Jeff Kennett: Footy shines a light but is no activist
The AFL was established to administer Australian rules football not to be the moral compass and adjudicator on issues such as same sex marriage, gambling and other issues. However, there are exceptions, writes Jeff Kennett.
Opinion
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As you read this column, it appears midpoint between two significant games of AFL football — the 2019 AFL Beyond Blue Cup and the inaugural Emergency Services Match — both of which raise awareness of mental health issues.
Last weekend Hawthorn hosted West Coast to play the Beyond Blue Cup and this Friday night Hawthorn will play host to Collingwood for the Emergency Services Match to highlight the importance of the welfare of Victoria’s Emergency Service personnel to our community.
I have often said that the AFL should not allow itself to become the bellringer for every social issue in the country. That has arisen in part because of the influence of the AFL and each time a social issue arises many in the media ask the AFL for its position or opinion.
Let’s remember the AFL was established to administer Australian rules football. To then expect the AFL to become the moral compass and adjudicator on issues such as same sex marriage, gambling and any number of other issues is arguably a stretch.
However, that said, the AFL has correctly moved on issues that affect its employees and that of the clubs.
Protecting the heads of players is a case in point. As more scientific evidence has emerged linking knocks to the head to serious medical repercussions, the AFL has introduced rules to protect players.
Now as a result of the work in part of Beyond Blue with the AFL and its public advocacy, the AFL is in the process of appointing a head of mental health and wellbeing to co-ordinate the implementation of a proactive mental health program.
Clubs are spending significant sums through their welfare programs to deal with the mental health of their employees. The benefit of a heightened focus is the increased number of players now seeking professional help, in particular from psychiatrists and psychologists.
While mental health issues may have a much bigger social focus these days, it is correct that the AFL and the clubs are proactive in putting into place programs to help their employees.
But the AFL should not be the public advocate on mental health issues. Instead it should develop programs for its own, which it is doing, and if successful other organisations will follow. Not because the AFL has told society what should be done, but rather because it has led by example.
The Beyond Blue Cup played last weekend was a good example of raising good health practices within the AFL.
Chairman of Beyond Blue Julia Gillard presented the Cup to West Coast, the narrow winners of the game.
You might think that I, as Hawks president, had to take some of my own advice for dealing with stress as Hawthorn lost the game in the final seconds. But no, I was proud of how my boys applied themselves throughout the match.
Congratulations to the AFL in taking on an issue and resourcing it properly, as mental health is a real issue among the AFL family as it is across our community.
This Friday night, Hawthorn and Collingwood will be playing in support of the Emergency Services Foundation.
The foundation exists to assist in the main the mental health of currently serving members and retired members of our emergency services.
All these services are vitally important within our community. On a personal basis we hope emergencies won’t arise and that we will have no need for such services, but the reality is that at any given time our first responders are dealing with difficult crises across the state and in the process are exposed to incidents of pain, trauma and, in the worse cases, loss of life.
Often these experiences have lasting effects on the mental capacity and health of our emergency services personnel.
As a society we give generously to support children in care through the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal. But the men and women of our emergency services do not get either the same recognition or support for their members in need of help.
I doubt that games could be staged without the presence of our emergency services. The AFL, Hawthorn and Collingwood are simply recognising the importance of our emergency services and using their resources to do something practical for those who serve us.
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So, one week a focus on the welfare and mental health of employees within the AFL family, and the next, attempting to assist our emergency services personnel who allow us to compete each week in a safe environment.
As I said above, the AFL should not be the go-to organisation on every social issue.
That Hawthorn and Collingwood want to assist our emergency services personnel is those clubs’ decision and make no demands on any other organisation or individual as to how they should act.
— Jeff Kennett is a former Premier of Victoria
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