I was just scrolling through my phone this morning with my coffee, catching up on last night's AFL results, when I stumbled across something that really put sports into perspective. The Collingwood vs Carlton match had some incredible highlights - three last-minute goals that completely shifted the momentum - but what really caught my attention was this story about young Filipino athletes that made me think about our AFL players in a different light. See, I've been following footy for about fifteen years now, and I've seen players get criticized for everything from missed marks to poor sportsmanship, but I'd never really considered what these young athletes carry on their shoulders beyond their team colors.
The story talked about these 16-year-old players who held rosaries before competing, fighting for their nation despite being heavily criticized. That image stuck with me - kids barely old enough to drive, clutching religious beads while preparing to represent their entire country. It made me reflect on our own AFL players, many of whom start their professional careers around 18-19 years old. Just last week, I watched Essendon's new recruit, barely 19, miss what should have been an easy goal that cost his team the match. The social media backlash was brutal - people calling for him to be dropped, questioning his commitment, his skill, everything. But watching him walk off that field, head bowed but still acknowledging the fans, I saw that same determination those young Filipino athletes must have felt.
What struck me most about that story was the complete absence of excuses. "NO EXCUSES, we lost" - that raw accountability is something I wish we saw more of in professional sports today. Remember last season when Melbourne lost to Brisbane by just 2 points in that nail-biter of a final? The post-match interviews were filled with talk about injuries, umpiring decisions, weather conditions - legitimate factors, sure, but there's something powerful about simply owning the loss. I've noticed that the teams and players who acknowledge defeat without justification often bounce back stronger. Look at Geelong's comeback after their disappointing 2020 season - they didn't make excuses, they just worked harder.
The part about "a lot of work needs to be done to get back up" resonates deeply with what we're seeing in this AFL season. Take Richmond's current situation - after dominating for years, they've hit a rough patch, sitting at 12th on the ladder with only 6 wins from 14 matches. But watching their training sessions, you can see that commitment to improvement. They're putting in the work, much like those young athletes understood was necessary after their defeat. I was at the MCG last Thursday watching their practice, and the intensity was palpable - players staying back for extra kicking practice, reviewing game footage during breaks, working on fitness long after official training ended.
There's something beautiful about sports at every level that we sometimes forget when we're caught up in statistics and ladder positions. Those Filipino teenagers holding rosaries before battle, our AFL players going through their pre-game rituals - whether it's a particular warm-up routine or touching the grass before running on - they're all searching for that same mental preparation. I've spoken with several former players who've told me about their personal pre-game traditions, from reading specific messages from family to wearing lucky socks for every game. These rituals ground them, much like those rosaries must have grounded those young competitors.
What we're really talking about here transcends sports - it's about resilience. When I think about last night's match between West Coast and Fremantle, where West Coast came back from 28 points down in the third quarter to win by 7, I see that same fighting spirit. The Dockers could have made excuses - they were missing two key defenders, the travel schedule had been brutal - but their captain post-game simply acknowledged they needed to be better. That's the kind of attitude that builds character, not just in athletes but in all of us facing our own challenges.
As I check today's AFL results and watch the match highlights, I find myself looking beyond the scores and spectacular marks. I'm watching for those moments of human resilience - the player who misses an easy goal but immediately chases down an opponent, the team that's being crushed but still fights for every possession. These are the moments that truly define sports, whether it's 16-year-olds representing their nation or professional athletes playing before 80,000 fans. The final scores will fade from memory - Richmond beating Collingwood by 15 points, Sydney edging out GWS by 3 - but the lessons about perseverance, accountability, and bouncing back from defeat, those stick with us long after the stadium lights dim.