Carlton’s Brock McLean opens up about his bulimia battle

Former Carlton star Brock McLean has described the drastic action he took after eating chocolate in his playing days.

Former AFL star Brock McLean has revealed that he used to make himself vomit due to a bulimia battle where he felt guilty eating sweets.

Former Carlton and Melbourne midfielder McLean and ex-Richmond best and fairest Daniel Jackson, opened up about eating and body dysmorphia disorders on the ABC TV show, You Can’t Ask That, which airs on Wednesday.

“I suffered from bulimia for three-to-four years of my career,” McLean said.

“It got to a point where if I had a little bit of chocolate or if I had a bit of a lolly, I would go, ‘No, that’s completely unnecessary.’ And I would force myself to throw up.”

Brock McLean spoke up about his eating disorder on an ABC TV program. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ex-Richmond player Daniel Jackson has also appeared on the You Can’t Ask That show. Picture: Colleen Petch

Jackson said: “I’d weigh myself in the morning to see where I was at, weigh myself when I got to the club, I’d go home and weigh myself before dinner, and be like, ‘Far out, it’s going to have to be salad tonight’.”

Last year, McLean told the Herald Sun Sacked podcast he “developed a story” in his head “that the coaches wanted me to come back at 83kg because they thought it would help with my leg speed”.

“I was barely eating anything,” he said.

McLean battled drink, drugs and depression during his 157-game career.

“It’s a misconception (that) because players are making hundreds of thousands of dollars, they’re not susceptible to depression,” McLean said on the ABC-TV show.

Brock McLean played 157 AFL games.

“I suffered in silence, acting like nothing was wrong. It drains so much of your energy because you put this barrier up. I’d just go home, lie in my room and cry.

“It took me six years to adjust to life after footy. I’m (more) proud of the fact that (I’m through) the s--t I’ve gone through and come out where I am now, than (I am of) achieving my dream of playing (football).

“My self-worth isn’t determined by what I do, what job I have, what car I have, what home I have. My self-worth is determined by being who I am.”

Jackson said: “I look fondly back on my career now, but I never really loved any of the games because I was never in a state of mind to enjoy it. It was hard work.”

The show also featured former Sydney Swans premiership player Jude Bolton and ex NRL stars Willie Mason, Ian Roberts and Dean Widders.

They all agreed there are gay players in the AFL and NRL who have not come out.

Ian Roberts, who was the first NRL player to come out as gay, said his partner at the time was the team mascot.

“If there’s anyone out there, and you’re playing AFL or NRL, and you’re contemplating coming out, do it,” Roberts said.

“You be the change. There are kids out there in the suburbs killing themselves. You can stop that.”