No pictures of the lovely Mr Wood for you.
How ‘The Doc’ is feeding the unbeaten Saints a winning formula
Jon Pierik
By Jon Pierik
April 16, 2023 — 5.00am
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/liv ... =266660354
If there was one Saint ready to meet Ross Lyon’s demands of an uber-professional approach to football, it was the man dubbed “The Doc” by teammates.
Having already rejuvenated his career under Brett Ratten last year, using his precise left foot to advantage in averaging a career-high 17 touches and five marks, Mason Wood is now enjoying a career-best season under Lyon.
In the zone: [PLAYERCARD]Mason Wood[/PLAYERCARD] has become the true professional, and has been instrumental in the Saints’ stunning start to 2023.
In the zone: Mason Wood has become the true professional, and has been instrumental in the Saints’ stunning start to 2023.CREDIT: SIMON SCHLUTER
As Lyon says, Wood, 29, has been outstanding, averaging 24 disposals, a goal and a goal assist through the Saints’ unbeaten four rounds, heading into Sunday’s blockbuster against Collingwood in Adelaide.
That he had what initially was feared as a serious shoulder injury against Essendon in round three, only to line-up against the Gold Coast last weekend and have 24 touches - the injury will require a weekly “jab” - typified Wood’s attention to detail.
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“There are probably a lot of things that I have worked on for a long time coming together,” Wood said of his season in an interview with the Sunday Age.
“There are a lot of things that have gone my way, as far as my role in the team, how we are playing, playing a bit more game time. I am doing a few things better as well, but the accumulation of, obviously, Ross, the running game, more game time, playing full-time wing, and being a bit cleaner and marking the ball better as well, it accumulates to look like a big improvement but, really, it’s tiny improvements adding up to make a big difference.
“The good thing for me is, I have a really good handle on what makes me a valuable player. At the end of the day, that’s something I have wanted to be at football clubs in the past - a valued member of the team. Last year
definitely as well, but, in years past, playing that third tall [forward] position, can be quite tricky.
“Now that I have a position where I know how to play that to a T ... and if it means I get on the end of the ball a bit more, then happy days. Ross keeps it very simple.”
Wood is a true sporting professional, to the point that he has completed a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science at Australian Catholic University, and is now pursuing a postgraduate course over three years as a master of high-performance sport. Therein lies the background to his nickname.
The son of a PE teacher and eyeing a future career in sports science, Wood has embraced the importance of nutrition - namely protein, carbohydrates, good fats - and has taken to helping teammates adjust their diet.
In his element: [PLAYERCARD]Mason Wood[/PLAYERCARD] is relishing life on a wing, where his precise left foot can slice open opponents.
In his element: Mason Wood is relishing life on a wing, where his precise left foot can slice open opponents.CREDIT: DANIEL POCKETT, GETTY
He and girlfriend Mikaela have fellow Saints Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Matt Allison as housemates, with the pair given a first-hand view of how Wood goes about his preparation, including cooking.
He says his message on diet is to “balance and not trying to make it up on the fly”.
“A lot of my stuff is really ingrained in what I am trying to achieve. Once you get that down, it becomes easy,” Wood said.
“A lot of people are scared to start and be diligent with things because it means: ‘I have to be like that forever and a day’ … my message is, if you get it right, it becomes really easy.
“A few boys were having frozen lasagna. I am just like: ‘We can do better than frozen lasagna, guys. Here are three or four things you can eat meat-wise. Here are some carbohydrates, and a good way to get some fats in’.”
Dinners at his place have been well received by many teammates, and supported by Lyon, who has demanded greater professionalism from a list said to have not fully understood what’s required to win a premiership.
One-time Kangaroo: [PLAYERCARD]Mason Wood[/PLAYERCARD] has always had a delightful left-foot kick, but struggled for overall consistency as a forward at Arden St.
One-time Kangaroo: Mason Wood has always had a delightful left-foot kick, but struggled for overall consistency as a forward at Arden St.CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
“He’s trained really hard, he’s great with our young fellas, has them around for dinner and helps bring their professionalism along,” Lyon said.
“He brings a lot to the table, which culturally as a senior coach is great to have.”
Wood, taken with pick No.41 in the 2012 national draft from the Geelong Falcons when he was a mad Cats supporter (he still taps now Saints assistant coach Corey Enright for tales from the Cats’ 2007-11 dynasty), had seven seasons and 65 games at North Melbourne where he was used predominantly as forward. However, after the pandemic-hit 2020 campaign, and a rugged time in the Queensland bubble, he was one of 11 Kangaroos delisted.
The Saints gave him a second chance through the supplementary selection period and put him on the rookie list. He had nine games in 2021, but responded with 19 last season, having asked himself: “How can I turn the gears on what’s left?”
“I have had a lot of people, probably rightly or wrongly from my North Melbourne days, say: ‘Why couldn’t you put [good] form together?’ Like I said, a lot of things are going right, which makes a big difference,” Wood said.
“We play one of the highest running games in the comp - I would say running is one of my strengths.”
Wood’s standing among teammates was reinforced when he claimed the Robert Harvey award last season as best clubman for his work with the club’s emerging talent, while spending time as an AFLW development coach.
“Everyone’s got their own story, haven’t they? He’d been on an AFL list, been injured a lot, so he’s put in a lot of time on his body and his preparation, and he’s grabbed his second opportunity,” Lyon said last week.
“A lot of people do that. You look back, and you think: ‘What did I leave on the table at the other place?’ Footy mortality sharpens you up pretty quick.”
Wood signed a one-year deal last year, but can expect at least another year on the back of what has been a remarkable start for the Saints. While they just missed the finals last season, even the most ardent of supporters would not have tipped an unbeaten run to this point, particularly with an injury ward, including Max King, Tim Membrey and skipper Jack Steele, as long as a shopping list.
But in the likes of Wood, ruckman Marshall, a makeshift forward line that has seen the likes of Rising Star nominee Mitchito Owens and former VFL Blue Anthony Caminiti begin to make a name for themselves, and a stingy defence, the Saints have marched home.
“I can’t speak more highly of Ross. I think a lot of the guys are in that category. He does seem like he operates on another level, potentially, to some other coaches I have had in the past, and sees the game really, really well,” Wood said.
“He sees what other teams bring to the table, and fills you with confidence when you leave the room going: ‘We know how to beat this team’. He holds really high standards across the board.”In Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in, they're eating the cats. They’re eating – they are eating the pets of the people that live there.
