’Not much love in my house’: Barry Hall ahead of injury exit from SAS Australia
AFL legend Barry Hall is shattered as injury forces him from completing the brutal SAS election course, while Locky Gilbert is on his last chance.
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AFL legend Barry Hall has reluctantly quit the SA Australia course after popping a rib, but not before speaking candidly about his anger issues and traumatic childhood.
Meanwhile, reality TV star Locky Gilbert is on his last warning as SAS Australia reaches its halfway point.
Father-of-three teared up as he called home to tell wife Lauren Brant – days away from giving birth to their third son – and his boys Miller and Houston, to let them know he was coming home.
Hall was injured as he and Gilbert went head-to-head in the King of the Ring challenge on Tuesday night.
The hulking giants of the Seven reality show went three rounds of wrestling to see who could throw the other outside the ring, Gilbert winning each time.
On the third bout, Hall landed awkwardly dislocating a rib which could be seen bulging against his skin when he removed his shirt.
“I desperately want to finish the course – my pain threshold is pretty good,” Hall said to camera. “I’ve played on with injuries. You body will go on through if your head allows it.”
He was shattered as he handed his number to Chief instructor Ant Middleton, who told him to walk away “with your head held extremely high”.
“You’ve done yourself and your family proud and the group will be as gutted as I to see you go,” Middleton said, hugging Hall in farewell.
It followed a teary interview earlier in the day with DS Ant Middleton and Clint Emerson where Hall – formerly known as Big Bad Barry – discussed the anger issues which often got the better of him in his 17 years as an AFL footballer at St Kilda, Sydney and the Western Bulldogs.
“I’ve messed up a lot,” Hall said.
“People ask me I have regrets when I’ve done something I shouldn’t have. I don’t have regrets because it’s got me to the place I’m at now.”
He spoke about his tough childhood growing up in a country town – playing football and cricket and getting into fights.
“My childhood was a little dysfunctional – not much love in my house,” Hall shared.
“I’d go home to dad and brag about fights for his approval.
“You’d have a couple of bruises on you and he’d ask what happened.
“If he wasn’t happy with the outcome, you’d have to go back and square up again.
“Being a dad now myself, I can’t get my head around how you could be the way he was.”
Meanwhile, Gilbert was told he was on his last warning as Middleton hauled him over the coals for his continued faux-hero antics, massive ego and selfishness.
“It kills me that (I’m always thinking about myself) I know that it hurts and that people can’t work with me,” Gilbert said.
“I know I’m selfish and that’s one of the reasons I’m here. I think I’m learning how to overcome it.”
Middleton told him his head was in the wrong place.
“This is your one warning about being selfish and a fake hero,” he said.
“This is not a reality show and it is so frustrating because you are so capable.
“You’ve got no more chances when you slip back into hero mode, that number will be gone.”
SAS Australia continues Monday, 7pm, Seven.
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Originally published as ’Not much love in my house’: Barry Hall ahead of injury exit from SAS Australia