The Athlete's Advantage

One rule of communication that reveals what athletes actually mean, plus the framework I use to quantify injury risk on every decision on whether an athlete is ready to return. Solo episode on the kind of clients we like to work with at Petey Performance, the ones that unfortunately stall, and the small handful of coaching rules I use to read what an athlete actually means versus what they say. Th...

Your rehab cleared the clinic. It didn’t clear the pitch. Peter answers 5 listener questions on what real return to play actually takes. Five listener questions, all from athletes and practitioners on Instagram. Session design and assessment, early ACL rehab, pelvic and rib cage stability, isometric hamstring programming, and what to do when you keep getting re-injured. The hamstring case study is...

Three injury buckets keep showing me the same overlooked deficit: athletic groin pain, ACL and hamstring strains. Most rehab plans never go near it. Back recording solo episodes after a few months off. Quick update on what's changed at Petey Performance, then straight into what I've been seeing in my recent in-person sessions. Three different injury presentations. One pattern keeps showing...

Five years into his AFL career, Hawthorn's Conor Nash was a stalled half-forward. He was pulled aside for the one conversation every pro athlete dreads: "Look, this isn't going to work." In this episode, Conor reveals the single positional change that "revitalised my career" and turned him from a fringe player into a dominant, "unorthodox" tagging midfielder. He also discusses the "insider" parado...

She’s now the equal-fastest player in AFLW history to 50 career goals, but when Aine McDonagh (AFLW Hawthorn) first arrived, she was a 6-foot, 53kg athlete who openly "feared the contest". Aine reveals the private fear that "kept her out of games" and the brutal, "insider" off-season playbook she used to gain 17kg and transform from a target into a leader who can finally "win the contest". She als...

Stuck in a frustrating cycle of nagging groin pain and recurring hamstring injuries? You're likely falling victim to outdated advice and common rehab errors. In this episode, Peter breaks down the REAL reasons athletes keep getting hurt and provides clear, actionable solutions. In this episode, you will learn: The "terrible" return-to-play criteria causing recurrence after recurrence. Osteitis Pub...

What if being a rookie with no bad habits is actually a secret weapon? In this episode, North Melbourne star Bláithín Bogue reveals how coming into the AFLW as a "blank canvas" allowed her to learn the game faster and build a pro-level technique from the ground up—a lesson that challenges everything you think you know about gaining an edge. In this episode, discover: Why a top coach sees...

What does it really take to go from a star athlete at home to a rookie in a professional league abroad? Carlton Blues star and former Irish Player of the Year, Dayna Finn, reveals the unfiltered mindset required to survive and thrive. In this episode, discover: How to handle the psychological shock of going from a "big fish" at home to a "small fish" in a pro environment. The specific skills from...

Peter Wright gets brutally honest about his grueling ACL reconstruction that didn't go to plan. This is the unfiltered story of turning a major professional setback and burnout into the fuel for a new mission. In this episode, discover: The counterintuitive reason a successful personal brand can limit your impact. The psychological toll of missing a public goal and the framework to reframe it. The...

Get your sports injury & performance questions answered! 💪 This Q&A episode is packed with info for athletes & coaches on ACL rehab, injury prevention, and more. We dive into: ACL Rehab: Effective recovery strategies & pain/swelling management Quad Strength: How to build back quad strength post-ACL surgery Groin Injuries: Why they happen & how to prevent/rehab them Hamstring H...

After major ACL surgery, I'm sprinting back towards elite performance levels by blending expert coaching, relentless rehab, and a few surprising mindset shifts along the way. Fourteen weeks post-op, I just hit 6.48 meters per second on the field, something I wasn’t even sure would be possible when I first started. This update isn’t some polished blueprint or "one-size-fits-all" plan....

Struggling to make your team’s goals stick?  Taking you through real coaching questions & sharing honest answers about building teams, developing athletes, and navigating the coaching journey. From practical goal-setting frameworks to breaking into elite sport - this episode dives deep into what coaches really want to know. 🔑 KEY MOMENTS: - Complete framework for team goal setting & value...

