Hamish Harlett reveals he deleted his Twitter account to avoid negative comments

PORT Adelaide star Hamish Hartlett has revealed how close he came to leaving Port Adelaide, and why he had to ditch his social media accounts.

Port Adelaide star Hamish Hartlett. Picture: Sarah Reed

PORT Adelaide star Hamish Hartlett has revealed his smartest move in footy — ditching social media.

Hartlett said mental health was the biggest issue facing footballers off the field, and other problems including gambling, illicit drug and alcohol use “come as a result of that”.

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He has also revealed how close he came to leaving Port Adelaide during last year’s trade period.

Speaking on Melbourne radio station SEN, Hartlett said the comments by fans online could have a massive impact on players’ mental wellbeing.

“What’s been touched on recently in terms of the things the boys read on social media, they play a huge huge impact on the mental space and the way we can feel,” Hartlett said.

“I got rid of Twitter six months ago and it was probably the best thing I’ve done, to be honest.

Hamish Hartlett played his best game for the year against Hawthorn. Picture: Sarah Reed

“I’m very reluctant to read anything that’s posted on Facebook, and even reading comments from an article that our own football club has posted and seeing some of the comments that anyone from the public can make is quite extraordinary, so I am reluctant to read any of that stuff now. That’s just the way it is.

“You like to see the positive things that are (said) about you but not so much the negative things and that’s just the way we are as humans, but unfortunately there’s far too much negative stuff that gets out there.”

Former Carlton star Brendan Fevola said yesterday that reading online forums contributed to his mental health struggles.

Hartlett also revealed how close he came to leaving the Power at the end of last season. He confirmed meeting with Richmond or Essendon as he considered his future.

“The situation was presented to me that that option was there if I wished to go down that path,” he said.

“You’ve just got to weigh up whether you think that’s the right thing to do, what your values are, how much your family and friends mean to you, whether the deal is right in terms of the length and the money you’re getting offered — so there’s lots of things to weigh up but you can’t just sit on your hands and let it unfold.

“It’s not as if at any stage I was turning my back on the footy club and saying ‘No, I don’t want to be here’, that wasn’t the case at all, it was simply weighing up those options in front of me and doing what was right for me at the end of it.

Hamish Hartlett spoke to Essendon and Richmond about a possible trade. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“To be honest, there were probably periods within the first few days of being told that might be the situation I’m faced with that I was probably 50-50, but I had some great conversations with my teammates in the week at the end of the season, where you spend a bit of time together and have a few beers, and all of the boys were desperately keen for me to stay at the footy club and that played a huge role.”

Hartlett said an honest chat with coach Ken Hinkley during a game of golf confirmed his decision.

“We had a really good conversation throughout that day and I pretty much asked him where things are going to change around the footy club in terms of our on-field stuff and he ran through a few things and that was pleasing to hear ... I sensed his reluctance to see me go as well. Basically at the end of that day I was very content at staying.”

He said he and Hinkley played as a team against Travis Boak and a friend.

“We ended up knocking him off at the 18th so that was a good way to end.”