Harry Sheezel makes honest admission about pressure to perform

Perth Now

20-05-2025

North Melbourne young gun Harry Sheezel has opened up on his difficult start to the season and how he deals with the 'outside noise'.
Sheezel set the footy world alight with a brilliant first two seasons that saw him win the AFL Rising Star Award, as well as the club's best and fairest in 2023.
He was again prominent in 2024, polling 15 Brownlow votes despite the Roos winning just three games.
Sheezel has continued to rack up big numbers this year, but is not having as big an influence on games.
His performances have led to some criticism, with Channel 7 commentator Kane Cornes accusing him of getting 'stat-padding' and urging North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson to coach him harder.
The fallout to that resulted in Cornes getting banned from a pre-game interview ahead of the Roos' clash against Essendon on Thursday night footy.
Speaking to Channel 7's Hamish McLachlan on Unfiltered, Sheezel admitted the spotlight on his form has been 'tough', but he has things in place to block out the external noise. Harry Sheezel concedes his form has been down this year. Credit: AAP
'It's tough. I definitely am sort of ... not struggling with it, but it can get pretty hard after a game when you feel like you can have more impact on the game and feel like you should be on a trajectory that you should be influencing games more and having a more successful year,' he said.
'It definitely can get tough and you feel like you're letting, not only yourself down, but the team down and the greater footy public, but what people keep reassuring me and I've done a lot of reading and speaking to you has been so helpful is about not just getting caught up in all that, sticking to what's important and that is playing my role to the best of my ability each week no matter what that is.
'And the extra step is, what am I doing during the week to help that, how am I getting better each day, how am I learning from my mistakes, things that I could be doing better, listening to my coaches, my family and just trusting the process because at the end of the day that's all that matters.
'And enjoying that process along the way and not buying into the pressure or the external noise and the people that don't matter, let's say.'
Sheezel went on to say that he is embracing the challenge and 'it will hold him in good stead going forward.'
'I think no matter how I play moving forward, I've developed some pretty good tools to keep me level, keep me focused and present, which is the main thing,' he said.
'I guess the motto I live by is just be present, because when you are present, you are your best self, you are not worrying about what's happened and what other people are saying, not worrying about the future either, just worrying about right now.'
Sheezel has also been working closely with former Richmond captain Kane Johnson, who is new to the club as a leadership and mindset coach.
'We've done a lot of breath work and mindfulness and he's given me a couple of books to read and it keeps coming back to that — being present and when you're present, you are your best self,' he said.
'I've related to my football in terms of how I can have a greater purpose outside of myself and just wanting to play better for that external recognition or the media thinking I'm a good footballer or getting pumped up by people.
'It's beyond that. And for me, I've developed this purpose beyond myself and really investing in my teammates. How am I getting satisfaction out of them succeeding, not just on game day but during the week ... how I can help them.
'I feel like it's helping me a lot, come out of my own head, not worry so much about my own ego.
'This has really been a great lesson for me, this I wouldn't say adversity, but this challenging period. Just a reminder that what matters to focus my energy and attention on.'
Unfiltered with Hamish McLachlan featuring North Melbourne star player Harry Sheezel, 9.30pm straight after The Front Bar on Seven and 7plus.