Brian Cook has been Geelong's chief executive since 1999 and the club has prospered under his leadership, winning two premierships after four more than decades of misery. A former Hawthorn player under legendary coach John Kennedy, Cook made his name as an administrator at West Coast, helping guide the fledgling club to two premierships within eight years of joining the AFL. He then narrowly missed out on the AFL's top job to Andrew Demetriou. A fitness fanatic, he has four times completed the Rottnest Island swim and now lives in Albert Park with his wife, Annette.

01Who is your hero/heroine - sporting or otherwise?

There are several. As a youngster, it was (South Melbourne's Brownlow Medallist) Bob Skilton; then there were influential mentors to me who will remain anonymous. More recently, it's been Frank Costa at Geelong.

02What was your greatest act of courage?

Physically, following John Kennedy's orders on a weekly basis at Hawthorn. Also, completing four Rottnest swims, solo. Mentally, it was the wide-ranging review that I oversaw of the Geelong football department in 2006 - a traumatic time. 

03What is the most memorable sporting event you have witnessed?

The women's 400m final at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, won, of course, by Cathy Freeman. The 2009 AFL Grand Final, when Geelong managed to hold off St Kilda.

04Which sporting event in history would you most like to have attended?

The Rumble in the Jungle - Muhammad Ali v George Foreman, Zaire, 1974. 

05What keeps you awake at night?

Thinking about work issues; sometimes too many dinner engagements; sometimes worrying about getting up at the right time.

06Which talent would you most like to have? 

To speak another language and play a musical instrument.

07What bores you?

Big egos; overly ambitious people; ‘I' people; talking about footy at dinners; most of my wife's favourite TV programs. 

08On which occasions do you lie?

At times, when my wife and children ask me if I'm all right. (Also, sometimes about my age.) 

09What trait do you most deplore in others?

Arrogance and disrespect.

Tom Harley, John Worsfold, Mark Thompson, James Bartel, Lenny Hayes. 

11Who doesn't - and why?

I'd rather not say.

''At the end of the day ...''

I'm juggling three books - ‘'Outliers'' by Malcolm Gladwell, ‘'The Producers'' and ‘'Nine Lives''.

Although it's not strictly a sports book, it's relevant to sports management: ‘'From Good to Great'', by Jim Collins.

A bit of all my heroes. But really I'm happy just to be myself.

16What is the greatest sports venue in the world?

MCG, the scene of many of my happiest moments in football.

17Which living person/people do you most admire?

Geelong president Frank Costa. And all mothers out there.

18Who is Australia's greatest sportsman/woman?

Don Bradman, Shane Gould, Rod Laver and John Landy.

19What sport don't you ‘get'?

Yachting and motor racing.

20How would you like to be remembered?

As honest, a doer, and a team-oriented person. Also a good son, brother, husband and father.