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Scott Gullan Article from: Herald Sun
April 11, 2008 12:00am
WILL Minson might be like a human wrecking ball on the football field but he's a gentle giant at home, according to his girlfriend, track star Madeleine Pape.
The Western Bulldogs ruckman, who celebrates his 23rd birthday today, is actually the calming influence of the glamour sporting couple.
Pape, who will be running the 800m for Australia at the Beijing Olympics, says her boyfriend of three years is the opposite of the 199cm giant who terrorises his opponents.
"We are very different athletes," Pape said.
"He is fairly laid-back and when he gets home he switches off, while I tend to carry it with me all the time.
"We have a good balance because he's pretty calm."
While a Bulldogs victory against Essendon tonight would be the ideal birthday gift, Minson is likely to get some "practical things" from his girlfriend.
"I'll be getting him things he needs, like socks or something like that," Pape said.
Both have experienced sport's highs and lows with Pape returning from injuries to win a spot in the Olympic team at last month's trials.
Minson, who is playing his 45th game tonight, has suffered a broken leg and season-ending back injury over the past two years.
But he has found a new lease of life as a key forward this season and been influential in the Bulldogs' perfect 3-0 start.
But it was Pape, not Minson, who made the first move when they met.
"I asked him to go out for coffee because he was very nervous and very reserved," she said.
"I thought if I wait for him I'll be waiting for months."
. Ive met both of them and there both awesome people. Will got so much time for everyone and he'll always stay and have a chat with people.
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