AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh says mental health of players has now become the number one priority
AFL players’ boss Paul Marsh says mental health has become the top priority for the industry as players deal with online trolls and “garbage” rumours like the supposed Don Pyke/Josh Jenkins spat. Listen to The Lowdown Podcast here.
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THE mental health of AFL players has now become the number one priority of the industry according to players boss Paul Marsh who says they are forced to deal with online trolls and “garbage” rumours like Josh Jenkins and Don Pyke’s supposed altercation last week.
Speaking on The Lowdown Podcast after the AFL and AFLPA announced two key appointments in the mental health space this week, Marsh said the traditional media had a responsibility to report accurately and not simply respond to innuendo on social media.
It comes on the same day as Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley hit back at rumours linking him to Carlton by telling SEN “some of the stuff that gets reported is just complete lies and that’s what happens, but if you keep talking about it, it keeps coming up”.
Marsh said the AFLPA conducted a $300,000 review into mental health after it was identified as the number one priority by players 18 months ago.
“I think it still sits there with the players but I think it’s now become the number one priority for the industry and I don’t think we were there 12 or 24 months ago,” Marsh said.
“And that gives me great heart that we’re looking at this as a whole industry and putting the right resources in place.”
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The AFL on Monday appointed a new head of mental health and wellbeing and a chief psychiatrist to work alongside the AFLPA’s similar roles and its network of 120 psychologists who it pays for players to access.
“Now this industry has come together and we’re looking at an aligned approach,” Marsh said.
“It’s not about just reacting, if a player had an issue and is happy to talk we’ve had support for quite a while but now the industry is looking at how to proactively address these issues.
“Creating environments the players will thrive in rather than being smashed and feeling the pressure, so there is some big change coming.
“Some of the triggers around mental health issues are different for different players, it can be form, selection, scrutiny.
“You flippantly talked about the Don Pyke/Josh Jenkins issue before but put yourself in either of their positions at the moment and there’s this rubbish being spoken about that is just not true and yet it’s making the news across this state at the moment.
“That doesn’t come with someone who is sitting in (another job) an accounting or legal office, these guys or girls are constantly getting smashed and the media has an important role to be more responsible in how it reports.
“Part of the problem is you see something on social media that someone with no credibility has put on, let’s take a rumour like the Pyke/Jenkins one, and what we’re seeing is the media report off the back of that and that’s where some of this stuff is getting credibility that it shouldn’t get.
“I think there is a role for the media to treat that like it should be treated — which is garbage — and there are a few things we’re looking at so how do we build resilience with the players as well that they know it’s part of the issues they are going to be dealing with in this space.”
Marsh praised the two SA clubs for trying to create a more relaxed environment for players when the pressure of performance is reaching fever pitch such as Pyke hosting the Crows for pizza and beers at his place last week.
The Crows went to AFL Max and will go bowling on Wednesday while some Power players went go-karting with coaches last week.
“They’re human beings and we don’t always treat them that way,” Marsh said.
“What is wrong with going bowling or go-karting or having a few beers.
“They train extremely hard, they know the gameplan and this is about a mental refresh and that's often all that’s needed.
“It is one of the most important things in their lives and they give it the necessary focus, but they need a break.
“I think it’s great that the clubs are doing this and what we’re seeing is the clubs, coaches and footy departments are encouraging this now so it’s great, more of it.”
reece.homfray@news.com.au