Gus Teixeira reveals off-field routine, sauna, ice baths, diet, exclusive interview, latest news

Gus Teixeira wants to be spoken about in a similar light to Nick Daicos — but not just regarding his footballing talent.

The ambitious top-10 draft prospect hopes to one day be renowned as a player who does the “one-percenters” off the AFL field as well as on.

It’s a trait akin to Collingwood’s Brownlow medallist superstar, long heralded as the competition’s ultimate trainer and preparer.

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Because while Teixeira’s speed, kicking ability and natural midfield instincts have helped propel him into top-five-pick calculations, the Sandringham Dragons product has identified that his work beyond the game itself will ultimately help separate him from his peers.

That drive to attain every possible advantage has seen his family add a sauna to their home, with the 18-year-old also taking up ice baths, donning compression boots and indulging in a holistic diet to fuel his footy rise.

“Right after games, I get in the pool and get cold. Then a day or two later, I’ll get in the sauna,” he said.

“I use the sauna a couple of times a week and get in the pool a bit as well. Hot and cold, and I use compression boots, too.”

Teixeira, who has Brazilian heritage on his father’s side, was asked at the Draft Combine what he’d like the football world to be saying about him in five years’ time.

“Probably the same sort of stuff they say about Nick Daicos — how talented he is and how he does all those one-percenters, and that he’s obviously the best in the game,” he told Foxfooty.com.au.

“That’d be great.”

Teixeira revealed his mother has taken an active role in ensuring his diet is appropriate for the demands of an aspiring elite footballer, with more carbohydrates and protein in his meals.

He says while his mum has always been a healthy cook, the increased physical demands of his football program have prompted some adjustments around the dinner table.

Teixeira has settled on pasta the night before matches, but his favourite meal is a slightly different choice.

“I really like fish tacos,” he said.

The explosive midfielder says he’s been “ready for ages” to enter the AFL, having also adopted mindset techniques from his father as well as a revered leadership expert who’s no stranger to the footy space.

“I’m trying to put in the extra work, do the one-percenters and always improve,” he said.

“Things like ice baths, sleeping well, stretching and mobility — all that stuff.

“Dad didn’t play much footy, so he’s more of a mindset person with me, and he’s been massive … Just thinking, ‘You’re the best player out there, and you’re going to win’.

“He’s also told me to read some books to see what other people do and how they influence other athletes.”

One of those books? Ben Crowe’s ‘Where the Light Gets In’ — a self-development guide that draws on his experience mentoring the likes of Australian tennis legend Ash Barty.

“It’s good. I’m still reading it. I’m not much of a reader, so it’s pretty good that I’ve started it,” Teixeira said.

Notably, Crowe worked with Richmond in the lead-up to and during its dynasty era, mentoring the likes of triple premiership captain Trent Cotchin and coach Damien Hardwick.

There’s no shortage of self-confidence from Teixeira in his footy abilities, but Crowe’s words have also helped him understand “there’s more to life than performing”.

On what he’s learnt from the book, he added: “Kind of just appreciating yourself … It’s just different ways of looking at life.”

Teixeira had a mixed-bag draft year, with a lingering calf injury costing him all but three Talent League matches.

Still, an impressive Championships campaign with Vic Metro – his personal 2026 highlight – boosted his stocks, and there’s no doubting his pedigree as a top-end prospect.

“As a whole, pretty good, I reckon,” he said of his season.

“There were ups and downs with injury, but I put together a solid Championships, so I’m pretty happy.”

Teixeira tallied 15 or more disposals in all four games for Metro, with his destructive four-goal, 20-disposal performance against the Allies particularly telling.

Specifically, he was pleased by his consistency – a facet of his game he’d gone about improving – across the course of the Champs.

“Because usually I’d have those really good games and then might have a quiet game, particularly if teams were putting a bit of attention on me. So I’ve just been trying to be consistent,” Teixeira said.

“Just sticking to my strengths and trying to outwork my opponents, running-wise and being physical. It’s definitely about using your strengths.”

Achieving that consistency at school level for St Kevin’s was made harder by the tagging attention he received.

“It wasn’t that enjoyable, to be honest. But I guess it’s something that happens in the game. You’ve just got to adapt to it, improve and get used to it,” he said.

He added about combating it: “Just using bodywork around stoppages. Obviously, I’m going to be faster and probably fitter than them, so it’s about outworking them as well.”

Teixeira says his biggest strengths are his speed in possession and his kicking, and the tape backs him up.

“I reckon I have a high impact on games; I’m good with the ball, and I’m a team player who shares it around and gets everyone involved,” he said when asked to describe himself as a player.

“I think I’m pretty strong at ground level, and I think I’ve got a pretty good mark as well. Inside 50, I use my speed and agility to try to get past defenders and get on the lead.

The ball-getter prides himself on impacting games in the guts, but believes he “unlocked” a new position in his draft year with the help of a well-known footy figure.

“(I’ve) always (been a midfielder) until this year, when I played forward,” he said.

“That’s something good I’ve taken out of this year as well — I’ve kind of unlocked another position.”

Teixeira says St Kevin’s coach Daniel Harford – one of his prominent footy influences – ignited his forward-half move in the APS as a way to shake tags.

“It was another option to go deep forward and use my strengths there,” he said.

“You obviously don’t get as much of the ball, but kicking a few goals is nice.”

That versatility has only done wonders for his stocks, with the childhood Essendon supporter likely to have his name called in the Richmond-Melbourne-Sydney range of selections.

He was almost tied to St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy, but the Saints had their request denied by the AFL after the league only last year introduced South American regions to the cultural eligibility criteria.

“I guess I was a couple of years away,” Teixeira said.

“My younger siblings are in the NGA right now, and they just changed the rules to allow South America in, but I think you have to be in it for three years.”

Teixeira said Harford and Sandy Dragons coach Rob Harding had been instrumental in shaping his footy journey thus far.

The latter in particular has opened his eyes to the finer details of the game.

“They’ve been massive in helping me improve my weaknesses and bring out my strengths as well,” he said.

“(Harding) is very smart about the game and picks out small things you wouldn’t even see. I’ve learnt how to analyse the game a bit more from him, because that’s something I don’t really do that much.

“Just how the opposition moves the ball from one end to the other, and also us, and how we can improve on that. How to put speed on the ball and when to slow it down, that type of stuff.”

Ultimately, Teixeira is determined to build the on- and off-field habits that could one day make him one of the AFL’s elite.

And if his commitment to those “one-percenters” is anything to go by, he’s already laying the foundations for the player he hopes to become – Daicos comparison or not.