Brisbane Lions star Sophie Conway on battling self-doubt on path to sixth grand final
Sophie Conway felt as if it was nearly the end of the world when she wasn’t performing to her level. But four words helped prevent her season from derailing — and now for yet another grand final.
“Keep it simple, stupid.”
That was the muted motivational motto that Brisbane Lions winger Sophie Conway adopted in the midst of a self-confidence crisis that threatened to derail her AFLW season.
Now on the eve of her sixth grand final appearance, Conway says she “wouldn’t change a thing” about her and her team’s rollercoaster campaign that they hope will end with a flag this Saturday.
The two-time All-Australian has long been one of the premier outside midfielders in the competition and what has made her so successful is a constant desire to improve.
In a team chock full of high standard-setters the 26 year old continues to raise the bar.
So when she started the season not at her brilliant best, Conway found herself mired in self-doubt.
“My standards were so high that if I wasn’t meeting them, it wasn’t necessarily ‘end of the world’ but it was nearly ‘end of the world’, if that makes sense,” she told Code Sports.
“You always want to contribute, right? You always want to feel like you are making an impact on the team, whether you win or lose.
“I was doubling down on myself extremely at the start of the year which was making it more challenging for myself.
“My standards are so high … when you feel like you’re not meeting them that is when the pressure starts to mount and I was struggling.”
Conway was not alone in her early-season self-assessment.
The Lions started the season loss, win, loss, win, loss before embarking on their current nine-match winning run.
Following their 29-point defeat to North Melbourne in Round 5, some Lions players came together for a heart to heart – sharing their analysis and feelings on the up-and-down season.
In Conway’s case, she learned to open up to senior coach Craig Starcevich and midfield coach Ryan Davis.
“I’ve always set really high standards for myself. It can be my greatest strength but also my worst enemy,” she said.
“I probably hadn’t dealt with adversity in that sense for a little bit, so trying to deal with that was a bit of a challenge.
“At the end of the day what I learned was to just talk about it. Chatting to Craig, chatting to Ryan … less was more for me at that stage.
“It was important to get back to knowing what I was good at and having more confidence in myself.
“Keep it simple stupid, is that the saying?
“Reflecting on my last two months (of form) I think that is really important. As a group, as a team, we are playing some really good footy.”
Fittingly the opposition that was the catalyst for the Lions’ mid-season pow wow – North Melbourne – is also Saturday’s grand final opponent.
It is the third straight season the Lions and Kangaroos have met in the decider, with the ledger squared at 1-apiece.
Last year North ran out 44-point victors.
Conway said the Lions’ three most recent matches against the Kangaroos had taught them valuable lessons.
“We went to work really hard in terms of where we needed to improve,” she said.
“You want to play the best teams in the comp to continue to find out where you are at.
“Our last three encounters just haven’t been anywhere near par, especially with the best team in the comp.”
“I work my ass off in the season for these (grand final) moments. This is where I want to be, I want to be playing the last game in November to have the opportunity to get a dangly (medal) around my neck.
“That is why you play, that is why you do those running sessions in 30-degree heat out here in Springfield. That is why you work your ass off.
“I want to be in this position every year and I know the rest of the group does as well.”
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Originally published as Brisbane Lions star Sophie Conway on battling self-doubt on path to sixth grand final
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