The moment I heard the pop, I knew what happened... but this time was different. Taking you through my complete ACL recovery journey and the mental shift that changed everything. 🔑 Key Moments: - The exact injury mechanism (rugby players, you'll get this) - Why I refused pain meds this time - The 3 things I did differently in the first 48 hours - How I turned a career setback into an opportunity...

Discover how world-class coaches master communication to transform relationships, build trust, and inspire winning performances. Packed with real-world strategies from sports and business, this episode reveals the mindset and tools you need to coach like a pro. 📌 TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Communicating Essentials 02:34 Building Trust 05:13 Relationship Building 10:26 Authenticity Matters 13:56 Influencin...

“Struggling with nagging groin pain that just won’t quit? You’re not alone!” Groin injury rehab—a frustrating and often misunderstood part of athletic performance. Many athletes find themselves caught in a cycle of recurring pain, trying the same rehab routines without real progress. I’ve been there, and I get it. The standard approach to groin rehab often falls short, but a new, movement-focused...

Imagine being miles from home, battling a mid-season injury, and still pushing through to perform at your best. That’s Orla O’Dwyer, a rising star with the Brisbane Lions in AFLW and the first Irish player to receive All-Australian honours in over a decade. Orla shares her story—from navigating a recent shoulder injury to the camaraderie with fellow Irish players that keeps her grounded. 📌 TIMEST...

Ever wondered what it’s like to switch from Gaelic football (GAA) to one of Australia’s most popular sports? Meet Niamh McLaughlin —Donegal’s very own superstar who’s now making waves in the Australian Football League Women’s (AFLW) with the Gold Coast Suns. 📌 TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 - Introduction: Niamh McLaughlin on fitness and professionalism 00:02:09 - Media differences between AFLW and Gaelic...

What does it take to transition from one of Ireland’s toughest sports to one of Australia’s most demanding leagues? Darragh Joyce knows firsthand. Darragh Joyce, a key defender for the Brisbane Lions, shares his journey from Kilkenny hurling to becoming a successful AFL player in Australia. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction and emotional reflection on the Grand Final 00:02:09 - Reflecting on win...

Imagine being in the first few minutes of a critical game, feeling on top of the world—only to have your knee buckle beneath you. For AFLW star Erika O’Shea that’s exactly what happened. But instead of letting it defeat her, she finished the game, ran on pure adrenaline, and eventually bounced back even stronger.  Growing up in Cork, Erika was a force on the Gaelic football field—fast, agile, and...

What happens when the final whistle blows, and the reality of being knocked out of a championship settles in? Join Pete in Melbourne during AFL Grand Final week, for a discussion on the familiar topic of what to do when the off-season comes as a GAA athlete! Pete shares his experiences from a career in high-level sport and insights on the transformative power of off-season training for athletes of...

In this solo episode, Pete takes you behind the scenes of balancing business and personal life. He discusses a recent golf day with GAA pros, sharing the highs and insights from the event, delves into a strength conference he attended, offering a deep dive into the topics discussed, networking experiences and practical advice for fellow coaches and athletes. Plus, Pete provides a personal update,...

In this solo episode of The Petey Performance Podcast, Pete dives into the mechanics of running and the intricacies of hamstring tendinopathy, offering valuable insights for athletes and coaches alike. He also explores the importance of trust and community in coaching and discusses how to provide top tier service to build a successful business. Plus, Pete answers audience questions, touches on Oly...

In this episode, Pete shares key insights on running a successful business on social media, including hitting the milestone of 6000 Instagram followers, going viral and creating valuable content. He gives an update on his golf journey and hints at exciting developments for The Backdoor Cut Podcast , without giving too much away. Pete explores the concept of culture, offers top book recommendations...

In this episode Peter delves into the biomechanics of acceleration and deceleration, crucial concepts for athletes and coaches, and breaks down the details of movement mechanics and their impact on performance. This episode also features promotion for the Petey Performance Virtual Mentorship. If you’re interested in personalised coaching and mentorship, message “Mentorship” on Instagram @PeteyPerf...

In this episode of The Petey Performance Podcast, Peter Wright sits down with S&C Coach Adrian O’Brien, to discuss a range of topics crucial to coaches in the world of GAA, hurling and beyond. They explore the challenges of starting and running a business during COVID, the importance of human connection in coaching and the dangers of athletes becoming too manufactured. Adrian shares insights o...