AS A YOUNGSTER Chris Hyde had big plans onhow he was going to use the Australian bush to acquire his wealth.

"I used to dream of making a livingout of Kangaroo culling, but then I realised it would be too much hard work,"he laughed.

"Then, when I got a bit older, Ithought that I would be working in KakaduNational Park."

Fortunately, for Richmond,and the animal represented on the left hand side of Australia'scoat of arms, Hyde's dreams to establish a Kangaroo 'containment' program at Kakadu NationalPark were thwarted after stumbling over anunexpected career in AFL. 

"Up until that stage I didn't thinksuch a dream could be realised. I just played football with my mates becausethat is what you did," said the 24-year-old.

"It was only later on when I startedplaying for the Murray Bushrangers that I thought 'gee you could actually gosomewhere if you're good at this'."

It's been 79 games and almost six yearssince he was drafted and the boy from Barooga says he is enjoying his 'second-choice'profession more than ever, even if the club hasn't been traveling as well as hewould have liked. 

"There have been some big changes inour playing style this year. We are taking people on and trying to play with abit more flare.

"When I was first drafted by Richmond I started off asa tagger. But I think this style suits the way I play, and how I played as a teenager."

As a result of playing most of his AFLcareer as a defender, coupled with his team's new aggressive and attackingplaying style, Hyde admits there are a few areas he needs to strengthen. Tothat end, he's sought the advice of a number of willing helpers.

"I do not have one mentor that I cansay I get all the answers from. It is probably more networking and trying tofind areas you need to improve in and then finding the best people in those areas,"he said.

"I am now playing a little more time inthe middle of the ground. So lately, I have been working mainly with BrianRoyal on how the elite midfielders work, where they run and the positions theyget themselves in – those types of things."

At the same time, Hyde is also preparinghimself for life after football. He is only four units away from completing a Bachelorof Park Management at DeaconUniversity.

"It is going to be something to fallback on once footy is finished," the future park ranger said.

"The AFL Players Association has beengood. They encourage you to think ahead and also pay for your course. I reckonyou would be silly not to be doing something."

However, donning the kahki pants, brown hatand boots, is a long way off for Hyde, who is obviously keen to continue acareer in the yellow and black.

"To be six years into an AFL career issomething I am pretty proud of. I hope there are still a few years left in meyet," he said.

"Although we are not winning, we arestill having fun and there is a real direction in where we are going.

"This weekend, we are going to becompetitive against the Kangaroos and hopefully the result will be a favorableone for us."

TIGERTALK

Couldyou be the next Crocodile Hunter?

I like my dog and enjoy the outdoors but notto the extreme of Steve Irwin. It is the general environment that I like beingin, whether it is fishing, hunting or camping.

Ifyou inherited a magazine, who would you select as Miss July 2007?

There are a lot of nice looking women outthere. I think I will put Paris Hilton in there. She's a bit ditzy but she is anice looking girl, isn't she.

Whichteammate is most likely to cry during an episode of Home and Away?

I initially thought of Kayne Pettifer, butI think I might settle on Adam Pattison.