Episode 88 – Mat Ferraro

Mat recently just finished up as Rehabilitation Coordinator for the North Melbourne FC. Before working in rehab, Matthew was the strength & conditioning coach & High-performance manager of the VFL program and worked at Collingwood as an S&C in the VFL & AFL program.

Topics we discussed:

• His shift from going to be a physio to physical preparation 
• How he started at Collingwood FC while having his degree
• Mentors and people who helped him in his career
• Key relationships within the program for a rehab coordinator role 
• Methods to build resilience for developing footballers
• Fave inspirational quote or life motto

People mentioned:

• Daniel Jones
• Martyn Girvan
• Ben Shipperd
• Dean Filopolous 
• Josh Humphries
• Dan Meehan
• Jona Segal
• Dave Sobey
• Alex Moore
• Dan Pfaff
• Stu Mcmillion
• Matt Turnbull
• Kobe Bryant 
• Craig Purdham

Connect: https://www.instagram.com/matty_ferraro/

Listen: iTunes | Spotify

Interview Transcript

Jack: Welcome back to the ‘Prepare Like A Pro’ podcast. My name is Jack McLean. I am the host and in today’s episode I interview Matthew Ferraro. Matthew has recently just finished up as a rehabilitation coordinator for the North Melbourne Football Club. Before working in rehab, Matthew was the strength & conditioning coach and hub funds manager, the VFL program, and worked at Collingwood Football Club as a strength & conditioning coach in the VFL and AFL program.

Highlights from this episode: we discussed the importance of getting experienced early on in your coaching career; match experiences, both good and bad; working in elite sport; Mattie shared his love for the environment; North Melbourne football; and throughout the whole episode Matt provides a lot of practical tips for developing trending initiate pages.

Before we start this episode, for those wanting to improve your 2K time trial and gaining competitive edge in pre-season, hire a Prepare Like A Pro coach and join our individualized coaching package with a 30-day money back guarantee. So you have nothing to lose other than the time on your 2K times. Head to preparelikeapro.com and join our email list to receive a free masterclass and seven day trial on a whole online program.

Let’s get into today’s episode. Okay, Matt, thanks for jumping on, mate. Thanks. Looking forward to chatting. Last time we saw each other was in a beautiful place of Fair Haven. A little bit at different times we find ourselves now, but we won’t spend too much time on all the COVID stuff. Cause I guess down a rabbit hole, but take us back to the beginning of your career, mate. What age did you discover you had a passion for Australian conditioning?

Mat: Probably took a bit of a convoluted path, Jack. I was always really passionate about my health and fitness when I was growing up, was quite entrenched in a number of different sports. I think a combination of those things as well, just a general interest or I guess, same to accelerate bio physical education, similar subjects. So that led me towards being a bit passionate about it and strength & conditioning area.

Admittedly, always wanted to go and do physiotherapy. I think through my own four year career in sporting career, I had a lot of exposure to physiotherapists. The characteristics. I think that being able to help people being invested in them, but generally try and make a difference was something that really appealed to me. So that was ultimately what I endeavored to go on and achieve.

Unfortunately, ended up in a Bachelor of Exercise Science, so I didn’t quite get the marks to get into the physiology. But always endeavored to go on and pursue that career path. I was pretty fortunate along the way, to have a number of different, I guess, mentors who oriented me in the right direction, but also having a bit more exposure to physiotherapy as a profession, particularly within the AFL industry from the asset allowed me to recognize that ultimately, I think I was more invested and more attracted towards the performance side of things. 

So it led me down towards high performance sport and completing a Master’s degree at ICC. I found myself at North Melbourne. A couple of years later after Collingwood footy was really like, I guess I was really fortunate initially to get an internship there, but that was just purely out of being proactive. And then subsequently where I may South and Daniel Jones got an opportunity with North Melbourne in 2016, which led me to where I am today. 

Jack: Fantastic. Well you mentioned a couple of things there, for developing strength & conditioning coaches that are tuned in either live or listening to the podcast recording, you mentioned how you started off wanting to focus on the physio. And then after speaking to a few people in the industry, you started to shift towards more than performance, physical preparation side of things.

