NOW IN his seventh season with the Pies, Shane Wakelin isembracing his role as a mentor to the club’s younger players.

“I suppose football environments can be very intimidating atthe best of times,” he says.

“It’s great to see young lads bring out their personalitiesand show their confidence. That’s why I try and communicate with them as muchas I can, to try and create a calming environment at the club.”

When Wakelin started out, mentoring wasn’t a priority inmost clubs.

“I probably didn’t get it enough, which probably hindered mydevelopment.

“You sort of had to earn the respect of the senior playinggroup before you could feel comfortable in the team. There probably wasn’t thatmuch of a support network in place and it probably wasn’t expected as much fromsenior players.”

Saturday’s game against ladder leaders Geelong presents the perfect test for the flockof young Magpies Wakelin has been helping out.

He says it’s the club’s biggest game of the year so far.

“A lot of the commentators and so-called external expertsare talking it up. I don’t think there’s been a lot between us. Our form iscomparable to them over the last four or five weeks, which is the most relevant,but they’ve had a sensational last nine to 10 weeks. It’s great test for us tomeasure ourselves up against the best team in the competition.

“I’ve got absolutely no doubt that games like thisfast-track our young players’ development.”

A country boy, Wakelin, 32, brings a down-to-earth andsociable nature to his mentoring role.

“I’ve never been of the opinion that you rant and rave ortalk down to young players,” he says.

“You try and get on the same level as them and build thatrapport and build that trust. Hopefully they take on board what you have to sayand they not only want to play for the team, but they want to play for you aswell.”

Although he hasn’t yet decided whether he wants to play onnext season, for the past few years Wakelin has been preparing for life afterfootball.

When he first moved to Melbournehe completed a science degree, only realising afterwards that his interest layelsewhere.

Five years ago he began a Masters degree in business,majoring in accounting and finance, and now the seasoned full-back is doingwork experience in an investment bank.

“I’ll just see how this season finishes and then I’llaccommodate that thought [of retirement] at the end of the year,” he says.

“You go through a lot of scenarios in your head. But whateverwill be, will be.

“I’m prepared to make that transition into the workforce andI can’t wait, actually. I’m really looking forward to experiencing anotherenvironment.

“Football has been my full-time occupation for the past 14years. I can’t wait to get judged on my ability to take on another profession.

“I’m looking forward to making a big impact in thateventually, whenever that might be.”