15 Sporting Insights To Build Your Small Business

Saturday's AFL Grand Final was one for the ages as the Brisbane Lions flexed their muscles and put the Geelong Cats to the sword.

They showed why they're the benchmark of the competition and will only get stronger with their large mix of youth and experience and more to come in the Trade and Draft period.

As an avid and passionate Hawthorn member, that's a bit scary as I can see a lot of similarities between Hawthorn's 3 Peat dynasty and this team and Club.

Now whilst I'm sad because it's a long off season, I thought it was timely to reflect on the sporting insights to help you build then grow a simple profitable small business you actually love.

This would mean they'd have to fail on the way to the top (and that's OK).

INSIGHT #2 ✅ Believe

This has been the long time mantra of the team and was always seen on the game day banners.

This team was Built On Belief and this catchphrase was used to maintain and gain members in 2025.

It was the ONLY WORD the team saw as they rang through it on Grand Final – talk about single minded focus.

INSIGHT #3 ✅ Learnt Their Lessons

Fages believes to become a very good finals team and achieve success, you have to learn your lessons – something he thinks is a good idea for life as well.

And boy did they learn quickly after their huge loss to the Cats in the Qualifying Final.

INSIGHT #4 ✅ Brotherhood

The team wanted to build a dynasty where they trust and play for each other and their coach.

It's also a selfless culture which recognises EVERYONE plays their part to win a Premiership – back of house (Club Administration) and front of house (Whole Football Department).

This was demonstrated when Jarrod Berry's (injured player) photo was on the whiteboard and every player touched his guernsey as they ran out because it takes a squad and there's always hard luck stories but they're all in this together.

Oscar McInerney and Darcy Gardiner were those stories last year so it was wonderful to see them get their premiership medal.

And there's a few more players who've missed out on the 2 premierships so I've no doubt this will drive the hunger in 2026.

INSIGHT #5 ✅ Nelson Mandela Quote

"I never lose. I either win or learn".

This quote is in Fages' office and drives him and the team as he believes everyone should be a Great Learner – a good rule for sport, business and life.

INSIGHT #6 ✅ Play To Your Strengths

There's a huge emphasis on players using their weapons (strengths) and build on them to beat teams.

INSIGHT #7 ✅ Strong Leadership Group

It's a big Leadership Group – more than in most clubs but this group is driven to help the younger players learn the game and embrace the 'No Limits' thinking.

INSIGHT #8 ✅ Ted Lasso and the Goldfish Mindset

Chris stole this motto from the fictitious soccer coach and it helped Zac Bailey change his mindset after missing 6/7 shots on goal in the first quarter.

He forgot what happened, focused on what was next and changed the course of the game.

The team embraced the Goldfish Mindset all year which enabled them to "just forget about things quickly and move on quickly. That's the mindset for us. If we make mistakes or kick points, we just move on to the next thing. That helped us today".

INSIGHT #9 ✅ 2025 Theme

Each year, most coaches choose a theme for the year and either run that all the way into finals, or design another one for the finals series.

2024 was all about 'Dancing On Thin Ice' and 2025 was 'Run Into The Fire'.

Considering the injuries, having the hardest draw, interstate travel and having to play 4 finals in a row to gain success; the Lions certainly embraced this theme.

INSIGHT #10 ✅ Encouragement and Opportunity

Chris is forever grateful for the chance Neale Daniher took on him at the Melbourne Demons and for the opportunities he provided him as well as the encouragement.

This continued at Hawthorn under Alistair Clarkson and it's this mentoring, support and encouragement which gave him the confidence to apply for the senior coaching job.

He is slowing losing those 'Imposter Syndrome' thoughts as he starts to feel he belongs in the senior coaching fraternity – and so he should with 2 Premierships and 3 Coach's Award, as voted by his peers.

INSIGHT #11 ✅ Remain Humble and Prepare Again

Players were encouraged last year to enjoy the win but don't go too over the top or be arrogant – remain humble and they continue to do this.

This is supported by Hawthorn's Luke Hodge, 4 Time premiership player and captain who spent a few years at the Lions to mentor this group under Fages.

On his 'Unfiltered' episode with Hamish McLachlan, Hodgey shared the standards Hawthorn maintained which the Lions have adopted including this:

"As soon as we stepped back into the club to start pre-season, we weren't allowed to talk about last year. Two weeks after our last game, leaders were sending a message to the Group saying it's Crossroads Day. You can either keep going the way you are and your season next year's going to be ****house or you can take a left or right and start acting like a professional athlete and prepare for next year.

We celebrated for 2 weeks but as soon as we put a foot back into the club, we weren't allowed to talk about last year because we learnt from celebrating too much the 2008 win - resulting in the 2009 loss which haunted us for a couple of years."

Translation: Step up and do the work that's needed to be a successful small owner.

Chris Scott's Press Conference

INSIGHT #12 ✅ Winning Isn't Everything

Whilst losing a GF is hard, I loved that Chris Scott acknowledged they were beaten by a better side, and he was proud of his team and what they'd done this year in spite of many adversities – some on game day, some we know about and others we don't.

INSIGHT #13 ✅ Fix Things Quickly

I applaud Chris' comments and frustration around the sub rule and how much it impacted his coaching decisions.

Everyone involved in footy as well as media commentators and supporters have been calling for the sub rule to be scrapped and just have 5 on the bench for years, and thankfully it looks like this will be changed for 2026.

However, why didn't the AFL change their decision after the first year of discontent, or even make the decision in the first place when every stakeholder didn't want it?

INSIGHT #14 ✅ Player Welfare

Whilst I know the sub rule complicated the decision to rule Jeremy Cameron out of the game, I'm surprised and concerned a player with a fractured arm was approved to go back on to the field in the 3rd quarter and played out the game.

I honestly thought we'd moved past players being brave and wanting to be out there and instead, were all about putting player safety and welfare (duty of care) ahead of the game and themselves.

Snoop Dogg

INSIGHT #15 ✅ Brand and Reputation Is Everything

I'll admit upfront that shockingly I'm not a Snoop Dogg or hip hop fan (I'm an 80s girl) so it was no surprise I was bored with the pre-game entertainment and longed for a Robbie Williams repeat.

But the issue of more concern was really about the choice in the first place.

The AFL wanted an international artist to raise the profile overseas and I understand the decision after seeing Snoop Dogg's social media profile at the Olympics.

Which makes me ask - where was the 'Devil's Advocate' person in the room saying, 'what will the backlash be if we engage someone whose lyrics and statements – be it in the past or present – promote drugs, violence against women, homophobia?

Surely the AFL would want to protect their brand and reputation at any cost – especially as this decision was always going to seem hypocritical after much rhetoric and actively campaigning around inclusion, protection of women and mental health!

So they made this decision and I'm sure they'll believe it was a worthwhile investment as Snoop was obviously educated about the game and understood its significance as equivalent to the SuperBowl as he participated in the strictly sanctioned media events (to ensure there were no 'incidents').

BUT if you want to be viewed as a leader in community and social issues, then I believe every decision should be consistent to this thinking so you don't risk brand and reputational damage.

👉❓If the answer is 'not all of them', which one/s need to be reviewed to determine how much they could help improve your small business?