Growing up in a small country town, my life revolved around cricket in the summer and footy in the winter. Sports were my passion; I played all year round, training most nights, and competing in backyard matches with my friends every evening after school. It was clear that achieving my best in sports was my ultimate goal.

As a teenager, I juggled premier cricket, training multiple times a week, and trialling for Victorian junior representative sides while continuing to play football. By cricket season, my body was often sore and fatigued, leading to multiple soft tissue and stress-related injuries.

During those critical years between 16 and 19, despite training with the best players in the state and being coached by some of the world's top coaches, I struggled to maintain my love for the game. I was playing to make representative teams, not because I enjoyed the process or the game itself. This mindset hindered my progress and motivation.

Looking back, I realize I lacked the guidance and knowledge to navigate my demanding sporting schedule. I didn't have the processes in place to manage adversity and take care of myself. I wish I had a coach and mentor to help me through this period. With a structured strength program, I could have built my body to handle the sporting loads, managed my training when my body was tired and sore, and avoided doubling up on football and cricket pre-season training.

I encourage teenagers to play multiple sports as it's crucial for their development. However, it's equally important to be smart about their training and avoid burnout. I wish I had a High Performance Coach to guide me and help me set up my training week for success.

With a deeper understanding of exercise and sport science principles and a mature perspective on my body, my love for cricket returned. I enjoyed my most fulfilling years of playing once I had the right processes in place to handle poor performances, structure my training week, and play cricket for the right reasons.

As a strength and conditioning coach, I've sought to learn best practices and expose myself to various coaching opportunities across different sports. I've been fortunate to learn from great mentors through internships and work experiences with Cricket Victoria, the Victorian Institute of Sport, Xavier College, and Box Hill Hawks FC. Witnessing how Australian cricketers, Olympic gold medalists, and AFL players train and prepare their bodies to perform has been invaluable.

This journey led me to found High Performance Cricket. My mission is to help the next generation of cricketers navigate their sporting pathways, maintain their love for the game, and achieve their dreams. I want to ensure they become the best they can be, both on and off the field.