North Melbourne forward Paul Curtis has revealed the team's self-improvement mission, with players taking on personal tasks to "get better" – his own being a self-imposed phone ban to improve sleep.
The Roos were far too good for the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night, with Luke Davies-Uniacke (31 possessions, two goals, 10 tackles), George Wardlaw, and Curtis (four goals and the mark of the night) in inspiring form.
Phone ban for better sleep
Curtis told Seven that he had put himself on a "phone ban" as part of the team's recent focus on improvement. "We're all doing something to try and get better these last few weeks ... and my one's trying to get more valuable sleep," he said.
However, the 23-year-old admitted the mission has a flaw. When asked if his phone is off and out of the room, Curtis said: "Phone is off. Oh, just to the side there. But off at 9 o'clock." He then confessed: "But then I just turn on the TV, so it doesn't really (work)."
Night training for recovery
Improved sleep is a club focus, with Curtis explaining the team trained at night to value recovery. "They decided that we needed to try and value a bit more recovery and sleep," he said. "So we started a bit later every day so everyone gets to sleep-in, which is nice."
Curtis also revealed training can be spicy, with Wardlaw and Tristan Xerri told to cool it. "He's a maniac," Curtis said about Wardlaw. "Even at training, I think he's got told off for going in too hard. Him and X, injuring blokes. So they're on a leash at training."
AFL great Nick Riewoldt loved it, saying "it's a good sign for things to come."
