Swans meditating on mixed form

Following last week's sorry performance against the Western Bulldogs, Sydney fans
could be excused for needing to take up meditation.
And that is just what Swans co-captain Adam Goodes is encouraging his misfiring
teammates to do ahead of Sunday's AFL clash with reigning premiers Hawthorn at the
MCG.
The superstar utility credits meditation for his spike in form and says a handful of
players at the club regularly practice the art to enhance their state of mind for
game day.
"I was feeling very clouded going into games, in my mind," the dual Brownlow
Medallist said.
"Just with the captaincy, it took me a while to know my role and know my
responsibilities I had to take out on the ground without over-clouding my mind.
"Once I go into the game with a clear mind I know I can perform at a pretty good
level and consistently.
"We had a fantastic win against Port Adelaide (in round nine) and I hope the guys
just didn't rock up at the weekend thinking that it would just happen again, because
it just doesn't happen like that in footy, it's too hard."
Goodes said that coach Paul Roos' wife Tami had helped players taking up meditation.
"A couple of years ago a fair few of us did a course through Roos' wife Tami and
it's just been a matter of me getting back into that ... I'm reaping the benefits
now with a clearer mind," he said.
"The players who have done it before ... might want to resort back to it, it's a
tough game that we play, there's so much pressure.
"So whether it be meditation or talking to a sport psych, you definitely need to put
some effort into your state of mind.
"Apart from meditation yoga is definitely something I love to do ... I do that twice
a week and a fair few of the other players do it as well."
Goodes said his side's inconsistency could be a mindset problem and if senior
players don't step up they'll be sent to the reserves.
"If you've got players in the reserves putting their hand up and senior players not
performing the roles we expect them to play then definitely they have to go back to
(the reserves), get a bit of form, get that confidence or whatever they need and
give those younger guys an opportunity in the team," he said.
"We do need everyone jumping on board."
He said mental clarity could improve the Swans' woes.
"The hardest thing with winning one and losing one and winning one and losing one is
that inconsistent factor and it's not physical attributes, it can be your mental
state," he said.
"I know myself, early on in the season I wasn't in great form and I knew it wasn't
because I wasn't fit or strong, it was just mentally I needed to deal with things a
lot better."