ANDREW SULLIVAN INTERVIEW
08/12/2008 24/7 caught up with the GB skipper, Andrew Sullivan, for an update one week into GB camp...

24/7 caught up with the GB skipper for an update one week into GB camp...

DREW ON THE CAPTAINCY

Of course I'm very pleased. There will be people out there who think it should go to other players and I'm not one to say whether it should or shouldn't.

But what I can say is I take the job extremely seriously and the good thing about being on this team is there are guys who talk a lot!

That's something I've been working on, talking more to players. I feel I'm a captain who does his job by example rather than words but this week I've really been trying a little bit more to talk, especially with the younger guys like Justin (Robinson), Matt (Guymon), Ryan (Richards), Joel (Freeland).

I've been trying to help those guys out and understand what we're doing because having played for Chris (Finch) the past year I have an idea what he's looking for.

DREW ON THE 2008 CAMP

This year has been the most talent-filled which is good. That's what you want, for every year more talent to come through. There is also more young talent this year.

Last year, we had a talented group but it was a bit more experienced guys a little bit older guys. This year we have a lot of young guys, still in college, who could potentially be playing for GB in 2012. Having them here, I've been very impressed with them.

DREW ON LAST YEAR'S SUCCESS

I think the key last year was learning how to play with each other, especially learning how to play off Luol because he is the focal point of our offence and the focal point of our team's defence. Learning how to play together as well as learning how to play off him was very important to our success last year.

I don't think that will be easy to duplicate because we are playing better teams so they are going to have guys who are better equipped to play defence against Lu. They are going to be able to double team, triple team him in some cases. We have to make a bigger effort to try and make his job easy so he can make our job easy.

DREW ON THE STEP UP TO A DIVISION

We are going in there with the idea that 6-0 gets us through, so let's shoot for that! If we end up going 5-1 then I reckon we will take that but we understand it's a huge step up and is going to be much more competitive than last year.

Games are going to be a lot harder, a lot more intense and we have to make sure we're ready for that from the moment we step on the court. We can't go into it and, after one or two games, say to ourselves 'This is what it's all about, let's step it up!'

We have to go in there and put the first punch in straight away.

DREW ON THE STRIDES GB HAVE TAKEN SINCE 2006

I thought there was a seed there on the first day of training camp two years ago but I never thought we would get to this point so quickly.

I always knew someone like Andy Betts would be key to our progress and he only missed the first year because his wife was pregnant. I know for a fact, if she had not been or if his baby had been born, he would have been there and when you get guys like him, with that kind of commitment, then you have a chance.

We need more guys like Andy Betts, guys who put GB before almost everything, apart from their family. When you have someone like him setting an example it puts pressure on players who might be wishy-washy, wondering 'Shall I go, shall I not go?'

Andy deserves a lot of credit. When you have a commitment like that then guys like Luol are more likely to play. Of course Luol wants to be here but he also wants to play with good players and when you have a couple of good players, more good players want to be on the team.

That's been shown the last couple of years and when you look at the talent we have here now, I wouldn't have imagined this would happen so quickly.

DREW ON NEXT SEASON

I haven't signed with a team yet and my agent is still looking extremely hard. I don't want a situation where I'm taking a step backwards.