Jake Stringer: Set goals, but make them flexible

“Obviously, my first ever goal was to get drafted as a kid,” says Jake. “That was the initial goal – to get drafted and then become the best player I could be. And then when I was 17 or 18, my goal changed pretty quickly: I had a serious broken leg. I pretty much had to learn how to walk, run and do all that stuff again.”

For Jake, experiencing such a huge injury at such a young age was devastating, both physically and emotionally. But instead of abandoning his goals altogether, he adjusted them to fit his new reality.

The benefits of goal setting are widely documented. From the obvious, like helping you get from point A to point B and giving your life direction; to the less obvious, like helping boost self-esteem (by breaking bigger goals down into smaller, achievable steps), improving your self-image, and helping mobilise energy for more consistent performance over the long-term.

And for Jake, goal setting is just part and parcel of everyday life in the AFL.

After his injury, Jake’s goals quickly went from getting drafted into the AFL to just being able to walk again. But he knew that he had to get himself back on his feet if he ever wanted his footy dreams to come true. “No-one had come back from a serious leg fracture like that,” says Jake. “So that was one worry I had – whether a club would take a punt on an 18-year-old who had snapped both bones in his leg.”

But Jake’s ultimate goal hadn’t changed. Broken leg or not, he still wanted to make the AFL. He found strength in his family, particularly his mum and dad, who helped him set the little goals it took to get back on his feet. “It was literally just one foot in front the other,” says Jake. “Going from being able to walk to going to the Hydropool at the hospital with 80-year-olds. The AFL seems a long way away when you’re doing that.”

For Jake, sharing his goals with his support network meant that those close to him – in his case, his parents – were as invested in his goals as he was. This made it easier for him to get through the darker days. “My dad knew my goal was to play AFL,” says Jake. “And he was willing to do anything that I was willing to do. That’s probably the reason I am where I am now. If I didn’t have that, I probably would never have gone on to play AFL.”

Spoiler alert: at the age of 18, Jake, by then fully recovered, made the AFL. But there he found a new challenge. While the overall goal of any AFL team is to win a premiership, he wasn’t sure how to set individual goals in such a fluid and dynamic environment. “Playing with 22 blokes every week who all have different skillsets, it’s hard to set individual goals,” he says. “So for me, it’s about mindset and what I can bring to the table week in, week out. Then hopefully that helps make other people better in some way.” 

Setting a goal of “I will win a premiership”, could have been frustrating for Jake, because there are too many variables outside of his control. But by breaking down the larger, team goal (winning a premiership) into something he can be accountable for day in, day out (being the best player he can be), Jake has been able to move towards the larger goal without feeling overwhelmed. 

It’s the same approach he used while he was recovering from his injury – one foot in front of the other. “I just spend time over the ball, and do the basics well,” he says. “That’s how I keep myself engaged. It’s all about staying present, and being able to access your skills at the crucial times.”

When it comes to setting goals, Jake has learned the importance of focusing on what he can influence and control in the here and now. Every two weeks, he sits down with Ben Rutten, Essendon’s senior coach, and makes a two-week plan. “[We look at] what I’m doing well in the game, areas that I could improve on, and then things that I can work on in training,” says Jake. “I literally see him every two weeks, and we do the exact same process. It’s helping me so much with the day-to-day.”

Breaking bigger goals down into smaller and more achievable steps provides fuel to keep moving forward. It also allows for some time to reflect along your journey. When you tick off a step, pause to celebrate your win. There’s no motivation like seeing your progress add up on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Equally, when things don’t go quite the way you hoped – acknowledge this as part of the process, too. Look for the lessons you can carry forward with you – and be assured you’re better prepared to meet the challenges of the future.

AIA Health is the official Life, Health and Wellbeing Partner of the Essendon Football Club. Join AIA Health on an eligible combined hospital and extras policy and get up to $400 in Bomber’s Club Credit which can be used towards a 2022 membership. Find out more.

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Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances