Being an AFL player is a full-time profession which requires far greater commitment than a regular 40-hour working week.
Lions players spend at least six days a week at the Gabba performing a range of gruelling sessions which challenge them both mentally and physically - not to mention their travel responsibilities every second weekend throughout the season.
It’s therefore remarkable that some still find time to complete tertiary studies.
Lions utility Troy Selwood is one of a handful of players at the Club who effectively manages to balance his training and university commitments.
“It’s a lot harder these days,” Selwood said.
“The amount of units that I can study each year has definitely changed from when I first started my university degree back in 2003.”
“I just try to fit study in on Tuesday or Thursday nights when we don’t have group training sessions.”
As he embarks on the eighth year of his Bachelor of Commerce degree at Curtin University in Western Australia, Selwood has found new ways of improving his time management.
“I do it all online now so I don’t have to physically go into uni and get it done,” he said. “I’ve found that’s helped a lot.”
“The hardest part is that you have to read the content all the time from textbooks rather than actually sitting down in lectures.”
“It takes a good couple of hours every night just to read the content and fit it all in.”
“But I’ve got a pretty good system going at the moment with my twin brother Adam who does the same course over in WA,” Selwood said.
“What we’ve tried to do over the time is study similar subjects. He’ll generally do a subject one semester and I’ll do it the next semester - and vice versa. It means we can kind of learn from each other.”
Selwood praised Curtin University’s distance education program and it’s ability to allow students to complete studies in their own time.
“I first started doing uni over here in Brisbane, but I switched about four years ago to do it online,” he said. “I have found that it makes it much easier.”
“The technology is amazing. You can even download podcasts of people reading the content back to you,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve got it nutted out now. I’ve just got to make sure that I stay focussed and I should be fine.”
“In the first couple of years, I got a lot of help from guys like Luke Power and the Scott boys who had studied while playing before. I could pick their brains on study techniques.”
“The AFLPA are also really good with giving you that support network as well,” he said.
Selwood understands that the process is a lengthy one for people with full-time commitments and looks forward to the day when he finally graduates.
“I’ve done 14 units and I’ve still got 10 to go,” he said.
“I reckon I might finish in my early 30s - I could be carrying kids into the lecture theatres by then!”
SPECIAL LIONS STUDENT OFFER
The Lions are now offering university students - like Troy - a special package for selected matches at the Gabba throughout the 2010 AFL Premiership Season. The $30 match-day package includes:
• General reserved seat
• Food voucher
• Drink voucher
• 2-for-1 main meal deal @ Chalk Hotel
• Free public transport to and from the game
This package is available only at the Lions’ home games against West Coast (Round 1), the Western Bulldogs (Round 4), Melbourne (Round 18) and Adelaide (Round 20).
Simply call Ticketmaster on 1300 136 122 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.au to purchase this package. You will need to quote the promotional code STUDENT10 upon purchase.
If you are visiting a Ticketmaster outlet in person, you will be required to show your student card upon purchase.
NB: All matches are subject to availability. All tickets subject to terms and conditions. These student offers go on sale from the Tuesday (9am) two weeks prior to each match.
