The Psychology of Winning

[Micky Dee 11]

Many of us have wondered about the attitude of the current playing group (for the last 7 years...). We've speculated about how they've become accustomed to losing, how a few opposition goals can kill their resolve, how when given a chance to win, they almost forget how to take the four points.

Sure, our coaches are obliged to motivate the players, but when that fails, what other options have the MFC explored? (Aside from Meditation with Mrs. Roos)

The following clubs have a 'Performance Psychologist' listed in their Football department staff:

Essendon

Collingwood

Port Adelaide

Richmond

North Melbourne

Other clubs don't provide a full list of football dept staff on their website, but they may well have have one too

It raises the question, for a club that's been smashed from pillar to post for the best part of a decade, why the hell don't we?

[DeeZee 7,428]

Roosy's missus has them meditating......seems to be working so far.

Actually, why not hypnotise them into thinking they are Hawthorn?

[Biffen 12,944]

Roosy's missus has them meditating......seems to be working so far.

Actually, why not hypnotise them into thinking they are Hawthorn?

Ridley tried that at an AGM but it caused a few problems.

Edited April 9, 2014 by Biffen

[buck_nekkid 5,917]

Hypnosis doesn't work like that. You can use it to enhance performance, and help to crack unhelpful thought patterns.

If they are stuck in thinking like they cannot win, it will definitely impact their performance.

[timD 994]

Roosy's missus has them meditating......seems to be working so far.

Actually, why not hypnotise them into thinking they are Hawthorn?

....and the funniest bit here is that we had a sports psych who did a lot of work with the club about culture and winning etc and guess where he's been for the last several years? Kinda from 2008-now...

That story is like many others at Melbourne. And out of respect it is also not mine to tell.

[Sir Why You Little 37,053]

We need Rampaging Roy Slaven to sort out this list of happless pillows!!

[P-man 13,366]

They've been shouted at. They've been cuddled. They've had everything in between.

One by one the options are being crossed off, and you're left with them just not being all that good.

[old dee 23,801]

They've been shouted at. They've been cuddled. They've had everything in between.

One by one the options are being crossed off, and you're left with them just not being all that good.

Yep P-man that pretty much covers there is no Port miracle here.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

....and the funniest bit here is that we had a sports psych who did a lot of work with the club about culture and winning etc and guess where he's been for the last several years? Kinda from 2008-now...

That story is like many others at Melbourne. And out of respect it is also not mine to tell.

Please do.

I remember Daniher at the time he was coach was vehemently against have a club psychologist even though I thought it would have helped our mentally fragile guys at the time.

[jazza 1,323]

....and the funniest bit here is that we had a sports psych who did a lot of work with the club about culture and winning etc and guess where he's been for the last several years? Kinda from 2008-now...

That story is like many others at Melbourne. And out of respect it is also not mine to tell.

the club psych is currently working in america,for big money i might add.

has a one off client ,the griswalds.

teaching wusty to get over his self flaggelation problems.

audreys weight excess problems.

ellen has a fear of italian stick movies and wont venture out of the house.

and clark still thinks about that hat he threw off the eiffel tower.

so our ex psych wont be back for awhile.

[gsmith12 491]

Psychology is all in the mind.

[Red N Blue Society 165]

IMO....cups of concrete need to be taken by some of the players..not all but some. No need to name them. IMO Meditation and all that hippy bs can fall by the wayside.

We need to recruit tougher players who perform & Win the ball regularly its that simple.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Psychology is all in the mind.

Profound.

[Thehardtackler 785]

Watch George Stone's match preview this week and you will see how the psychology of winning can develop in our team. He is positive, calm, smiles all the time and even mentions the word 'win'. How different from the Neeld era where we had stuttering Brian Royal looking like a rabbit in headlights.

[praha 11,240]

Psychology is all in the mind.

No way?

[PJ_12345 1,098]

The players get paid on average $250k, I'm sure if they are legitimately concerned they could fork out some of their own money, instead of their cash strapped club's, for a few sessions.

[Gipsy Danger 1,067]

Psychology is all in the mind.

is that where they left it?

[timD 994]

Please do.

I remember Daniher at the time he was coach was vehemently against have a club psychologist even though I thought it would have helped our mentally fragile guys at the time.

The psych in question actually worked successfully with Neale for a number of years. He left in the muddle that 2008 became after being poached by Clarkson (who met him at Melbourne). This bloke also works with olympians, tennis players, v8 teams, afl players etc.

My point is that we had one and lost him to a club that has subsequently won two flags and look to be moving towards a third. We wonder how seemingly average players at Hawthorn get the most out of themselves...and Melbourne has not had a psych since 2008. We have someone one now but I'm not sure of the degree of involvement or effectiveness. That is not a slight - I have No IDEA how many hours they are employed or contracted for, what they are doing, what they are measuring and therefore have no idea about how to grade effectiveness.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

The psych in question actually worked successfully with Neale for a number of years. He left in the muddle that 2008 became after being poached by Clarkson (who met him at Melbourne). This bloke also works with olympians, tennis players, v8 teams, afl players etc.

My point is that we had one and lost him to a club that has subsequently won two flags and look to be moving towards a third. We wonder how seemingly average players at Hawthorn get the most out of themselves...and Melbourne has not had a psych since 2008. We have someone one now but I'm not sure of the degree of involvement or effectiveness. That is not a slight - I have No IDEA how many hours they are employed or contracted for, what they are doing, what they are measuring and therefore have no idea about how to grade effectiveness.

Thanks for the info.

How much involves self motivation? Altruism? The goal of beating your opponent?

I'm asking in respect to not putting anyone on the spot.....I just wonder if the players are good enough? I think not.

[ManDee 7,162]

The psych in question actually worked successfully with Neale for a number of years. He left in the muddle that 2008 became after being poached by Clarkson (who met him at Melbourne). This bloke also works with olympians, tennis players, v8 teams, afl players etc.

My point is that we had one and lost him to a club that has subsequently won two flags and look to be moving towards a third. We wonder how seemingly average players at Hawthorn get the most out of themselves...and Melbourne has not had a psych since 2008. We have someone one now but I'm not sure of the degree of involvement or effectiveness. That is not a slight - I have No IDEA how many hours they are employed or contracted for, what they are doing, what they are measuring and therefore have no idea about how to grade effectiveness.

Fairly simple I would have thought. Wins.