Let’s unpack that a little bit, like take us through for those that may be going through the same mindset, they’re not sure, they’ve just finished their high school or maybe they’ve done personal training for a few years and they’re interested in physio. But they’re also interested in that in the physical preparation side. How did you seek those mentors and those people that had experience and how did you come to that decision to choose that?

Mat: I think ultimately it was probably due to practical experience. I’m always really proactive from the outset. Always had the ambition and drive to work in elite sport. And I guess it is challenging and it’s ruthless as the industry’s been always really adamant that that was what I wanted to do, I was passionate about. 

The more people I met along the way, and they really facilitated my growth and my development, but allowed me to develop a pretty diverse skillset, which fortunately it probably Harlaut and were always more suited to, with respect to the physiotherapy side or the S&C side. Again, as I mentioned before, I was really passionate about holistic health and fitness.

But I think the athlete interaction, performance enhancement side of things I seem to love the movement analysis side, but also just a number of the subject matter that I went through with respect to my undergrad degree. I think that ultimately led me down that path.

Jack: So it does take time. 

Mat: Undoubtedly, for the younger aspiring coaches, it can be a bit confusing at times, but also I’ll be doing what really encouraged them or implore them to continue to just get as much experience as I possibly can along the way.

Jack: It’s such good advice. I think more than ever now. I mean, it’s only getting more and more competitive, but also with COVID customers and there’s less budgets in certain areas and probably less jobs or certainly more competitive at all levels to get experienced. Ultimately opposed to reading a book and that sort of thing, it’s getting your hands dirty and experiencing it, and then working out whether that is for you.

And like you said, if you’ve got some strengths in that area, then you’re probably more likely to open more doors. Whereas if you try something and it just doesn’t quite resonate with you, then you’re probably going to be less passionate about it. And therefore the growth in that path may not be as strong as how you saw it. 

Mat: Along the way, like we’ve all got some identified really early at the outset of their career, that this is the area that they want to work towards. But for me, I always had the mindset never really wanting to pigeonhole myself to one area and hence try and diversify my skill set as much as I can.

Admittedly, I’m not a physiotherapist, cause I did physio, finished the degree. The knowledge that I was able to gain through doing that course, but also spending some time with some really reputable physiotherapists and practitioners along the way, ultimately, led me to my current role or previous role with respect to rehab coordination.

But despite that, I guess in today’s environment and operating on a skeleton staff, I was really fortunate to also be through programming for a number of the athletes, not just the rehab guys. Also learn off of some really, really reputable mentors with respect to conditioning, also load management. So it’s allowed me to become a really holistic practitioner, I guess. 

Jack: Yeah, absolutely. Well-rounded. And it’s such the modern day, that you call an S&C say or modernize physio where there’s a lot of overlap and know the team dynamic between the two of working closely. It’s not that rare now to see physios on the gym floor and on the field running speed sessions.

And S&Cs equally going into the medical room and asking how certain players have pulled up and being insured with screenings and all that sort of thing set, which is great for your development, isn’t it? That learning the medical side of things and how that sort of fades into the physical, and there’s nothing more important than probably in rehab, that team aspect for physios nest to see.

Mat: Yeah, absolutely. I think team cohesion is paramount. Communication is something which you recognize early, it really is so critical. But again, as you highlighted or mentioned before, it’s something which goes a long way with respect to trying to achieve the vision that the coach, as well as the team set out from the asset. But as you said, it’s a laminate abroad and not only my networks. Our knowledge base and experience are just fueling learning from some really highly qualified professionals. 

Jack: And you mentioned Collingwood Football Club while you’re doing your degree. How did you set up that experience? 

Mat: I was really proactive from the outset. I was fortunate enough through the, you’d actually have a, I guess, have an interview with Marty Gervin who came and presented to us. I wanted to reach out early to him and try and acknowledge that this was my ambition. This was my passion. These any opportunities with calling one footy club and he recommended that I just apply for an internship which I did straight away.

