Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson has asked his wife. He's asked sponsors. And supporters.
Just what should he say to motivate his topsy-turvy AFL players?
"Everybody says `you have got to win this week'," Sanderson told reporters on Thursday.
"But that is the end result. It's more about the process.
"It's bad coaching if you say `you must win this week' because that gives the players the solution but it doesn't give them the answers on how to actually get the win."
Sanderson openly admits frustration at the inconsistency of his Crows: they haven't lost two games in a row since round three, but only twice have they strung together two or more consecutive wins.
"It's draining for the coaches and the fans," he said.
"But the players are good, they bounce back pretty quick."
The yo-yo form has resulted in the Crows clawing to retain their eighth spot on the ladder with Saturday's game against North Melbourne in Hobart, and then St Kilda at home, to come.
"The players mentally - how do you get them in that right frame of mind that their mood is just ruthless right from the centre bounce?" he said.
"I promise you, they are in that mood every week. But we don't always get the outcome.
"In this industry, at this level, every week our players have steam coming out of their ears when they enter the arena. But things don't always go to plan.
"It's something that we would love the answer for.
"Every coach of every sport throughout the world (asks) how do you get players starting well every week?
"We'll do our very best to motivate them. But a lot of that has to be self-driven."
The Crows will summon dual club champion Scott Thompson from a hamstring injury for the clash against the sixth-placed Kangaroos.
But Sanderson conceded ongoing concern about Thompson, who was battling back-related hamstring problems and missed three of the past four games.
"It's a tricky one ... with those neural back injuries, he just needs a twist or a knock that can potentially flare it up," Sanderson said.
"But the way that he plays, he'll go in 100 miles an hour. And hopefully, fingers crossed, he gets through the game okay."
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