Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
If “shit does hit the fan”, breakout Carlton recruit Ben Ainsworth knows who to turn to.
Every Monday, the former Gold Coast stalwart jumps on a call with mind coach Alex Rance to debrief the weekend prior.
Ainsworth has been working with Rance since the Richmond great followed Damien Hardwick to the Suns as a leadership consultant in 2023.
Calls with five-time All-Australian defender remains a key part of Ainsworth’s weekly preparation, despite his trade to the Blues last season.
And this week won’t be any different as Carlton prepare for Friday’s elimination final against Geelong at the MCG.
“I do a lot of work with Alex Rance in terms of the mindset stuff,” Ainsworth said.
“Every Monday, we catch up in the arvo and run through whatever happened on the weekend. We filter out everything, whether it was good or bad, and just be refreshed for the coming week.
“I’ve been doing this for a number of years, and it’s always been a growing piece … just reminding yourself that you are a good player and the strengths that you can bring to the team.
“Obviously, I have my strengths that I’ve turned back to if shit does hit the fan.”
Mindset work has been crucial for Ainsworth amid enormous hype since Josh Fraser’s rise at the helm.
Sitting 1-8 when Fraser took over as coach from Michael Voss, the Blues posted 11 wins and a draw from their next 14 games to snare a wildcard finals berth.
Carlton kept that hot form going with a come-from-behind wildcard win over Melbourne, booking a showdown with last year’s grand finalists Geelong.
Ainsworth also credited the support of Port Adelaide great Travis Boak, who is in a similar role to Rance at the Blues.
“Even before the start of the season, we just came together as a playing group led by Travis Boak,” Ainsworth said.
“He keeps it level-headed. He’s played 300-odd games, captain of a footy club, All-Australians, all the accolades, so he knows what’s required at certain moments.
“He just grabs us every month or so just to remember what’s important.”
Ainsworth stood tall against the Demons, slotting three goals from 21 touches in a standout performance.
He is playing in just his second finals series, 12 months after winning an elimination final with Gold Coast.
The 28-year-old had made the move after 158 games across nine seasons since his 2017 debut.
“I’m probably not in search of vindication,” Ainsworth said of his Suns departure.
“It was more just the position that I found myself in at the end of the year, probably an opportunity elsewhere was going to be beneficial for me and the rest of my career.
“Here I am now and I’m excited to be playing in an elimination final.”
