ANALYSING a team's performance week after week is both an interesting study in sports psychology and a source of great frustration — for fans and coaches alike.

I can assure anguished fans that the process takes up much of the game preview and review time for players and coaches. And what confuses and frustrates the life out of us is inconsistency.

So what determines consistency? It relates to a competitor's or team's ability to perform to a high standard on a regular basis. It also involves patterns of behaviour and a steadfast adherence to the same principles. In essence, it means retaining expected form.

Why does performance fluctuate? How can a team play with aggression and intensity one week, then with hesitancy and insipid efforts the next? How can attitude vary so dramatically from one week to the next?

To answer those questions, we need to understand the fundamentals that dictate effort. I have a view and it is very firm — effort is dictated by importance.

Players who have put in a less-than-acceptable day's work have told me they sometimes feel their ability — or inability — to overcome mental adversity or burdens does not allow them to attack the contest or the game with the usual energy and intensity. The result was a lacklustre performance that infuriates all witnesses.

If something is very important, you will give it your very best shot and not think for a second about the potential of pain and hurt. Conversely, the potential of pain and hurt can dictate how important something is to you. It is interesting that importance can fluctuate on a regular basis.

This is why team values and behaviours are so important. These are usually formulated at the start of a season and regularly revisited during feedback sessions. Assessments are now part of everyday life for an AFL player. They include measuring a player's or team's adherence to "the code" and might extend to listing, in order of merit, each player's commitment to the cause.

Destiny must be decided by the collective group of players. You cannot abdicate the responsibility of destiny.

Unfortunately, as with everything in life, there are prices to pay and if something is very important, the price is accordingly high. That is why not many sides can be consistently successful — it's damn hard!

If a person stormed into your house while you were watching television, ripped the TV from the wall and stormed out with it, what would you do? Most people would be gobsmacked, in a state of shock, not knowing what to do until it was too late. The obligatory call to the police would follow in the faint hope of retrieval.

Let's imagine a person storms into your living room, grabs your child and storms out of the house. Irrespective of the person's size, strength or ability, most people would immediately jump into action despite the possibility of serious injury.

The difference between the two scenarios? One is a replaceable TV, the other is blood and needs protection. This scenario defines importance.

Unfortunately, some sides think opponents are just taking their TV and they can get it back next week. Attitude is absolutely dictated by importance. I fervently believe that you can win a game of football with great attitude and poor tactics, but you will not win a game of football with great tactics and poor attitude. Obviously the ideal scenario involves both.

In essence, a side's performance will be a reflection of how important the game is perceived.

Already this season, there have been examples of sides playing exceptionally well one week and compounding the next and vice versa.

A high morale and positive spirit are crucial to maintain consistency of effort.

I was once given a perfect definition for morale. It is when you believe something is worthwhile achieving and you have the ability to achieve it. Many people think it is all about the players "being close". That is a facade that cannot withstand the rigours and challenges of an AFL season.

In my mind, there is a very distinct difference between great teams and great sides.

Sydney understands what it takes to be great team and behaves that way, irrespective of circumstances.

There are clubs predominantly focused on individuals and pay lip service to team ethic. That's not to say they cannot play as a team — they can — but it is not an automatic thing. Great teams use each other to get a result; great sides rely on brilliance and individuals to get the job done. When these players are negated, there is usually quite a vacuum to fill.

Great teams are defined by their leadership, spirit, morale and consistency of effort.

No doubt there will be sides that perform poorly this weekend and there will be sides that surprise all of us with a newfound zest and energy. The secret is in bottling your best effort and making that the standard.

Sometimes, your best effort does not give you your best performance, but you will never feel the wrath of disgruntled supporters or a rabid media. Respect is earned by consistent effort. It is how we are measured as players and teams and, in reality, by society.

I have no doubt that some Victorian teams can make a significant impact on this year's finals series and arrest the momentum of interstate teams. This will be achieved through gut-wrenching hard work and coming together as a team. It will not be achieved by flashes of brilliance and reliance on individuals.

One thing will never change: premierships are won by great teams, not by great sides. The interstate teams exude tremendous team qualities in most instances; I cannot say the same thing for the Victorian-based sides, which seem to rely on brilliance. Some are nearly there, some are on the right track and some just don't get it.

Which category is your club in?