Question 1

What moment in your journey nearly broke you, and what did it teach you?

Accepted Answer

"The moments that nearly broke me I would say were in my first few seasons as a professional. I remember I would be doing everything right. Training hard, early nights, no distractions. I was completely committed, but also very isolated and fully fixated on the grind.

And despite all that, I couldn’t get a sniff of game time, I would be sitting out of the squad completely. It's tough, because when football is your whole identity, the lack of opportunity makes you question your worth. You don’t know what you’re doing wrong and that silence can be heavy.

What it taught me was the importance of building an identity that doesn’t live and die with football. Not to care less but to stay grounded regardless of selection or external validation.

And honestly, it’s something I still battle with today. Even now, playing well and getting consistent minutes I have a burning passion to get a move overseas and have a career over there, but there are moments where the waiting weighs on you more each season. You question your worth.

What I understand now is that the more you fixate on outcomes, the heavier they become. When you focus on who you’re becoming and the standards you live by daily, things tend to arrive in their own time. That lesson is ongoing for me, and it’s shaped how I approach both football and life.

Question 2

When things aren’t going your way, what do you return to?

Accepted Answer

"When things aren’t going my way, I come back to my daily structure and what I can control. I narrow my focus to the present moment, the session in front of me, the small goals for the day that's not just football related, and the standards I hold myself to.

I trust that if I consistently take care of those fundamentals, the preparation, my training intent, my recovery, things will realign. I don’t chase the outcome. I double down on the inputs, because I know that’s what keeps me moving forward."

Question 3

What does “comeback” genuinely mean to you, beyond the highlight reel?

Accepted Answer

Boring consistency. Its the discipline to keep showing up when there’s no momentum and no immediate rewards.

It's that quiet accumulation of stacking small, intentional days over time. Getting a little sharper, a little stronger, a little more composed, especially when it feels unnoticed. That’s what I believe real progress is. It’s a commitment to the process long before anyone else sees it.

Question 4

How do you deal with doubt, fear, or anxiety when no one is watching?

Accepted Answer

I deal with doubt and anxiety regularly,  it’s something I’m constantly learning to manage rather than eliminate. I rely on quiet practices like meditation, visualization, and intentional self-talk to bring myself back to the present and stay grounded which I feel helps me a lot.

I’ve come to understand that it’s okay to feel anxious, whether that’s before a game or while waiting on something you’ve worked toward for a long time, like an opportunity overseas. What’s helped me most is learning to surrender the outcome. Not in a passive way, but by focusing on what I can control and trusting that everything unfolds when it’s supposed to. That allows me to keep my standards high and move forward with clarity even when the uncertainty is uncomfortable.

Question 5

What role does training play in your mindset, and what role does mindset play in your training?

Accepted Answer

Training plays a huge role in my mindset because I treat it as evidence. After each session I like to write down three small wins no matter how well the session went. It helps reinforce what I’m doing well and builds a growing body of proof I can rely on. Over time, those small wins compound, and reading back through them before games really strengthens my confidence because it’s based on work, not emotion.

Mindset plays a big role in my training as well. I make a conscious effort to go into each session with a positive attitude and real intent. I focus on being fully present and treating each action as an opportunity to execute at the highest level. I’ll also choose one specific area to dominate in a session. For example, I would write down before my session ‘today I’m going to dominate my crossing’. This helps me focus on staying present and improving something deliberately rather than just going through the motions. That daily focus builds over time and keeps my development moving forward.

Question 6

What’s one habit or standard you hold yourself to that most people don’t see?

Accepted Answer

One standard I hold myself to that most people don’t see is a genuine burn to reach my potential. It shows up as constant self-awareness. I’m very conscious of how I spend my time, how I prepare, how I recover, and the choices I make day to day.
I’m always asking myself whether what I’m doing is moving me closer to becoming a better footballer and a better person. That internal accountability doesn’t switch off when training ends. It’s not about perfection, it’s about alignment. That standard is something I quietly live by.

Question 7

What do people misunderstand most about “making it”?

Accepted Answer

What people misunderstand most about ‘making it’ is that there’s a single path or timeline. Everyone’s journey is different, and comparison can be really misleading. I’ve lived that myself. I was playing NPL-20s in Canberra at an age where other players were already making their A-League debuts. At that point it’s easy to feel like you’re miles away.

The reality is that progress isn’t linear. There are times where you feel on top of things, and other times where you feel right back at the bottom again. That’s normal. What matters is having structure and belief to return to when things dip. If you genuinely want to succeed, it’s possible but it’s built through daily habits and consistency over time, not a straight upward climb.

Question 8

If someone is in their own comeback right now, what do they need to hear?

Accepted Answer

If someone is in their own comeback right now, I’d tell them what I wish I heard when I was going through it myself. You’re not behind. Where you are right now is forming who you’ll become.
There are periods where you’re doing the work, staying disciplined, and still waiting for things to align. That waiting can be heavy, but it doesn’t mean you’re off track. Everything unfolds when it’s supposed to. Stay obedient to the process, keep your standards high, and trust that what you’re building now will make sense later.

Question 9

What are your non-negotiable recovery protocols, physical & mental?

Accepted Answer

My recovery is non-negotiable, both physically and mentally. Physically, I prioritise consistent sleep with the same bedtime, good nutrition based around real, whole foods, and daily movement work. I stretch and mobilise every day. Even if it’s only a small amount, because staying mobile and connected to my body matters. I also use the sauna and ice bath regularly as part of my recovery routine.

Mentally, I journal daily and set clear goals so I stay aligned with what I’m working toward. Each morning, I spend time meditating and visualising/manifesting where I want to be, which helps me stay present while still moving toward a bigger picture. I also use daily affirmations to reinforce who I’m becoming. Those mental habits are just as important to my performance as the physical ones.

Lucas Mauragis

Professional Footballer