In Tasmania at Burnie’s Not Just Books to promote the book, the 36-year-old reflected on playing for the Dogs in the state, and believed a Tasmanian AFL side would be a “beautiful addition” to the competition.

“I am listening as much as anything that there are some serious problems and serious help needed and I hope the AFL is going to back up what seems to have been started this season, although that does seem too late in some regards,’’ the 312-game player and former captain said.

“But in terms of playing here, it was always really nice, even though you had to play Hawthorn, which was the downside.

“Up until playing the actual game it was a joy, because it is a football state and you feel that and as a Bulldogs player we played here, there and everywhere and sometimes you play in towns which weren’t football towns, and it was harder as you do feel the vibe and the tempo when playing in the town.

“Playing in Tassie always came with that feeling it was the real deal.

“People talk about the economics (of why there isn’t a Tasmanian team), but I don’t care about that as I just think it would make so much sense to have a team here as I think it would add a unique, beautiful addition to the league.”

There is a lot of Tasmania in his book and in his football journey, with Martin Flanagan, Matthew Richardson, Ben Harrison, Chris Bond, Rodney Eade, Brent Crosswell, Jesse Wells, Brendon Gale, Scott Clayton and Simon Atkins some that have played their part.

Renowned journalist Flanagan, who went to school in Burnie, in particular has played a key role, especially when it came to understand Tasmania.

“I don’t know if I’d say he taught me, but I do have a real sense of Tasmania and a fascination with the place thanks to Martin,’’ he said.

“I grew up in Gippsland and there are some similarities, and there would be a whole lot of differences as well, but I don’t feel out of my comfort zone when I am in Tasmania.

“It was a huge thrill (to have Flanagan write the forward) as he is a hero of mine, and it is one of life’s great joys to have your heroes as your friends, and I put up my hand to say I’ve aped his style 100 per cent.

“It is my spin on Flanagan.”

He described writing his book as “part catharsis, part picking a scab”.

“There is some heavy moments in there (like missing the 2016 premiership) and there is some stuff I am still wrestling with a little bit, but it is like a long thank you letter to the game and the people that have helped you along the way and I hope that is the way that is perceived,’’ he said.

“Something I hope comes through in the book is that I was the 10-year-old kid who was obsessed with the game and had a wide-eyed wonder about it, and I never really lost that.”