WE all went our for a team dinner early this week, to do a bit of bonding. It’s something we’ve always done, but we decided this week that we’d do it more often because it’s really important to help us gel as a group.
We quickly had at a feed together - about 40 of us descended on a restaurant and got around each other and had some dinner chat.
With a lot of new guys in the team and at the club, it’s good to learn about each other. I’ve no doubt it can help on training and game day.
It’s good to know what’s happening in your team-mates’ lives. We all get along well but it’s important to have that in-depth knowledge of where your mates come from and where they’ve been.
Everyone has a different story, some might be homesick, or their children might be up all night, so getting to know each other is integral to performing together.
As footballers, we’re lucky we get to come back this Sunday and play North Melbourne and work on all the things we got wrong last week.
Monday and Tuesday was about reviewing our own performance and the team’s performance and then you quickly want to get over the disappointment and focus on the next team, and on our team to make sure we’re in a good state of mind and training well so we can get back into some form.
As leaders we have to remain upbeat and positive for the rest of the group and get us going.
On the field and off the field it has to start with us, leading at training and doing all the right things.
As Tadhg said earlier this week, we do have to get back to having fun and just playing footy. It’s when we play our best, when we’re taking risks and running with the ball, so we’ll definitely be seeing that on Sunday.
We’ve just got to relax and play footy, not worry if you make a mistake. Just go and get the ball, that’s what we’re here to do!
There has been too much talk over the last month. All talk and no action, so enough talk, it’s time to show it.
If you want to know more of what’s been happening this week, you can sign up for texts from me. Just text Macca to 193030 and you’ll receive a text from me during the week, and on game day.
