The word according to Captain Ben

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  • Go Swannies
    Veterans List
    • Sep 2003
    • 5697

    The word according to Captain Ben

    There's a good piece from Ben Mathews on the Swans website.

    From:


    Sydney Swans midfielder Ben Mathews believes the 2005 AFL Grand Final against West Coast will be a mental game rather than a physical battle.

    The 26-year-old, a member of the Swans' rotating captaincy group this season, told a packed media conference that all the hard work has been done, and now it will come down to who can put it together on the MCG.

    "This week is all about recovery as I don't think you are going to get fitter or faster at this time of year," the Corowa-Rutherglen junior said.

    "It's all the mental challenge of getting yourself up and overcoming any obstacles that we might encounter this week and on Saturday.

    "So that is where the game can be won or lost, mentally and how we deal with everything and plan and carry out that plan on Saturday."
  • timbo
    On the Rookie List
    • Aug 2003
    • 344

    #2
    cause bennie is such a pro when it comes to on-field mentality.
    Onwards to Victory!

    Comment

    • Go Swannies
      Veterans List
      • Sep 2003
      • 5697

      #3
      Originally posted by timbo
      cause bennie is such a pro when it comes to on-field mentality.
      I haven't seen much to criticise in this finals series. In fact I've seen him a bit in the role of Matty Nicks towards the end of his career - as a steadying influence in our midfield (and it was the penalty that he got in the Cats game that got the ball down to win us the game).

      Comment

      • OldE

        #4
        He was at Fox Studios today, when we were there waiting to get our tickets. Having a chat to a couple of fans, he seemed really gracious and chatty. I was impressed.

        Comment

        • dimelb
          pr. dim-melb; m not f
          • Jun 2003
          • 6889

          #5
          And he's right about the mental bit. Steve Waugh reckoned that when you played at Test level, 90% of the game was mental. I don't think it's any different for AFL or any other elite team game. And do we play a team game...
          He reminds him of the guys, close-set, slow, and never rattled, who were play-makers on the team. (John Updike, seeing Josh Kennedy in a crystal ball)

          Comment

          • DST
            The voice of reason!
            • Jan 2003
            • 2705

            #6
            Originally posted by timbo
            cause bennie is such a pro when it comes to on-field mentality.
            Pull your finger out timbo, Ben Matthews has represented our club with distinction over the last couple of years. He has earnt the right to play in a Grand Final and with that the right to offer his opinion on what he sees as important before the game.

            He and the other 40 odd players and coaching staff deserve your respect, not silly little snide remarks like that.

            DST
            "Looking forward to a rebuilt, new, fast and exciting Swans model in 2010"

            Comment

            • BayseysLeftBoot
              On the Rookie List
              • Jan 2004
              • 523

              #7
              Originally posted by dimelb
              And he's right about the mental bit. Steve Waugh reckoned that when you played at Test level, 90% of the game was mental. I don't think it's any different for AFL or any other elite team game. And do we play a team game...
              Yep as the old football adage goes: 90% of the game is played above the shoulders. And I reckon we've got it over the eagles in that department. We are the underdogs once again and there is more pressure on them.

              Comment

              • anniswan
                Footy Mother Big Time
                • Jan 2003
                • 2031

                #8
                I would just wish that people would stop tipping us, on the Sunday Footy show I think they all tipped us. I want to go in as the underdog as we have done nearly every week

                Comment

                • FredFlintstone
                  Warming the Bench
                  • Aug 2005
                  • 123

                  #9
                  Don't worry, SportsTab has the Eagles as favourites for Saturday!
                  Yabba Dabba Dooooo Swannies!!!

                  Comment

                  • SXP

                    #10
                    Originally posted by anniswan
                    I would just wish that people would stop tipping us, on the Sunday Footy show I think they all tipped us. I want to go in as the underdog as we have done nearly every week
                    Not everybody. It was 3-2 for the Swans. Not everybody is tipping us. Most coaches reckon we have no chance next week against Eagles.

                    Comment

                    • floppinab
                      Senior Player
                      • Jan 2003
                      • 1681

                      #11
                      Captain Ben indeed...........

                      If Hall gets rubbed out, the next man in the rotation is..................

                      Backdoor Benny Matthews

                      Comment

                      • Go Swannies
                        Veterans List
                        • Sep 2003
                        • 5697

                        #12
                        Originally posted by floppinab
                        Captain Ben indeed...........

                        If Hall gets rubbed out, the next man in the rotation is..................

                        Backdoor Benny Matthews
                        Thanks for adding that. In my general excitement I forgot to say why I'd called him (potentially) Grand Final Captain Ben.

                        Comment

                        • Mike_B
                          Peyow Peyow
                          • Jan 2003
                          • 6267

                          #13
                          Originally posted by floppinab
                          Captain Ben indeed...........

                          If Hall gets rubbed out, the next man in the rotation is..................

                          Backdoor Benny Matthews
                          I get the feeling that if BBBH doesn't play it will be back to Captain Kirk.

                          I'm on the Chandwagon!!!

                          If you cannot compete for the premiership, it's better to be young and exciting than middle-aged and dowdy.

                          Comment

                          • mocaholic
                            Regular in the Side
                            • Oct 2003
                            • 575

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Go Swannies
                            I haven't seen much to criticise in this finals series. In fact I've seen him a bit in the role of Matty Nicks towards the end of his career - as a steadying influence in our midfield (and it was the penalty that he got in the Cats game that got the ball down to win us the game).
                            Christ, don't let the non-Swans fans see that!

                            I actually thought Ben spoke well.
                            Insert Your Life [HERE]

                            Comment

                            • Go Swannies
                              Veterans List
                              • Sep 2003
                              • 5697

                              #15
                              Originally posted by mocaholic
                              Christ, don't let the non-Swans fans see that!

                              I actually thought Ben spoke well.
                              I was just writing in English. A free against is a penalty cause it certainly isn't a benefit. If I said that Ben got a free could mean if was for or against. If I said "copped" it'd be clear it was againts but "was awarded" sounds pretentious. So I don't think Baz should be penalised for one incident of a hundred like it that have taken place all over the grounds (or fields??) in all the games (or matches??) of the finals series.

                              Comment

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