If Melbourne midfielder Angus Brayshaw plays a blinder in Saturday's AFL grand final, don't be surprised if he gives a little shout-out to the world of corporate finance.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The intense hype surrounding Melbourne's chance of breaking its 57-year premiership drought has dominated headlines since the Demons pummelled Geelong in the preliminary final.
Melbourne players are well aware of what their date with destiny means to long-suffering Demons fans, and they are vowing to do everything they can to end the years of heartbreak.
But with intense hype can come extreme anxiety, and Brayshaw is doing his best to stay cool and calm.
Brayshaw was a picture of relaxation on Wednesday, lying on the grass and looking up to the sky while waiting for his turn to speak to the media.
The 25-year-old said that relaxed approach would prove crucial in what shapes as the biggest week in his life.
"Staying wound-up doesn't serve anyone," Brayshaw said ahead of the grand final against the Bulldogs.
"Being able to switch off and stay fresh is going to be really important for us.
"We've got a lot of young players and it's a big game, so if we can't stay balanced and level, then we're going to be in trouble."
Melbourne defender Jake Lever has spoken about how his use of meditation has helped keep him grounded leading up to the grand final.
For Brayshaw, it's a university course that hardly sets the heart racing.
"I mean, we could talk all day about the nuances of corporate finance and that stuff," Brayshaw said with a laugh.
"I don't think that's particularly interesting. It's taken up a lot of my time. I've got family over as well, so catching up with them has been good."
Brayshaw knows how much a Demons flag would mean to the fans, not only because of the 57-year drought, but also the COVID-19 situation in Victoria.
"We're acutely aware of where we sit and our situation of how long it's been between drinks for us," he said.
"We're a proud club, and this will mean a lot to a lot of people.
"We want to win the whole thing. It's a shame it's got to that point (of being 57 years), but it's pretty special to be able to make people happy in a really hard time like that. Hopefully we can go one more."
Australian Associated Press
