Mattaes Phillipou is a self-professed “footy nerd”. Almost every second of every day is spent living, breathing, consuming or thinking about it.

The passion the newest AFL Rising Star exudes is unmistakeable. He’s in the changerooms of Marvel Stadium well before any other player on gameday, scheduled days off more often than not feature a visit to RSEA Park. And when he sees the likes of Tom Hawkins and Jack Riewoldt in the AFL 360 green room minutes before going on-air, as he says, the “18-year-old takes over”.

But as he’s coming to know, hitting the pause button can be even more beneficial than going hell-for-leather 24/7. Leading into last Friday’s match against Port Adelaide, senior coach Ross Lyon revealed the eight-gamer “fried himself” by overpreparing for the upcoming contest, so was his desperation to improve.

“After the game the week before (Round 6 against Carlton) I felt like I was really close to one of my better games, and instead of just trusting that my work ethic and preparation was working, I doubled down and tried to do twice as much,” Phillipou said on AFL 360.

“I really didn’t give myself and opportunity to take my mind away from the game. In the last week I found ways to take mind off footy, and it worked.”

A coffee catch-up with Mason Wood was first on the list. The recent centurion could tell his teammate’s mind was working overtime and was impacting him on and off the field.

The offer went out – as it had previously to many of the Saints’ young brigade – and Phillipou took it up.

“Straight after the game, Woody could tell there was something off and he just said ‘did you want to catch up over a coffee?’,” Phillipou explained.

“I spoke to him about it and he told me some things that worked for him. I’ve since implemented them into my system and it’s been terrific.”

Now, Phillipou is finding ways to get out of the footy bubble. Playing video games with fellow teammates James Van Es and Isaac Keeler is just one simple way to freshen up, as is the upcoming prospect of beginning his psychology degree come July.

This week’s sensational Mark of the Year contender was the perfect example of instinct taking over.

Before reeling it in, the 18-year-old admitted he never really flew for marks during his junior days. Fast-forward to today, he’s finding the spring in his step and the confidence to do so without so much as a second thought.

It’s an odd paradox, working less to get better. If it means improvement in both the long and short-term, however, it’s certainly something the Saints’ footy-mad youngster will take to without question.

 Hitting pause may not be natural to Phillipou just yet. But when it’s time to hit play, he certainly knows how to do that.