HISTORY shows that Melbourne or Fremantle will effectively have their 2007 hopes ended today, just four rounds into a season in which both started as legitimate premiership contenders.

In 110 years of the VFL/AFL, only North Melbourne, in 1975, has recovered from a 0-4 start to win the flag. Only two other teams that started 0-4 have gone on to make the top four.

That gives today's MCG clash huge importance — that is, of course, if you allow history to decide your destiny!

On any given Sunday, a match between Melbourne and Fremantle would be considered a chance for genuine entertainment — under normal circumstances. Both sides possess exciting talent, move the ball quickly, aim to score heavily and rely on brilliant individuals to get the job done.

But when you factor in what's riding on the result, it becomes a different story. Fear and panic, self-doubts, anxiety, tagging, flooding combined with truckloads of contested ball and physical assaults on the man with the ball, provide an arm wrestle that looks captivating.

Both teams have a string of tough matches in coming rounds, but today must be the focus. In fact, the victor will most likely be the team that is able to focus most effectively.

This is where we see the benefit of having a great leader, great motivator and great tactician all wrapped up in one. I have no doubt both coaches will be totally focused on this game, but the test will be if their charges are also switched on.

Both sides need to focus on the causes and let the effects take care of themselves. Fast forwarding to consequences and outcomes is fraught with danger. It is a difficult situation for a coach and his team, but this is where the rubber meets the road in relation to preparation and planning.

We have heard from Neale Daniher that Melbourne has been cruelled by injury. Use of the media to defend performance is something that may appease boards, sponsors and supporters in the interim, but the long-term effect on the playing group can be disastrous. I have no doubt sides can use the injury situation as an excuse and their effort suffers accordingly.

Melbourne is still good enough to deliver acceptable results. I'm not certain Demons fans are as disappointed with the results as they are in the manner they have come.

Adelaide, also, has significant injuries with 18 players out, but I have not heard any reference to its misfortunes.

It has a business-as-usual mentality, as opposed to a what-hope-have-we-got attitude. Victim mentalities don't survive in this competition. I learned that first-hand when I wasn't strong enough at a time last season when we were ravaged by injury. I had to revitalise my thinking before I could effect change in everyone else's mindset.

We spoke about our mentality at length and decided to be the opposite of victims — and that is tyrants. Tyrants are ruthless, relentless and unforgiving. They rule through oppression. St Kilda players realised that if the game was based purely on personnel, the season was a foregone conclusion — the best personnel would win every year.

The players realised they could not rely on names and needed to come together as a team and work harder than ever before.

They wanted to rid themselves of the pity and excuse-driven mentality that was starting to dictate their fortunes.

In essence, they wanted to show their injured teammates that they were not only capable of holding the fort, but they could win against any odds.

Players relish these challenges, which build the spirit and morale that is vital for success in hard times.

St Kilda's revitalised thinking culminated in a classic win over Sydney — regarded as the best team in the competition — at the SCG last year. There is no doubt in my mind that the players made a significant statement by their actions that evening and got their season back on track. The courage and desire displayed left me a very proud man.

I still vividly remember walking into the changerooms after the game, pumping my heart with my fist in a gesture of respect for the team and to our injured captain Luke Ball.

Speaking of focus, we are seeing the after-effects of Terry Wallace's "long-term" strategic plans for Richmond. "Plough" feels victimised by the media who misconstrued his privileged information and twisting it into something it was never meant to be.

Wallace is to be congratulated for his transparency in allowing the media and public into the Tigers' forward planning. Terry is a skilled media performer and introduced his own media conferences at a time when most coaches were trying to find excuses to get out of them.

The concern in providing this information is the effect it has on the current playing group. Perhaps the players needed to be informed about the strategy of informing all and sundry — perhaps they were. I cannot help but think it has had a significant mental effect on the Tigers when the game is in the balance. This theory is backed up by their recent performances. The general consensus would be not to expect too much over the next few years from the Tiges — unfortunately, that can send the wrong message to the players.

Interestingly, Geelong coach Mark Thompson has focused his players' attention squarely on today's match against Hawthorn and the potential for their normal game strategy to be thwarted by tactics applied by Hawthorn. It is very easy for a group of players to focus on one game and I am sure the Geelong players will be able to adapt to the situation accordingly. By directing his players' attention to this week's game, Thompson has done two things: put last week's game behind them and stopped anyone looking past this week's match.

I have been involved in situations where the playing group has committed to a block of games and decided on a particular acceptable outcome. Sometimes, the first game's result (loss) can throw all the plans into disarray and adversely affect the ensuing week's performance. The players then feel the result will never be acceptable. It is a dangerous strategy. There is no better formula than to stay in the present — seize the moment — and take each challenge on its merits when it comes.

Players are heavily influenced by their coach's comments and can sometimes react subconsciously to them. They also would rarely admit this to retain solidarity. For a coach, it is a difficult balancing act between vindicating or explaining a side's performance — good and bad — and keeping them focused on the next challenge. The most difficult time for a coach is when his players are looking for excuses and wallowing around in their own self pity, which is usually fuelled by coaches, family, media and supporters.

It is not a difficult exercise to direct a team's attention to a two-hour block and expect 100 per cent effort from 100 per cent of the team 100 per cent of the time. However, it is extremely challenging to sustain this commitment over an extended period of time. Week by week is the key — hold your nerve, stay in the moment, make your vows and take up the challenge.