Starting in junior football, Tom Hawkins has had the same message from his grandfather before every game: "Head down, arse up."
It's great advice for any footballer, but it feels especially pertinent for Geelong ahead of their AFL finals series.
Conscious of their poor September record, but determined not to be defined by it, Hawkins and his teammates are only looking forward as they prepare for Saturday's blockbuster qualifying final against Collingwood at the MCG.
"It's ultimately the job we have in front of us, so I will probably be drawing on a bit of that," Hawkins said of the consistent message from his grandad, Fred Le Deux.
The Cats won the minor premiership and will take a 13-game winning streak into the finals - but also the burden of history.
Under coach Chris Scott, Geelong won the 2011 premiership and have only missed one finals series since.
But also under Scott, they have just 10 wins from 25 finals and are 2-8 in the first week of September.
Most importantly, 2011 remains their most recent flag.
Collingwood, this year's AFL giant-killers, will fancy their chances of claiming a major week-one scalp.
Hawkins, the All-Australian captain, notes the Cats have improved noticeably this year, across the board.
"Obviously there will be talk about that. But for us, internally, it's a different-looking side, a different proposition, we're back home (in Victoria)," Hawkins told reporters.
"Things have changed, we're playing slightly different.
"There's no talk internally about our past.
"Certainly the past is there, so we'll let other people talk about that."
In more good news for Geelong, Hawkins confirmed all players with injury concerns would be available for Saturday - fellow All-Australian forward Jeremy Cameron (hamstring), ruckman Rhys Stanley (adductor) and onballers Mitch Duncan (hip) and Sam Menegola (managed for round 23).
Cam Guthrie strained his shoulder in Geelong's last game against West Coast, but will also play.
Cameron's return raises the question of whether Esava Ratugolea will stay in the side.
"He played down back last week, which feels like a while ago now, and he was fantastic," Hawkins said.
The Cats key forward also dismissed the annual talk about his team hosting a final at the MCG, saying he was relishing the prospect.
"Watching Carlton-Collingwood (in round 23) whet my appetite for finals-like football and a finals-like feel," he said.
"There's certainly a lot of excitement among the group, particularly me, about getting back onto the MCG."
