It takes big balls to be a great dad and some half decent balls to be an Aussie sports  legend.

From NRL to AFL, Football to Tennis here’s 12 Aussie sports dad – read  what they said about being a dad…..

Big Dell, as he is affectionately known, is one of the most recognisable faces in Australian sport. Currently playing a key role in St George Illawarra’s charge to this year’s premiership, Sailor has rekindled the form that saw him become one of the most devastating attacking weapons in the NRL for more than a decade.
How hard is it spending so much time away from the kids during the season?
It seems like an eternity at times. At the Wallabies I had the luxury to take the kids away and see some special places around the world but you did miss home. Now at the Dragons you spend more time near home so you can work on a better consistent lifestyle with the kids. – Wendell Sailor
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As captain of one of the AFL’s most respected club’s Essendon, Matthew Lloyd is one of the most recognizable footballers in the country.
Favourite family holiday?
We take Jaeda to Noosa, we spend the morning by the pool, the afternoon at the beach and go for an ice-cream after dinner, Jaeda loves it as does her Dad. – Matthew Lloyd
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Brett Kimmorley is currently a driving force behind the Bulldogs resurgence from wooden spooners last year to premiership forces this year.
What is your favourite activity with the kids?
We love to do everything together, I actually went to Hannha Montana the other day with the girls – I was the only father, it was very funny…I also like it over the summer when the girls play T-Ball, It’s great to get involved in their activities. – Brett Kimmorley
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Michael O’Loughlin will be remembered in the same breath in years to come every bit as big a Swans legend as Tony Lockett and Paul Kelly. Nicknamed Magic, O’Loughlin recently played his 300th game for the Sydney Swans in the AFL, not long after announcing his retirement from the game at the end of the year.
What makes him such a great father?
He is really attentive and enjoys playing with them. He is really helpful when it comes to bedtime, reading stories and singing songs. He is a bit of a pushover, which always makes a great dad! – Emma Orr
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Steve Price is one of the NRL’s great ambassadors. In a career that has spanned 16 years and more than 300 games, Price has won two premierships with the Bulldogs, played 16 Tests for the Kangaroos and 28 games for his beloved Maroons’ in rugby league’s toughest arena, State of Origin.
What makes him such a great father?
When he is home he tries to get to all of their activities to support them in whatever it is they do. He will often come home from training in an afternoon and just walk through the door and say “C’mon we are all going to watch a movie” and none of us have time to do anything other than get out of the house and into the car. But really just the fact that he is always there for them and myself whenever. – Jo Price
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Red headed Cooney is one of the stars of the AFL, playing in the midfield for the Western Bulldogs. Cooney is the current holder of AFL’s most prestigious individual award, the Brownlow Medal, winning it with a total of 24 votes last year, beating Brisbane Lions star Simon Black by a single vote.
Besides their birth, obviously, what is your most memorable moment with your kids?
Going on our first big family holiday to the Gold Coast was a lot of fun. The kids loved Dream World & Sea World. – Adam Cooney
What is your favourite activity with the kids?
My favourite activities with the kids are watching Family Guy with Ash & wrestling with Jax. – Adam Cooney
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The captain of A League glamour club Sydney FC, Steve Corica has enjoyed a glittering career as an Australian Soccer star. With 32 games for the Socceroos and more than 300 first class games, Corica is one of the most respected figures in Australian soccer.
How hard is it when he has to be away from home on tour etc?
I’m used to it now, the longest he can be away for is 4 days, but he’s always is in touch. The kids love him and are so proud. It maybe a little harder now that we have a new 5 week baby, Jake. – Sandra Corica
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The Roosters might be struggling in this year’s NRL competition, but fullback Sam Perrett has been one of the club’s leading lights in an otherwise disappointing season.
What would you like for Fathers Day?
I’m a big fan of the nose and ear trimmers, Philips have just released their new version so I’d love the family to buy me one. – Sam Perrett
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Peter Luczak reached a career high of 69 in the World Tennis Rankings last year. A powerful right handed player with a big forehand, Luczak is now a key member of our Davis Cup squad following the retirements of several experienced players.
What makes him such a great father?
His devotion to the kids is unbelievable. He loves mucking up with Sebastian so much so to the extent that I sometimes have to send them out of the house so that Millie and I can have some peace and quiet. Also since I am alone much of the time, as soon as Peter is home or we are with him he takes the kids for a walk if the wake up early so that I can have a little sleep in. Sebastian adores him! – Katty Luczak
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Big Tonie Carroll recently made a comeback to his beloved Brisbane Broncos in the NRL competition after answering an urgent SOS from the struggling club.
What is your favourite activity with the kids?
We go down to Redcliffe and take the ‘Rip Stick’ with us; it’s like a skateboard (like a snake). It’s a great activity for me and the kids! It maybe bad for the knees though – Tonie Carroll
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Archie Thompson is one of the most damaging strikers in the Hyundai A League and the “go to” man for two time Champions Melbourne Victory.
What is your favourite activity with the kids?
Both kids have their own golf sets so look out Tiger. I enjoy hitting balls with Axel at the driving range and Bella and I love our daddy daughter time, although sometimes its little hard to stomach “Hannha Montana” movies, but if that what makes her happy then that’s what I have to do. – Archie Thompson
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John Skandalis has made a successful comeback to the NRL this season after a stint in the English Super League with Huddersfield.

Last year Australian’s have voted for their favourite sports dad in the Philips Sports Dad of the Year competition, with Wests Tigers rugby league star John Skandalis beating 11 other athletes to the crowned the inaugural winner.
The competition highlighted 12 elite athletes, who gave insights into how they juggled fatherhood and elite sporting commitments.

Skandalis narrowly won the title from fellow NRL star Brett Kimmorley and tennis ace Peter Luczak.
“It’s a big honour to win the title and looking at the athletes profiled on the website, they are all great fathers,” Skandalis said.
“You want to be a role model for your kids, whether you are playing sport at the top level or not, so to win this award is really special to me.
“I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me and my team mates at the Tigers for their support … I think Benji Marshall had a link to his Facebook page and he’s got about a million friends so that was worth a few votes!”
Skandalis has two daughters, Sophia and Olivia, and is married to Jodie.
Favourite family holiday?
We generally head up to Sawtell (Coffs Harbour) each year at the end of the footy season to get away and to simply chill out, spending time together with the kids, on the beach and in the pool. We’ve been doing this every year ever since I met my Jodi (my wife). – John Skandalis
What makes him such a great father?
John has always been very “hands-on” with the girls. He doesn’t mind changing nappies, burping babies, putting them to sleep, bathing them or dressing them. He doesn’t wait to be asked to do something, he just gets in there and does it and the girls love that about him. He gets the kids out in the yard to do the gardening with him (which they love). Nothing is a hassle for John when it comes to the kids. He adores spending time with his children and he ensure that we all spend quality time together as a family. He’s always interested in the girls lives, their activities etc. He teaches them about healthy eating and exercise. But most importantly he has loads of fun with them. Recently, John and I took on two foster kids – two boys aged 11 and 13. John took his role as their foster parent very seriously. He was wonderful with the boys and he went out of his way to ensure the boys experienced fun things they had never done before. He taught them about respecting themselves and each other and he talked to them about being good students at school. He treated the boys just as beautifully as he treats his own daugthers. – Jodi Skandalis
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The public voting competition kicks off this Sunday, 22 August for the Philips Sports 2010 Dad of The Year at  www.sportsdads.com.au

Every person that enters and nominates their favourite Sports Dad has the opportunity to win one of four $5000 Philips Ultimate Father’s Day Grooming Packs.

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