Former Carlton great Ken Hunter says AFL clubs need to work collaboratively on player welfare

Carlton great Ken Hunter, who was hospitalised with severe depression in the 80s, says AFL clubs can make a key change in player welfare management as the football community mourns the loss of Troy Selwood and Adam Hunter.

Carlton great Ken Hunter, who was hospitalised with severe depression in the 80s, says clubs and officials need to do more to help players during and after their careers.

Hunter, who is behind the FifthQtr Foundation to support AFL and AFLW past players in transitioning and retiring from professional sport, says there needs to be a more consistent and collaborative approach among clubs.

His comments come as the football community grieves the shock deaths of former Brisbane Lion’s star Troy Selwood and West Coast Eagle’s premiership player Adam Hunter.

“It’s been a sad week with Troy (Selwood) and Adam (Hunter) passing away and there’s not enough support,’’ Hunter said.

“Each club does it differently so there’s no consistency or continuity when it comes to past players.”

Ken Hunter speaks after being inducted to the Australian football Hall Of Fame in 2019. Picture: Daniel Pockett

Hunter in action for Carlton against St Kilda.

Hunter, a Hall of Fame three-time premiership star, said while clubs were focused on the issue of player welfare, they needed to build greater links among themselves.

“If people would work collaboratively in this issue which has been highlighted by the recent survey by FifthQtr to past players, that could only be a good start to engage with past players and their families,” he said.

“As an industry we can do a lot better.”

Hunter is organising a past players event taking place at the end of February which will feature a panel of former players talking about their post-football struggles.

“I spoke publicly about mental health in 1999 and I was the first person to do that,’’ he said.

“I think the industry could do a lot better and there should be a full-time welfare person similar to what Gavin Crosisca is doing at Collingwood.

“Mental illness doesn’t have to be a life sentence.

“There needs be a wholistic approach. I was able to get through a really tough time and if we could work together as an industry we could do a lot better.”

Originally published as Former Carlton great Ken Hunter says AFL clubs need to work collaboratively on player welfare