Scott McMahon admits he came to a point in his football career where he “hated” playing and says returning to VFL level recaptured his hunger for the game.
The 28-year-old, who featured in just five games for North last season, battled to regain form and spent the majority of 2014 with VFL affiliate Werribee.
After feeling “down in the dumps”, McMahon said his time in the VFL was invaluable and is now paying dividends on the training track.
“To be honest, I hated the game earlier on. It got to a point where – because I hadn’t done a pre-season I knew I was unfit – it was like, ‘What’s the point?’” McMahon told NMFC.com.au.
“Playing in the VFL, I got back to really enjoying and loving football.
“And I think it shows coming back this year and doing every session, we’re getting absolutely flogged … but then you’re ready to go the next day because you’re loving and enjoying what you’re doing.”
Unlike previous years, McMahon has been able to complete a full pre-season and is giving himself every opportunity to add to his 122-game tally for the Roos in 2015.
“I haven’t really done a pre-season in four years so it’s been good to actually be out on the track from the start,” he said.
“I haven’t missed a session and feel a hell of a lot fitter than I have in previous years.”
It’s no secret that improving his fitness levels has been at the top of McMahon’s agenda – he’s shed about 10 kilograms over the past year alone.
The 184cm backman took a different approach this pre-season by undertaking one-on-one personal training sessions outside the club in addition to the team’s regular training program.
“I sat down with (nutrition and conditioning coach) Jona Segal (and) we set up a different plan to what they had set up (for the rest of the list),” he said.
“I got trained by one of the guys who used to play at the club, Marcus White, so I was in there a couple of days a week which was really helpful.
“It’s one of those things where if you train by yourself, you can take it a little bit easy, but it was good with him, he could see that I was taking it easy and he used to just smash me.”
McMahon is out of contract at the end of the year but it’s the furthest thing from his mind.
Instead, his focus is to remain fully fit, string some games together and regain a spot in North’s back half.
“I think if I start thinking about it then I start worrying about what happens next year and I’ll forget about the football side of things,” he said.
“I’m just trying to get through every session and do the running, and then when it does come around I’ll start thinking about it and hopefully push my name up.”
