Conor Nash On....Vikki Wall, Aussie Rules, the pandemic and preparing for battle

... THE COMPETITIVE NATURE OF AUSSIE RULES

"Every year there's 44 lads on the lists, 22 in the match day squad with a sub to make it 23 (18 players on a team). Everyone is fighting for their positions. The midfield is very competitive especially the inside midfielder. There's only three spots for the inside midfielder so it's always competitive. Every pre-season there are new, younger players hungry to get in the team so it's very competitive and very attritional. Half the battle is keeping your body fit and right and thankfully this year I've had a good run."

... WHAT IT WAS LIKE DURING THE PANDEMIC

"Life was very different but in fairness to the AFL they kept going. We spent three months on the road because Melbourne was locked down. Different states shut their borders so we had to up and move one day. They just said go home, pack a bag, we're leaving tonight to get across the border to New South Wales.

"We spent three weeks in Sydney, we were in Perth for three weeks, hotel quarantine, three weeks in the Adelaide area. 2020 was a write off but we were so lucky, so grateful we could keep the season alive and we were able to play football and it was a saving grace for a lot of people stuck at home.

"They could turn on the TV and watch a game of footie, we were very lucky to be in a position to provide that. We played a lot of games away, PCR tests, chartered flight, it was a very difficult time but we were very grateful to be able to play, the league did a great job in keeping the show on the road. It was a massive logistical challenge but they did it, a great job really."

...THE MENTAL PREPARATION FOR GAMES

"Hawthorn have very good sports psychologists, we do a lot of work in that space, mindfulness. Every morning we start our day at the club with a session of mindfulness. We put a big emphasis on our mentality out on the pitch and being able to perform in any situation, so it's massive.

"All the teams are doing nearly the exact same fitness work so it's all about getting that extra edge in different areas. We do a lot of visualising techniques for the day ahead, how we are going to attack the day, our training. How we are going to approach people, what conversations we are going to have and how you are going to be around the club. Then there might be a listening exercises, sounds that keep you aware, present in the moment."

...ON VIKKI WALL, ORLAGH LALLY AND AUSSIE RULES

"The Irish women who go over there are in a lot of cases streets ahead of everyone else. They are just so good, so skilful. The Irish game is a number of years ahead of the Australian women's game, the standard of football in Ireland is a couple of years ahead and that really stands to players such as Vikki Wall and Orlagh Lally. To have played Gaelic football at such a high level as they did gives them a great start to their careers in the Aussie Rules."