Swan Heath Grundy pulls out of Collingwood clash to focus on mental health
SYDNEY defender Heath Grundy is a shock omission from Saturday night’s game against Collingwood after taking time away from the game to deal with mental health issues.
Sydney
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SYDNEY defender Heath Grundy is a shock omission from Saturday night’s game against Collingwood after taking time away from the game to deal with mental health issues.
Grundy missed the Swans’ clash with North Melbourne three weeks ago before playing in the NEAFL match against Gold Coast.
He returned for last week’s loss to Essendon at Etihad Stadium but, strangely, Grundy did not feel well and after halftime he played in the forward line rather than his usual spot as a key defender.
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Grundy joins a growing number of AFL footballers who have taken time away from the game to deal with their mental wellbeing.
Star forward Lance Franklin missed the 2015 finals series to deal with his own battle with depression.
Adam Goodes also took a leave of absence of a game during the same season. Like Franklin he returned to the game but retired at the end of the season.
Sydney coach John Longmire last night said Grundy, 32, would continue to train with the team and be given the time and support he needs.
“To put your hand up and ask for help can be a really challenging thing to do,” Longmire said.
“We believe it’s really important to provide an environment and the support to enable our players to do that. Full credit to Heath for the way he is handling this.
“He still has an important role to play with our team and we hope to see him back playing before the end of the season.”
In 2013, Longmire revealed to the AFL commission five of his 2012 premiership players had struggled with mental health issues that season.
Collingwood’s Alex Fasolo and the Western Bulldogs’ Tom Boyd and Travis Cloke have all taken time off football to seek help with their mental health.
Grundy is one of four changes to the Swans team to take on the Magpies tomorrow night. Robbie Fox, and Colin O’Riordan have been omitted and Zak Jones will miss the next two weeks with a suspension.
Former Co-Captains Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh return to the side after suffering knee and collarbone injuries respectively. Dan Robinson also makes his return to the team after a two-week absence.
The Giants have lost Tim Taranto (knee), Dylan Shiel (ankle) and Sam Reid (knee) all to injury for Sunday’s match against Carlton at Etihad Stadium. They have added Matt de Boer, Jeremy Cameron, Daniel Lloyd, Aiden Bonar, Harry Perryman, Isaac Cumming and Lachlan Keeffe to an extended squad of 25.
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