Fortunately, that gave me the opportunity. And one thing led to another, it went on to a part-time role. And, fortunately, I was there for a couple of years laying off some really reputable people, Dean who you interviewed previously, but also a few others like Benny Shepherd and guys who still remain there today.

Jack: And you mentioned they can actually Daniel Jones at the Australia auditioning level two course. So did you guys obviously connected and you must’ve had similar philosophies and just got along as people and how did that connect to a job? Did he reach out to you? Did you reach out to him? Take us through, for S&Cs that want a network, but maybe don’t know how to turn it into a mateship, into a professional networking and how to bridge that gap?

Mat: I think from the outset, we had a really good relationship. Josie was similar in age to me, pursued a similar pathway, really passionate about the rehab side of things. And at the time was the rehab coordinator at North. Timing was whiskey. In that instance, they happen to have an opportunity available where myself and one of my colleagues, Josh Humphrey, has got an opportunity there.

We were both similar within our career paths, but him probably a bit more focused on the S&C side and myself more towards that rehab. But over the seven years, become really, really good minds learn off one and of us are, I think, from the outset, trying to identify how you can potentially create these relationships, whether they lead to something or not. I think just being able to learn off other professionals, something which you should really always have in the back of your mind. 

Jack: Yeah, absolutely. And you mentioned mentors and influences, who spring to mind into some of some guys that have helped shape your career, get to pull it all that you’ve done today?

Mat: I think there’s a multitude of them, Jack, the guys like Alex Moore, John or Daniel Jones, Dan May and as well as my immediate colleagues. So Josh Humphreys, Dave Siry and the locks on all of those. Epitomize everything. I put it over, not only mentors, but colleagues. I think that very driven, very humble.

Empowered me to do my role, but also complementing morals. So gave me the confidence that I could have some autonomy over the role, but a lot of with the vision and the values of the team. So they’ve been brilliant for me along the way, and people who I’ve stayed in touch with literally every guy in all off.

So I implore anyone coming through the system to try and identify us and people who are really going to, I guess, facilitate your progress and your development along the way with their arm, respect John, to say, you go from a conditioning standpoint, but Alex, more from a strength conditioning. Time from the MBIC stem and it’s something that all I supposed to do in the future, but able to learn off him as well as John Artists throughout the course of my career has ultimately led me to be the practitioner that I am merely a byproduct of their two.

Jack: You would’ve got a favorite from those guys. And how did you come after seven years? Like how much of you has your own personal philosophy developed? Obviously learning off these guys, but then also learning of other practitioners in the industry. Through experience seven years is a long time in elite sport, particularly at one club. How much has your philosophy shaped over the last seven years?

Mat: I think it’s changed drastically. I think from year to year, you develop, you’re always on this exploration of developing yourself, not only as a practitioner, but just in general knowledge base. I was fortunate enough at the time to spend a couple of months in and Dan path, the loss that gave me a whole new outlook on strength & conditioning, but also just my own philosophies and values. Particularly not only as a coach, but also just how I’ve implemented S&C programs.

Alex has given me, I guess, the Liberty to be quite flexible in my priorities as well. So not only mimic what they’re doing, but essentially you have your own style. Ultimately I think in the last seven years, year on-site. I wish on you that the previous year. So it’s amazing when you reflect and going through it now when you’re presenting to a multitude of different organizations, it’s a stumbling, which I’ve really reflected upon. It would go, it changes as a user, honestly.

Jack: Is one that’s wanting to grow and learn and continually work on your craft. And it sounds like that was something you started on pretty early. Like you mentioned, to get experience early while doing your degree and it hasn’t stopped. How do you go about managing your energy levels in your own, I guess, we’d call it work-life balance, working in elite sport?

Mat: It’s an interesting question. I think elite sport is very time-consuming. I think from the outset, you didn’t dedicate so many hours in this constant pursuit of not only knowledge, but trying to prove yourself and your worth. I think ultimately along the way, I don’t regret anything that I’ve done. I think early days that you do make a number of sacrifices along the way, but it’s worth everything in terms of the reward, but also the passion that all of us have.

And again, I think coming back to the younger coaches coming through, encouraging them to stay with the realms about what I enjoy doing. I think ultimately you’d prefer to enjoy what you do as opposed to finding yourself in something, which you’re not necessarily as passionate about.

