David Schwarz believes Steven Febey would have died if not for intervention of former teammates

DEATH was on the cards — and soon — for former Melbourne star Steven Febey had his ex-teammates failed to intervene, former Demons forward David Schwarz believes.

David Schwarz and Steven Febey sing the club song after winning by eight goals. 1998 Qualifying final. Melbourne v Adelaide ...

DEATH was on the cards — and soon — for former Melbourne star Steven Febey had his ex-teammates failed to intervene, former Demons forward David Schwarz believes.

It was revealed yesterday that Febey has been battling drug, alcohol and mental health issues in recent years.

Schwarz hasn’t spoken to Febey in recent years, but played alongside him throughout the 1990s and has revealed that the 258-gamer attended a club function last year while under the influence of drugs.

Former club captain David Neitz and a group of ex-Demons stepped in and, Schwarz said, saved their friend’s life.

“I had my own battles that I was going through (a gambling addiction), so I didn’t speak to or see Steve for many years,” he said on SEN on Thursday morning.

“I thought rock bottom was last year — we went to a function at the North Melbourne v Melbourne game and we were invited by coterie as life members. And Steve was ripped (on drugs). Under the influence.

“I thought at that point, because we’ve all got our families there, that he’d brought it into the footy club and he was in a serious, serious way.

“To David Neitz’s credit and Guy Rigoni and Paul Hopgood, who had been trying to help him through this, Neita was able to get him to see the light and go to the AFL players association and go and get some help. Russell Robertson has been a huge part of that as well — getting him back in the gym and clean living supplements to get him back on track.

“If David Neitz and Russell Robertson didn’t intervene, he’d be dead. He was going down that path. He was on a spiral of destruction.”

Febey has been clean of drugs for six months, with Schwarz warning the journey is still “very early”.

But he said the issue runs deeper than the substance use itself, and that Febey should be afforded both time and understanding.

“It is very early. But maybe he needs the help of eyes and ears and accountability, so that people are watching him,” Schwarz said.

“We know that drinking and taking drugs is a choice. But sometimes once you get into that vortex, it’s very hard to get out. He is an addict, and people will say ‘well, he had the choice to do that. And yeah, he did. But he’s fallen over. He’s obviously got a lot of mental health issues going on as well.

“Knowing Steven and everyone who’s been involved with Steven, this is deeper than just having a drug and alcohol problem. The drugs were a monster issue in the last 12 months in particular.

“It just highlights society, Steven’s probably like thousands and thousands of other people out there. Hopefully it can highlight to families that are going through it at the moment, out your hand out and try and get some help.”

Originally published as David Schwarz believes Steven Febey would have died if not for intervention of former teammates