As a professional athlete I think that my motivation comes from knowing what is required to be an AFL player and what is needed to perform at this level.
I know what the competition is like and what I need to do to get an advantage on my opponent, this certainly motivates me to train harder and do those extra things.
The best players in the AFL competition have that self motivation, they are the ones who do the extra work and push themselves harder and get that desired result on game day.
If you are self motivated it gives you a mental and physical edge over the other players in the competition. This becomes evident in the last five minutes of a game when you’re tired and hurting; if you have that edge, you’re the one who is able to stand up because you still have something left in the tank.
Everyone uses different goals to motivate them and this is important - I think there are a lot of different things in football that drive people. For some it’s the need to impress your teammates and not let them down, for others it’s about getting a game every week in the seniors and then there is every player’s ultimate goal of a premiership.
For me it’s a combination of things. I have a commitment to the Essendon Football Club; I want to help them to succeed both on and off the field and of course I dream of winning a premiership, these things drive me. Football is also my job so, like in any other job, I want to succeed so I can support my family.
We all face times when we are exhausted and sometimes you momentarily lose sight of your goals. Being able to get through it and re-focus is essential, I think that is a test of your mental strength because you’re not always going to feel your best; I’m sure that every athlete faces this at some stage in their careers.
This is something everyone can relate too, not just athletes and football players. If you don’t have that self motivation or an incentive driving you in life, you can lose your way. Being able to find the things that motivate you and your individual needs is really important.
If you can find that motivation and set yourself a goal, I believe it really does make whatever you’re doing worth it.
- Adam McPhee-