We innately, I guess, just naturally change jobs throughout the course of our lives. So we’re not stuck in ancient society where you’re in jobs for 40, 50, 60 years. So today’s day and age is something I used at all been cognizant of all along. It’s just trying to continue to learn and develop along the way. 

Jack: And the rehab role, like you mentioned the rehab coordinator role for someone who’s not aware of how that works with the internet AFL program, who is your key relationships within the program and what are the key pillars for the right headquarters?

Mat: I think every cloud or every organization approaches it slightly differently. For mine having a really close relationship with not only the medical team, but also the performance team, but with respect to individuals, definitely your rehab physio. So, I mean, daily, the communication is paramount, but also the docs just for their input around pathology.

But coming back to your question before, just also the important of Alex, Josh, and my fellow colleagues in how I can apply best practice. So I was always big on, I guess, involving expert opinions. So whether that’s particular surgeons or specialists within their respective areas. I think that contributed to not only the way I thought about certain pathologies and why’s that we can rehab them, but other people for different ideas, just with something which I found to be really beneficial along the line.

I think sometimes we did it in a bit of a fixed mindset when we are to anything that we do. So they’re able to branch out, continue to develop, but also involve with the experts where possible. 

Jack: Yeah, that’s a real gem of some advice there. You can see why it would be fixed because if you’re comfortable with what you don’t know, you’re able to ask questions when, especially in any role, but I can imagine in elite sport and rehab, there’s a fair bit of pressure on it. Because players want to come back yesterday. And so the coaches wanted that. There’s a hell of a lot of people at stake.

So how do you go about asking those questions? Is it people that you know within the industry, is it just keeping it to those that you work with? And also from the fixed mindset point of view, is that something that you have deliberately worked on that you’re aware people can tend to go down that road and what do you do to try and make sure that you’re staying open with them? 

Mat: I think that was a bit of a philosophy that we adopted collectively, Jack. We were never complacent. We always wanted to implement best practice, but I think through your own networks as individuals, and as we spoke about for you’ve all got your own mentors along the way you want to try and utilize.

So whether that be my own personal mentors or the rehab physios mentors, I was fortunate enough. Maddie term, or was one of our physios along the way, who was brilliant. And I was fortunate to learn off for a period of time, but one of his mentors was crying, having his input his knowledge but also just a different approach to the why, the way he would go at it and just blind story things.

So for me, that’s been something that try to be cognizant all along the way. He is just, as I said before, involvement of external practitioners and experts in their respective fields.

Jack: Awesome. And to the developing footballers that are tuned in when you start working with an athlete and you’re taking them through not an interview process, but he just trying to discover and there’s a bit of a detective and work out what was their lifestyle up until the injury and everything and how they go about things.

What excites you from their mindset and their preparation point of view? When do you get a feeling like, oh, I think we’re going to get a pretty good result with this athlete?

Mat: I think one of the changes for me that I look for just that mental fortitude or resilience, or that be through adversity or within any facet of life that you find the guys who, whether it be their sport or just life in general. I think they’re really driven. They dog in their cheered to their own body. But they’re also aware of so many things that they can do to improve their performance.

I think a lot of the younger footballers coming through the system, they are overwhelmed with information and it’s incumbent upon us to orient them in the right direction. There’s the anomalies that you fond who’d come into the system straight away and whether they have what they possess that immediately, or it’s something that they developed.

It is a common trend with respect to your high level athletes who really excel at the elite level. It’s just that mental resilience to push through. Whether it be training, whether it be the attitude towards constant learning in pursuit of further development. It’s just such a big fat. 

Jack: And what are some ways that you can build resilience, for footballers listening in that quiet in the AFL system yet? What are some successful methods that you’ve seen work or that you implement with your training philosophy?

Mat: I’m big on collaboration, camaraderie and relationships. I think that identifying a few guys within the system, particularly a few of allied is at the club and trying to have them really mentor some of the younger guys. Younger guys are again overwhelmed when they get into the system, just because of this influx of information, but they’re also really enthusiastic and driven because they don’t want to succeed. Everyone wants to succeed.

