Brendan Fevola read internet footy forums for performance assessment as he battled depression

BRENDAN Fevola has revealed the depths of his battle with depression, admitting he jumped down a rabbit hole of self doubt.

Brendan Fevola has revealed he used to check internet footy forums to assess his performance as he battled depression.

BRENDAN Fevola has revealed as he battled depression he would check football internet forums to assess his performances in the hours after night games.

The Carlton and Brisbane star spent 70 days in a facility battling depression and gambling issues in the final year of his career.

But as Patrick Dangerfield was hailed for opening up about his “melancholy” while at Adelaide, Fevola also detailed how criticism affected his mental state.

He said media and social media scrutiny was impossible to ignore and saw him going to desperate lengths in the hours after night games.

“I wasn’t well for a long time there. I think I had it all bottled up. It would be little things. I didn’t care too much when I played footy, I was easy going.

“But I would go home after we played a night game and would be on (internet forum) BigFooty reading it and thinking, ‘What am I reading this for?’

Brendan Fevola has revealed he used to check internet footy forums to assess his performance as he battled depression.

“My wife would be saying, ‘What are you reading that for?’

“I couldn’t sleep and it would just compound the problem. For footballers now it’s 24/7 and you have those trolls behind the keyboard. Don’t always look at the negatives.”

He said Alex Fasolo’s admission he had depression should be an inspiration for anyone suffering in silence.

“I found it really hard to express my feelings. Everyone thinks your life is good and I portrayed myself that way. Everyone would say he is up and about and funny.

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“When I got into the car I would be very flat. It’s very hard for blokes at country and local footy clubs to come out (and admit mental health issues).

“There are people who want to help and love you. Don’t be afraid to speak up,” he told Seven.

Dangerfield revealed in the Sunday Herald Sun the use of a psychiatrist had helped ease his issues with anxiety during his time in Adelaide.

Alex Fasolo is taking time out of the game to deal with depression. Picture: David Smith

He was lauded by mental health ambassador Wayne Schwass and Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley for sharing his story.

The Pies are hopeful Fasolo might return against Melbourne for the Queens Birthday clash but will not hurry him as he takes time to deal with depression.

Dangerfield wrote that he finally sought help from the AFLPA to speak to a psychiatrist after battling in silence.

“In that environment with a specialist, I could be myself, talk about what I was experiencing and he gave me tools to help deal with the emotions I was feeling.

“My situation is so far removed from what many others have gone through — or what I gather Fasolo is dealing with.

“But I remember thinking, ‘Gee, I wish I’d done this 10 weeks earlier’.”