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Mind Games by Matthew Harrington, Radio Sport 927 May 31, 2002 Coaching in the AFL is all about winning the mind game. How else can you explain varying performances from each team? World-beaters one week, chumps the next. It's all too familiar for fans watching their team's performance drop so dramatically, on occasions. Whoever coined the phrase ``football is played above the ears'' was right. Barring injury, a player can not lose his ability in a week. It is all about confidence and frame of mind. With only the elite skilled players making it to the AFL, each team is highly talented. Anyone can beat anyone. It's how the AFL wanted it when it introduced the draft and salary cap. It is also adds to the spectacle of the sport, knowing that anything is possible. But it also irritates and irks fans, which along with club hierarchies become increasingly uneasy with poor performances, and the coach is always the first questioned. The coach is held responsible for his team's performance, and admittedly he makes all the big decisions, but its tough holding a coach responsible for 22 people's actions. This adds to the pressure of a coaching position. Apart from having a diverse knowledge of Australian football, a coach needs to be a phycologist as well. He needs to be able to get his charges up every week, and given how temperamental humans can be, especially footballers, this can be a monumental task. I'm sure Danny Frawley is scratching his head as too why his Tigers players were up for the Eagles game, yet so down - and ordinary - against St Kilda on Saturday night. Pushing the right buttons for one player doesn't mean it will work on another player. For example, Carlton coach Wayne Brittain appears to be winning the battle with getting Corey McKernan back playing consistently good football, but yet his team is waning at the bottom of the table with one win from nine matches. Even though an injury curse has hit the Blues, their form is up and down - almost beat Hawthorn, then cop a thrashing from Adelaide. Another example highlighting what coaches face is the West Coast Eagles' form. The Eagles are in the eight with a 5-4 record. However, delve deeper and it shows the West Australian club's form depends on where the game is. In Perth they have proved invincible, venture east and they can't win. It would be baffling for John Worsfold and his coaching staff. Somehow he needs to persuade the boys that they are playing St Kilda at Subiaco this week, not Colonial. Maybe he could engage the services of a hypnotist to brainwash his players into thinking they haven't left home. Brisbane and Essendon in the past few seasons have dominated. It's been a great effort by their respective coaches Leigh Matthews and Kevin Sheedy, to keep their teams so far ahead of the pack. Okay, they have dropped the occasional game, but there is no doubt both will be in action in September, again. Coaches have tried many techniques to have their players primed mentally. Inspirational videos, guest speakers, trips to cinemas and even Sunday or a mid-week barbie. It has to be easier than that. It eventually has to come down to the individual player. He would know what would make him tick, and should help ease the pressure on his coach by ensuring he is ready to play. For too long the coach has been the scapegoat. It is time the players took responsibility for their team's performances and not hide behind their leader. Balls and All.....this month • The Greatest Show on Earth Matt Harrington, 23 May 2002 • Mind Games Matt Harrington, 23 May 2002 • Racing's New Frontier Matt Harrington, 23 May 2002 • Defining Moment Matt Harrington, 23 May 2002 • The Sleeping Giant Matt Harrington, 23 May 2002 • Unfulfilled Potential Matt Harrington, 21 May 2002 • Time To Act Matt Harrington, 16 May 2002 • Football, Witchcraft and Flying Saucers Matt Harrington, 9 May 2002 • Changing Dimensions Matt Harrington, 3 May 2002 | |||
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