But looking to your mentors, having a good culture surrounding them, I think particularly from the experienced senior guys, if you can pair them up to and show or demonstrate how they go about their training, that utilization of resources, whether that’d be massage, physio, or ice baths, recovery modalities, anything, I think adopting their approach and their mindset is a way that I’ve gone about it in the past where we can pair up one of the same guys with those younger boys coming through the system.

Jack: And, no doubt, have you faced challenges in the role. What would be a standout challenge that you faced over your seven years at North? And what did you learn from that challenge? I think we’ve touched on it briefly before.

Mat: It’s probably when you’re young, I think that we’re all driven to excel at the elite level. We all want to make it to the elite level, but you have to do the time. I think that so many sacrifices you make along the way, whether that be financially or through your friendship groups, socially, whatever that might be. I reflect now and ultimately I’m really fortunate to be where I am and achieved what I have, but admittedly it didn’t happen without sacrifices.

So I think recognizing from the outset that if it’s something you’re really passionate about, pursue it, if you love what you do, you’re going to excel. So reporting in a mundane job, which you hate going into work every day, because in all honesty, if there was no monetary value associated with what we do, I would still do it because I generally love what I do.

I love the relationships that my colleagues that I work with. I’ve been really fortunate again, to learn off some reputable people, but coming to work every day and just generally enjoy the environment. That’s something which is really important. 

Jack: And you touched on something pretty unique there. It’s not necessarily working for the North Melbourne Football Club, but if the people are part of the North of that environment, that culture, that people maybe term it as, but that environment you talked about is what makes you excited about being a part. Is that something that you felt when you were in Collingwood or did you know that that had a sense before your first experience in AFL that elite sport was something that you wanted? 

Mat: Yeah, I think slightly different environment. So I think I was much younger coming through the system when I was in Collingwood footy club. Probably didn’t have as much, whether it be influence or input into decision making. I think that as I managed to become a bit more experienced and have more responsibility in our issue, you really become, I guess, ingrained in the program. I was never invested because I always wanted to make it at the elite level and prove my worth.

But it was something that I guess when you juxtapose the two. North Melbourne had a lot of stability with performance tape for a long period of time, some of the best people I’ve ever worked with. And I know that I’m merely, as I said before, a byproduct of their influence, but they’ve allowed me to succeed and excel at one job. So I really got them to thank for it. 

Jack: And you mentioned off-air that you’ve finished up at North Melbourne Football Club, but for those that are chained in it, aren’t aware that you’ve mentioned on Instagram. So he’s probably in college, but take us through, was it a difficult decision to make? How long did it take you to come up with that decision? Take us through how difficult it was, because I’m sure it would have had its challenges if you’re there for seven years and you clearly loved the place.

Mat: Yeah, a bit mixed emotions, I guess. I wasn’t the only one, there was a number of us who did. I spent the vast majority of seven years with them, it was a bit of suede thing that you’re always looking forward to the next opportunity. But to have developed a relationships with not only my immediate colleagues, but the boys for a long period of time is something that I’ll be forever grateful for.

But admittedly, it was really hard because they’re a big part of your life. You’re aware of it. Just the amount of time that you invest into not only elite sport, but what you do. You never do anything. You never do your job for yourself. It’s ultimately what you can achieve on an individual level, but also on a collective sense.

So, it was challenging to say goodbye, but at the same time, I think you look for the opportunities that are going to present themselves. The excitement of working with a new cohort of athletes, but also continuing to learn and develop offs and other practitioners who will also be reputable is something which is very appealing.

Jack: Fantastic, mate. Well said. You mentioned that you weren’t the only one. It does seem that this is all, certainly from my point of view, and this is only a donut, but there’s never been more in AFL then this year. I’m sure there’s no coincidence with COVID for those that weren’t involved in hubs and the last two years in AFL, how challenging has it been and what would you say the extra tall of workload has been, is an extra 20% or a normal workweek or 30, or is it hard to.

