By Ewen McRae
While plenty of players credit a new training program or a switch in diet for a boost in their form, Brent Sheean puts his amazing year down to exactly the opposite.
Sheean, who was last week named the Ron and Thelma Angwin medallist as the best player in the Western Region Football League’s third division, said learning to relax before every game was a key part of his preparation. And he meant really relax.
“I actually started having a 10 minute nap in the rooms about 20 minutes before we would go out, just to help me relax and stay fresh,” Sheean said.
“A lot of the guys wondered what the hell I was doing, but in the past I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself and really wanted to get my hands on the ball early.
“With this new approach, I went out there with a clear head and a bit of ‘whatever happens, happens’ kind of thinking and that helped me work my way into games if I wasn’t getting lots of the ball early on. I think it helped me.”
The medal capped off a memorable debut season for Sheean at Point Cook Centrals – the club also won it’s first senior premiership in just its sixth season.
Sheean, who played a pivotal role all year, put his best foot forward in the decider and was adjudged best on the field, collecting the Henry Turner Medal.
“Those medals are a nice little cherry on top, but the premiership was what we were all there for and that was massive,” Sheean said.
“No one can ever take that away from us, and in 50 years our grand kids can look back on the first senior team to win a premiership and our faces will pop up, so it’s a big honour.”
While he’s filled the trophy cabinet this season, Sheean said it was hard to tell if it was his best year.
“I felt like I was pretty consistent, but it’s hard to tell if it was my best year,” he said.
“I had some good years in div one and two, but this was probably my best from a stats point of view. I really tried to limit my bad games so I felt like I was far more consistent.
“I put pretty high expectations on myself for the season, and also really wanted to help the young guys around the club get better, so I felt like I did that.”
A playing assistant coach, Sheean said it was an exciting time for the club as it looks to build on this year’s success in a higher division.
“I went to the club because they had a young list that excited me, and I wanted to start my coaching. I really fell on my feet with the group that we’ve got together,” he said.
“There’s no egos at the club and everyone wants to improve. I personally felt pretty early on that we could push for something special.”
FOR MORE WRFL NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/award-winner-chases-team-success/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/lakes-star-aims-higher/
