Norwood observes minute’s silence to honour Nick Lowden who took his life last week

Norwood boss James Fantasia says the death of Nick Lowden will be a catalyst for more open and frank discussions around mental health at the club.

Nick Lowden with his family after the 2022 SANFL grand final. Picture: Supplied By family

Norwood boss James Fantasia said the tragic death of league player Nick Lowden would be a catalyst for more open and frank discussions around mental health at the club.

Lowden, 23, took his own life last week after a long battle with depression, shaking the Redlegs playing group to its foundations.

The midfielder played a key role in the club’s premiership victory last year and was, according to chief executive Mr Fantasia, a quiet but deeply respected member of the senior team.

He said Norwood had a bye last weekend, meaning many players had returned to their home towns to see family and friends.

“Getting in touch with our group was the first thing we did, because we wanted to make sure that we were the ones telling them what happened,” Mr Fantasia said.

“So all of our guys got personal phone calls. And then we said to them, ‘if you’re around and you want to come in and just get together then let’s do that. Honestly, I think about 50 of them rolled up.”

Redlegs players have been devastated by the sudden death of Nick Lowden. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz

It was at that moment Mr Fantasia said Lowden’s death really hit home.

“Instantly you can get a sense of just the impact,” he said.

“You have these strapping young men and they were visibly upset and emotional and comforting each other. You see when you see that how much they’re hurting.”

Mr Fantasia said the club was unaware of the concussion from several years ago that Lowden’s parents said had a serious impact on his mental health but he said Norwood was aware of his struggles.

He said the club called on the services of a group called StandBy, which specialises in providing counselling to people affected by suicide.

“Most of our boys came in that Sunday, along with members of our staff, and that was a really good session,” Mr Fantasia said.

“One thing that happens after somebody dies in this way is that everyone starts questioning themselves and wondering if they could have done anything.

“So one of the examples that came out that session is that depression can be akin to having a leaking valve or leaky tap. You put a bucket under it, but eventually, it fills up eventually it starts to overflow. It’s not one drop, it’s a number of things over a long period so people shouldn’t be hard on themselves about the last conversation they had or anything like that.”

Mr Fantasia said the club planned to use Lowden’s passing as an opportunity to talk more about mental health.

“I guess if there is any silver lining it’s that we have an excuse now to bring this up a lot more and bring it to the fore and do our own audits and get better at it,” he said.

“And I’ve been grateful, to be frank, that this has actually got a bit of attention in the mainstream media because it’s just too big an issue. As painful as it is, what else can we do? What how do we reach these young people? This one really hit home.”

At Norwood Oval on Saturday a blanket grey hung low as Lowden’s Redlegs teammates, along with their South Adelaide opposition and the crowd, observed a minute’s silence to pay tribute to their late mate.

Wearing black armbands in a mark of remembrance, both Norwood and South Adelaide players stood with their arms around each other while highlights of Lowden’s playing career was shown on the big screen before the minute’s silence.

Highlights of Lowden’s playing career was shown on the big screen before the minute’s silence. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz

Emotional Redlegs players during the Tribute to Nick Lowden at Norwood Oval. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz

Emotional Redlegs players during the Tribute to Nick Lowden. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz

A Norwood official told the sombre crowd Lowden was an important member of the Redlegs senior side who was loved and respected by all at the club.

Tears flowed after Norwood’s nail biting two-point win against South Adelaide at The Parade, with coach Jade Rawlings saying several players broke down in the changerooms after the game.

“I saw some individuals who were really affected after the game,’’ he said, fighting back tears himself.

“The emotion of the day, the week, it was tough on everyone and there have been a lot of wild fluctuations with people at different stages of their grief cycle.

“The group has been around each other since Monday in a footy sense but the way the group has rallied since last Thursday and supported each other has been great.

“We confronted it (Lowden’s death), we didn’t want to not speak about it (during the week), and today (game day), with the ceremony at 2pm it was something none of us had ever been through before.

“To hear what was going on alongside me and behind me, with our reserves players and staff and how upset they were, to try and reset and get ready for a game was very challenging.

“The group has been incredible. We wanted to make our club proud this week, that’s what we spoke about on Monday, and irrespective of the result I think that our people would feel proud of how the club and players have gone about it.’’

Rawlings said the toll Lowden’s death had taken on the players was obvious after his side stopped to a walk in the final quarter against South.

The Redlegs led by 39 points early in the final term before holding on to win by two.

“I’m sure the void of energy late would have been because of the emotional drain on individuals because we weren’t able to do anything in that last 15 minutes,’’ Rawlings said.

South showed great respect to the Lowden family and Norwood, with every player and coaching staff member comforting Rawlings and his players on the ground after the game.

“We made a real conscious effort to support Norwood and all the boys and I thought it was really touching at the end of the game when our players got around ‘Twig’ (Rawlings) and his players,’’ Panthers coach Jarrad Wright said.

Lowden’s parents Tony and Kerry Lowden told The Advertiser their son had struggled with mental health since sustaining a serious concussion while playing as a teenager.

“The pain was unbearable (for Nick),” Kerry said.

“Until people have walked in those shoes, they can’t comment that suicide is weak because it’s not, if you get to that stage, you can see no way out.”

The Lowdens said they planned to donate their son’s brain to science so doctors might get a better understanding of the links between head injuries and depression.