Mat: Yeah, it probably is hard to put a number on, I think just because of the ever-changing environment, the unpredictability of weight to wage, the uncertainty of knowing where you’re playing for you’re playing. But also if you’re going to be remaining in the state, where we spent the vast majority of last year in Queensland and spent periods of time in different states, CTS.

I’m pretty fortunate in the sense that I don’t have kids and a wider family which are dependent upon me. So from that standpoint, I consider myself fortunate this period of my life. Having said that, I guess, the emotional toll that it’s taken on a number of my immediate colleagues as well as yourself at times, it is a rollercoaster, but immediately you come back do you love what you do?

And the answer is always yes. And you wouldn’t have it any other way. You’ve just got to find ways to operate particularly now on a skeleton staff, in an ever-changing environment that, hopefully, sooner, rather than later, we get a bit more predictability because it might say I lost a lot easier from a planning standpoint.

But having said that, I’ve learned so much in with respect to being fluid and adaptable in my approach. Once again, diversifying the skills that have crossed JPS load management, SSA conditioning, doing it all. Just due to the sheer fact that, unfortunately, a lot of our staff in debt, white guard during that pirate period due to financial circumstances.

Jack: That’s something I imagined would have been the case you’d have to be, so well-rounded. And learn quick, I imagine. What would be an area that you’ve found that you’ve developed the most since COVID, or it was at the sports side and it’s that there was less support with, or was it maybe in rehab, you used to have an assistant, the core or interns that would help you? Take us through what areas did you feel you had to adapt to the most.

Mat: I think my natural strengths were always towards the conditions. A lot of conditioning of our background, but having said that as a rehab coordinator, or I’ve been really fortunate to learn off dates over, you complimented me a lot. But I’ve got a lot to thank him for because just the ability to generate GPS reports, analyze loan, implement them from not only a rehabilitation standpoint, but I guess, return to play and phase rehab. So they been a number of people who have influenced how I’ve gone about that. But I think array of areas, but that would probably be the primary one. 

Jack: We’ve got the personal side of our podcast. So this is a little bit of a lighter touch. Mattie. It’s nothing to do with S&C, but it’s just a opportunity for the Patriot members to get to know you a little bit more, mate. First one is which movie or TV series has impacted you the most and why? 

Mat: That’s a good question, actually. I think I probably need to have a good thing about that, but admittedly, when always in the Harbor, I’d never watched ‘Friends’ from start to finish. Managed to bash out the whole series of it. So I think from just a relationship standpoint, I am a being relationship person myself, but the environment that they create, the bonds they have with one another, I think is something I compare to my immediate team.

While I’ve enjoyed my last seven years so much, because one, the support they’ve given me, but I walk into work every day and I’m always laughing. I’m always happy. Admittedly, when there’s other stresses going on within your life, you always come back to your basic fundamentals and friendship for mine is such. 

Jack: That’s awesome. My friends say you watched every episode. 

Mat: Well, I mean, we were up there for the vast majority of the year, so I managed to back out the wholesalers and all that there wasn’t when we were definitely having in the two weeks quarantine, not to say that I’ve got it done in two weeks. But there was a lot of downtime, ideally during the quarantine period.

Jack: Very nice. What about this one? Favorite inspirational quote or life motto?

Mat: That’s an interesting one. I’ll actually just read, I’ve got it on my phone now. Believe it or not one by Coby Brian. I might actually grab it. ‘The biggest mistake we make in life is thinking we have time.’ And I think it’s so pertinent to the world that we live in right now.

I think that there’s undoubtedly a lot of people who wish that they traveled or had done X, Y, and Z. Before COVID, because the world’s going to be drastically different moving forward. I think that that really resonates with me because, and particularly where I’m going in my career, because I’d rather look back and go, I made the most of every opportunity rather than second guess myself. So that’s a really pertinent information at the moment. 

Jack: From the gray band Mamba as well. I love it. A big fan of that in your work. Well, it makes you angry. What are you your pet peeves? 

Mat: I’m not really an angry person in all honesty. I think my work life, I think it’s probably more just frustration at myself that admittedly at times I’d probably spend a bit too long in the club. Perhaps I am someone who’s really meticulous and attention to detail is a big thing for me. And it always has been, but also just the investment in what I do.

