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CROWS development coach Alan Stewart is famous for throwing curly questions at young footballers in pre-draft meetings.
In late 2006 he wanted to test the mettle of an Oakleigh Chargers midfielder Adelaide was considering for its third round pick.
David Mackay was coming off a 28-disposal game in the Chargers' TAC Cup Grand Final win but Stewart turned the tables and drilled the then 18 year old on an earlier final where his impact hadn't been as great.
Mackay responded by saying he was a confidence player and it had been down that day. Stewart pounced.
"Alan Stewart would say if you have ability and you work as hard as you can there shouldn't be any need to have confidence all the time." Mackay said.
"When things aren't going the way you want them to (you have to move) past that and not let it affect your performance."
It was an important lesson for Mackay and one that he drew on last year after being dropped from Adelaide's line up for the first time.
Crows wingman David Mackay gets a kick away against St Kilda. Picture: Quinn Rooney.
Once considered one of the Crows' brightest prospects, a lack of form and confidence saw the 25 year old sent back to the SANFL. It hit Mackay hard.
"For all of us who play it's the biggest thing in your life at the time. You have to stay positive but it's not easy," he said.
"I wasn't getting my hands on the ball enough and I wasn't running as well as I could and having the impact on games I needed to be having."
Mackay watched vision of his games at the end of the season and realised he wasn't covering the ground as well as he had in the past.
He ramped up his workrate at training - reaching "a better level than I ever have before" - and focused on playing to his strengths.
Then in late November, senior Crows assistant Dean Bailey was diagnosed with cancer, a tragedy which had a profound effect on Mackay.
David Mackay celebrates a goal against St Kilda. Picture: George Salpigtidis.
"I worked really closely with Bails. In a way it highlighted what was important in life and even though it's a big business and such an important thing what we do, it's still just footy," Mackay said.
"I guess it put things in perspective for me. Made me think I need to enjoy what I'm doing and make the most of it.
"We're very lucky to be able to do what we do. You don't want to get to the end of your footy career and say the whole thing was a battle."
Mackay has honoured Bailey's passing with an electric start to the 2014 season.
He's averaging career bests in disposals (20.3), inside 50s (3.8) and score assists (1.5) and has re-assumed his position as one of the best ball users in the AFL.
Of the competition's top 100 ballwinners, only Jobe Watson has a better retention rate than Mackay.
"One of things I pride myself on is being able to use it well when I do get it," Mackay said.
"As a team it's probably something we haven't done that well this year and it cost us early on.
"It's really hard to play against teams that can control the ball and make you defend for long periods."
Mackay is also embarking on the dashing runs from half back that are a feature of his game when he's playing well.
His average running bounces have jumped from 0.9 to 3 per game and his teammates up field are reaping the benefit.
"That was my biggest focus going into the preseason this year was to get back running again," he said.
"So far it's been a marked improvement from last year. It needs to be a strength of my game and I'm trying to make it that again.
"We're only early in the season but I certainly feel like I'm playing much better footy than I was last year."
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