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MATT DE BOER - LEADERSHIP LESSONS LEARNT

Now in his second year as a member of the leadership group, Matt de Boer learnt an important lesson in his first season — that age is no excuse in the role.

“I wasn’t there only to learn and to just go along with it,” he said.

“I’m here to have an impact and represent the team as best I can.

“Being of the younger generation, and we’ve got a young list right now, I feel like I’m representing them.”

De Boer also gave the aforementioned advice to the newest leadership group member, Hayden Ballantyne, at the start of this year.

The 22-year-old said the biggest challenge in the role was having the hard conversations with teammates.

“They are your friends, but you’re supposed to hold them to account to the higher set of values that we set for ourselves,” de Boer said.

“We don’t take anything personally, but it’s sometimes hard.

“So you try and be demanding, without creeping into having a go at them personally.”