AFL urged to introduce mental health round after deaths of Adam Hunter, Troy Selwood

There are increasing calls for the AFL to introduce a mental health round as the league reels from a tragic few weeks including the deaths of two past players.

The AFL says it will “continue to consider” a dedicated mental health round as calls grow for more support for past players.

The shock deaths of West Coast premiership swingman Adam Hunter and former Brisbane player Troy Selwood have prompted a national conversation about how the industry can better support past players with one idea being a mental health round to raise awareness.

FifthQtr Foundation Chairman Ken Hunter is calling on the AFL to take it a step further and dedicate a round to all past players.

The AFL season already includes a wide range of themed rounds including Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round, Gather Round, Opening Round, ANZAC Round and Pride Round in the AFLW.

AFL Executive General Manager Social Policy and Inclusion Tanya Hosch said that a dedicated mental health round would be something the AFL would explore.

“We’ve got Spud’s Game which is a really important game and it’s extremely well supported,” Hosch said. “In terms of a themed round to highlight mental health, I think that is one of many suggestions that we will continue to consider.

“But what’s most important is that we’re having a conversation about mental health in our society. The conversations have to be met with actions.

“People in football aren’t immune to mental health issues. I’ve seen enormous progress in the code in the time that I’ve been at the AFL. It’s really important that as a game, we don’t shy away from these important conversations.

“I am really pleased to say those programs and approaches and the openness with which these conversations are being had about mental health, about the drastic and extremely sad impact they can have, is being dealt with in the game.”

St Kilda hosts an annual Spud’s Game in honour of club captain Danny Frawley. For the first time, a Spud’s Game guernsey will be commissioned for the marquee clash, which will take place at the MCG on Friday May 9 against Carlton.

“For four years now, we’ve championed Danny Frawley’s legacy through this event and we’re proud to continue that, while also extending it to the community to tell their own stories,” St Kilda Chief Executive Carl Dilena said.

Carlton legend Hunter, who bravely spoke out after being hospitalised with severe depression in the 80s, says clubs and officials need to do more to help players during and after their careers.

Troy Selwood and now Adam Hunter

More needs to be done to bring awareness to mental health.. especially in men. If the AFL can have rounds for every other cause going around, hell, why not get NRL involved and have a Mental Health Round simultaneously?

RIP #AFL#NRL

— Callum (@Bombers83) February 5, 2025

AFL needs a mental health round of something similar. Incredibly sad

— Sambenno (@sambenno) February 5, 2025

The AFL needs a Men’s Mental Health Round. Less than 24 hours we have lost Troy Selwood and now Adam Hunter. How many more is it going to take? It’s time to take action. @AFL#MentalHealthMatters

— Kyri Tsav (@KTsavaridis) February 5, 2025

“It’s about positive mental health and wellbeing because sport plays a big part in that,” Hunter said.

“If you had a dedicated mental health round, that’s a great thing to do but we need to consider what lasting impact that has.

“It’s more about what’s the follow-up to that? How does that help a past player? What processes and systems do we have in place to support players? It needs to be a holistic approach to what the game can do. You have a round like that and then what?

“We don’t have a round for people who made the game. Anyone who’s laced a boot has contributed to our great game. I think we can do a lot better as an industry.”

Players from St Kilda and Essendon come together before Spud’s Game in 2022. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The AFL Players Association confirmed to this masthead it would support a dedicated mental health round.

Last week, the AFLPA reminded past and present players of its free, professional counselling service. The service is also available to families and partners.

The 2023 Insights and Impacts report revealed that 315 former AFL and AFLW players engaged in 3190 counselling consultations that year and the service provided 3,130 consults to 361 current AFL and AFLW players.

Overall, 662 members or their significant others were supported in 2023, compared to 532 in 2022, representing a 24 per cent increase year-on-year. The stigma surrounding mental health is just one reason some players have been unwilling to ask for help.

Former West Coast player Adam Hunter died last week.

Troy Selwood.

Originally published as AFL urged to introduce mental health round after deaths of Adam Hunter, Troy Selwood