I was 12 years old when I started playing in the under-14s with Cobden.

I ended up playing for the Geelong Falcons in an under-15 competition over three days in Melbourne.

I played on the half-back flank in those games.

I missed out on making the Geelong Falcons under-16 squad.

I then represented the Hampden interleague side in the under-16s and -18s while I was playing at Cobden.

I made my senior debut with Cobden in 2009 under Wayne Walsh and played there again in 2010 when James Gellie was the coach.

We never made the finals.

I changed clubs for the 2011 season.

Why did you change clubs?

I had been playing with Cobden, but a lot of my mates were at Simpson so I went out there for the 2011 season.

We went all right in 2011, 2012 and 2013 before defeating Birregurra to win the 2014 premiership.

We beat them by 109 points.

I played at full back so you can imagine it was an easy game for me and the rest of the defenders as it was such a resounding win.

We never lost a game in 2015. It was a great achievement to be premiers and champions.

We defeated Irrewarra-Beeac in the grand final. Adam Courtney was our coach in both those wins.

Jamie, which path did your footy career head down in 2016?

I got offered the playing coach role at Caramut.

My good mate Mick Reid took up the role as assistant.

We finished ninth out of 11. It was a disappointing season.

It was hard to get a commitment out of everyone.

We would have 25 players at training one night and say 15 the next time we trained. We could not do all the drills together.

I found it tough because Caramut is half an hour away from Warrnambool, Hamilton and Terang and I was milking cows.

I ended up going back to play for Simpson this season. 

We've got joint coaches in Tom Leishman and Daniel Razga this year.

The side had a good win against Apollo Bay on Saturday. We've won six of the ten games played.

It's a very even competition and we’re just hoping that we’ll make the finals and see what happens from there.

Apart from your two premiership wins have you won any personal footy trophies?

I won two best and fairest awards in Cobden’s under-16 side and then tied for first in an under-18 best and fairest.

I was runner-up in the best and fairest award in my first two years with Simpson.

Jamie, have you finalised any plans regarding your footy career for 2018?

I'll be staying out at Simpson.

There a great club. It's only about 30 minutes away from home.

It's a friendly atmosphere around the club. We've got a loyal bunch of supporters who just love their footy.

It would be great if we could repay them with another premiership victory.

Away from the footy have you played any other sports?

I played a bit of cricket for Camperdown.

I started over in the colts and ended up in the seniors, but I was more focussed on my footy career.

I made 50 runs in one game and got a few wickets in another game.

I think my greatest claim as a cricketer was I was not a bad fielder.

I was always going to be involved in racing in one way or another as John my dad has been a farrier for nearly 40 years.

Jamie, your playing a key role in the Barry racing stable which is situated at Terang. What's your position?

Pat Reid and I are both stable foremen for John. I ride a fair bit of trackwork.

We've got ten horses in work and a couple of pre-trainers. My brother Joshua usually comes down to the stables on weekends to ride trackwork.

I weigh about 90 kilograms while Joshua is 65 kilograms.

We've found it great when Joshua is there to ride the horses as it takes a bit of stress off horses’ backs.

Pat and I were working for the Wilde stable when they had a satellite operation in Terang.

It would be about three years ago they decided to close their Terang operation so Pat and I approached the Terang Racing Club to see if we could get some facilities.

Karen Van Kempen from the club has been wonderful.

We've got ten boxes and eight paddocks on-course which is great.

My long-term aim is to get my trainer’s licence in my own right.

I've done all the paperwork and only got to put a few other things in place before I’m granted my licence.

Jamie, tell me about your stable star Chat To Maggie. How did she find her way to the Barry stable?

Pat Reid picked her out of a paddock at Hamilton. He paid $300 for her.

Pat syndicated her out to some family and friends and I'm lucky to have a share in her.

Chat To Maggie had won four of her 21 starts. She's won nearly $100,000 in stake money which is a great boost for a small country trainer.

Three of her wins have been at Terang.

Chat To Maggie's efforts on the racetrack have created a lot of interest in the local community.

She ran second at Flemington in her last campaign – that was a massive thrill for her connections.

She's not very big, but has a big heart.

We're giving her a short break before getting her ready for some races in the spring.