Carlton half-forward Ben Ainsworth is making a case for recruit of the year after finding late-season form and producing back-to-back standout games for the navy Blues.
Ainsworth recorded 20 disposals and three goals against ladder leader Fremantle in Round 24, before backing that stat line up exactly against Melbourne in a Wildcard Final.
The 28-year-old departed Gold Coast during last year's trade period to join Carlton. But Ainsworth has revealed that he still has an important link to one Sun.
"I do a lot of work with (Gold Coast mental performance coach) Alex Rance in terms of the mindset stuff," Ainsworth said.
"He's obviously still up on the Gold Coast, but he's a fantastic person to have in my corner and just to filter out all the stuff throughout the weekend, over the game, and then reset for the coming week.
"I can tell you at the Gold Coast days he was just a ball of energy, like he'd roll into the room, just bloody dancing or whatever, singing. He's a great man.
"It's just every Monday we catch up in the 'arvo' and just run through whatever happened on the weekend, filter out everything, whether it was good or bad. Just be refreshed for the coming week. And then also focusing on my strengths and just bring them to the forefront of my mind before the game on the weekend."
Rance is one of the best key defenders of the modern century, earning five All-Australians and winning one premiership in 2017 before retiring in 2019.
Ainsworth crossed from Gold Coast in a three-way trade that sent Pick 29 to the Suns, Corey Durdin to Port Adelaide and Ainsworth and Pick 66 to Carlton.
The first-year Blue is averaging 17.7 disposals and 5.5 marks per game in 2026, while he has also kicked 29 goals.
The hard-running Bagger said focusing on the mental side of the game and his work with Rance has long been a part of his season schedule.
"I think it's just been a matter of my process week in, week out throughout the whole year. Not changing," he said.
"We probably haven't amped (finals) up to be anything too big. It's more so just sticking to your process and what's been working for me for the rest of the year.
"Obviously have my strengths that I've turned back to if s*** does hit the fan, but no, he's been a great support network for me.
"I've been doing this for a number of years, and it's always been a growing piece.
"It definitely has its benefits throughout the back end of the year. Obviously, sometimes it gets monotonous, like going through your process every single week, but just reminding yourself that you are a good player and the strengths that you can bring to the team."
Another figure who has been unheralded as part of Carlton's miraculous recovery and return to finals in 2026 is Travis Boak, who works in a part-time leadership and culture role with the playing group.
Boak retired as a player at the end of 2025 after a 387-game career at Port Adelaide, where he captained the club for six out of his 19 seasons in the league. He was also a three-time All-Australian and two-time best-and-fairest winner.
Ainsworth said Boak's experience and guidance have been impactful as the Blues turned a 1-8 start to an Elimination Final appearance and possibly more.
"I think, at the start of the year, even before the start of the season, we just came together as a playing group led by Travis Boak," he said.
"He keeps the level head, and he's played 300-odd games and captain of a footy club. All-Australians, all the accolades. So he knows what's required at certain moments. He just grabs us every month or so just to remember what's important inside the four walls, and he's been very good for us."
