It's a common and often devastating affliction.
Despite his status as one of the most talented young midfielders in the country, South Australian gun Trent Dumont admits he too has felt the unease of questioning his own ability.
But exhausted – physically and mentally – after returning from a European tour with the AIS AFL Academy Squad, the 18-year-old opened his 2013 campaign with a stellar 23-disposal performance for Norwood's reserves.
Having arrived back in Adelaide on the Tuesday, Dumont had just two days' rest before his Friday night game.
Meet Trent Dumont: Exclusive interview, match video and draft analysis
It was a display that set the tone for what would become a remarkable season.
"I used to be fairly negative going into games, just a bit of self-doubt," Dumont told AFL.com.au.
"I just had to realise that if I played footy the way I liked to I'm quite good and I could perform really well.
"That game there kind of kick-started my confidence; my pre-season I was extremely happy with and I had a few good trial matches.
"I was still jetlagged then and played quite a good game."
The hard-working inside midfielder's performance was enough to earn him an immediate call up to Nathan Bassett's senior side.
"When he came to me a week after that reserves match and told me I'd be playing League on Anzac Day, that point there I just thought I must be doing something right," Dumont said.
"I've done a fair bit of work on my kicking over the last year - I used to be fairly average and I guess it's that confidence that I've been trying to take into my games."
Dumont played another 11 SANFL games after his senior debut – a handy 19-possession outing - and was named in the Redlegs' best on five occasions.
His 20-disposal, eight-mark display in the club's Grand Final victory over North Adelaide had him right in contention for the Jack Oatey Medal as best afield.
Dumont said playing a key role in a champion side and performing on the SANFL's biggest stage had also helped his confidence.
At 186cm and 83kg, he certainly has the size to match it with matured bodies.
"This year, with guys like Jace Bode and Matt Suckling around you – they're really confident types and it rubs off on you a bit," he said.
"To play good football in the League side this year has told me I'm a fairly good player in regards to being able to play good finals footy.
"The experience of playing in front of 36,000 in the grand final helped as well and it's just good experience playing against good sides like that in the SANFL, which is probably the second best league in Australia."
In the lead up to the NAB AFL Draft the right-footer is busy finishing his year 12 studies at Adelaide's Pedare Christian College.
Other than a future in football, he said he was eyeing a possible career in physiotherapy, but he's open to the idea of studying pharmacy too.
While his studies would obviously take the back seat to an imminent AFL opportunity, Dumont stressed the value of having something other than the game to occupy his mind.
"I still want to have something to do outside of footy because it can probably get pretty stressful and you need a little bit of a balance," he said.
"All the clubs push that as well, when you've got a good balance outside of footy it helps with your onfield performance because you're only thinking about footy when you go out to play."
While happily living at home in Adelaide with his parents, three sisters and nine-month-old nephew, Dumont said he was keen to explore the country.
As a Victorian native who crossed the border to South Australia when he was eight, he loves Melbourne but said the adventure of living in an unfamiliar city was enticing.
"I've always wanted to go back. I think I'll eventually head back to Melbourne, even if I do stay in Adelaide for footy.
"Wherever I go on my journey I'm excited – I don't really mind where I go, Sydney, Perth or Brisbane, that'd be exciting too, a new place would be pretty cool."
