Gary Moorcroft opens up on mental health, abuse after local footy milestone

Gary Moorcroft reveals what keeps him coming back to footy and dealing with abuse after bringing up a remarkable local footy milestone.

Gary Moorcroft celebrates his 350th local footy match. Picture: South Morang Facebook

It’s a milestone Gary Moorcroft didn’t think he’d reach.

The ex-AFL forward turned local footy legend run out for his 350th game on Saturday.

Unfortunately, South Morang couldn’t salute as NFNL Division 2 premiership favourite Eltham won by 33 points at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.

Since 98 games with Essendon and Melbourne, Moorcroft has built a storied career with Silvan in the Yarra Valley Mountain league, Romsey is the Riddell District, Northern power Bundoora, Tallangatta outfit Bright and now the Lions.

The official number is fuzzy but Moorcroft estimates he’s kicked more than 1300 goals, including a high of 163 in 2008.

Despite “retiring” in 2019, he hasn’t hung up the boots and remains a force at 47 years old.

Although he admits he feels “old” after a game, Moorcroft said he couldn’t help but keep coming back.

“I’d had a few mental health issues, depression and stuff,” he said.

“Work was grinding me into the ground and footy and training was the only thing that switched my brain off.

“I wanted to go back and enjoy my footy, have a bit of fun, more than the cutthroat training and playing Division 1 which is pretty full on.

“It’s pretty hard to stop that competitiveness once you’re out.”

Moorcroft has enjoyed a strong season with South Morang, helping the Lions to sit fourth in their first season coming up from Division 3.

After injuring his foot in Round 1, the 1994 Morrish Medallist returned with seven goals against Watsonia then booted 10 majors in a big win over Lower Plenty.

He’s kicked 34 goals in 10 matches to sit third on the league goalkicking.

Gary Moorcroft celebrates a goal for South Morang. Picture: Nathan McNeill

However, as with any ex-league footballer running out in community footy also comes with its drawbacks.

Moorcroft has been on the receiving end of abuse from the sidelines in almost every game this season, with the situation coming to a head against Diamond Creek a fortnight ago.

“The worst thing about coming back is the s--t coming from the sidelines,” Moorcroft said.

“In the end I’m just trying to have some fun and enjoy myself and you’ve got dickheads behind the fence carrying on like pork chops.

“It’s water off a ducks back for me but when you start saying stuff to my family it’s a bit disappointing.”

Despite the loss to Eltham, South Morang remains on track for a shock finals campaign.

Since the creation of Division 3 in 2009, only Banyule in 2018 has made Division 2 finals the year after winning the Division 3 premiership.

Four straight wins had the Lions sitting third but just won one in their next four has put their top-five hopes in jeopardy.

They are only a game ahead of Watsonia and Northcote Park with matches against both the Saints and Cougars, Panton Hill and then last-placed Lower Plenty to come.

A number of key players have returned from overseas, giving Moorcroft confidence his team can turn their form around.

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“Coming up to Divvy 2 isn’t an easy prospect but the way they’ve handled themselves as a group, we’re sitting fourth and playing some good footy,” he said.

“Hopefully we can bring our A-game for the rest of the year and we can play finals, which would be an amazing effort by the club.

“There’s so many positives this year, no one would have predicted us to make finals, we’ve had a few boys go away overseas which has hurt us but it’s given other boys an opportunity to step up.

“I’ve said to them, it’s unheard of since I’ve been playing in the Northern footy league, guys that come up a division are just trying to stay out of relegation.”