And again, I love what I do. Sometimes the things they don’t have to be stay out on in terms of social events and a few other things. That’s something that I do get frustrated at myself about it.

Jack: And would they be from an athlete’s point of view, if there’s something that gets on your nerves or too common? 

Mat: I think all companies to have such good relationships with the majority of our athletes, that I haven’t really come across too many instances where that’s been applicable. However, throughout your career, you always come across some athletes who are just so talented that they really just want to do the bare minimum of work. They’re there to plan for.

And that’s okay each to their own, but I think when you recognize talent, you think of their ceiling and how much further they could go and how much better they could be. That sounding, which does me a tiny bit, because you know that they can be so much better in factually putting in five, 10% more work.

 Jack: What’s your favorite way to spend it?

Mat: I think this would be familiar to you. Maybe it would be down the cars. I love it Dan, the page. I think it’s the options, therapeutic. I’ve got some really close friendship groups down that wide, but it’s quiet. Love surfing. I love getting wide. So just taking your mind off work related stresses, concerns, definitely.

Jack: And then favorite holiday destination?

Mat: That’s a good question. I was fortunate enough to do a bit of travel when I went through my undergrad degree, so traveled with a really close group of mates. We went to Barcelona that you tie a number of European countries, but admittedly, it’s my love for the travel is probably been more centralized around America.

I’ve loved New York. I’ve managed to do a lot of payday over there. Daniel Jones is there in Brooklyn now. So having spent time with him, but also in New York itself, I absolutely loved it because I prefer to be down in the page. I prefer to be away from the congestion of the city, but New York is chaotic and it’s everything that I thought I wouldn’t enjoy, but I loved it. So I’m going back to New York in a heartbeat to jungle, isn’t it? That the city. 

Jack: I’ll never forget that night when I was gone, I’d come here with a bridges coal, but you say it for the first time and you’re in a bus and it just takes you back, it’s a very unique and the energy is infectious that’s for sure. So for those that haven’t been able to travel the last couple of years or have been out to leave the country, hopefully, like you said, have that Coby mantra and don’t wait around, just get it done. We’ve lost.

Well, we’ll start to wrap it up. Thanks so much for your time. What are you excited about for 2021? What’s on the horizon for you?  

Mat: I think from a general standpoint, just to return to some sense of normality in all honesty, I think getting out of the predictability, but also just the view that no one understands or is aware of what’s coming now. Personally for me, it’s the excitement of working with a new cohort of athletes working for different patients, learning and continuing to develop our skillset and, hopefully, that’ll lead me on to bigger and better things in future. 

Jack: Absolutely. Right. It will stay chained and night out. There’s some big things ahead and thanks so much for sharing your time tonight and being open and honest with your experiences, both the highs and lows and all the learnings you’ve had over your great career so far.So thanks so much, mate. I appreciate it.

Mat: Thanks very much for having me.

Jack: And thanks for tuning in guys. Our next Prepare Like A Pro live chat show will be Thursday night with incidents, midfielder, Dylan Shiel. You can tune in for that one, just like this one tonight on our YouTube channel. And there’ll be 8:00 PM.

Thank you for tuning in. I hope you enjoyed the episode. If you tuned in late, make sure to watch that from the very start, that he talked about his career progressions, his mindset and how he went about it. Not only waiting to complete his degree to get experienced, but actually started while doing his degree.

I think you’ll get a lot out of it for strength & conditioning coaches, but also developing footballers talking about the physical and mental side of rehabilitation and strength & conditioning. So make sure to tune in. You can watch that whole episode on our YouTube channel. Thanks, guys.

Thank you for listening to the ‘Prepare Like A Pro’ podcast. If you liked this episode, it’d be a massive help, if you could like, follow, rate, give a review or even share with your mates. The show is recorded in Melbourne, Australia. Be sure to follow our Instagram page for all updates on our latest and greatest. If you would like to get in touch to suggest a guest or advertise with the ‘Prepare Like A Pro’ podcast, please email me at jack@preparelikeapro.com. Thanks so much for tuning in.