chapters are here now.
Thanks for keeping me honest.
Nick
You can read the first part here, Poppy
I loved that yarn. Good on you Poppy