Why AFL players don’t seek help, even when support is ‘everywhere’

A former West Coast Eagles player, hospitalised after his career ended, says a mental health round would help spread the message about seeking help.

Adam Selwood’s death has created a chorus of calls for the AFL to host a mental health round.

Former AFL star Chris Judd has delivered a moving tribute to his West Coast premiership teammate Adam Selwood, as an ex-Eagles player opened up about being hospitalised for mental and physical health issues ­following his delisting from the club.

Judd, who was West Coast captain and starred alongside Selwood in the 2006 win, made a rare social media post to ­honour his “perfect teammate” who tragically passed away on Saturday.

“Some people bounce when they run,’’ Judd wrote. “They glide with their feet barely touching the ground, the result of genetic gifts bestowed on them. That wasn’t how Sellars ran.

“He was a great runner, but it was purely a result of grit, determination and work. His knees slightly knocked, knee lift almost non-existent, every step was a testament to his determination, which was without peer.

“He was the perfect teammate; you knew you were getting his everything each week on the field while being completely ­focused on the team.”

Judd also made mention of Adam’s twin Troy, who died three months ago, and ended the post with Eagles colours yellow and blue love hearts.

“While off the field his personality blended a hard edge with kindness and compassion, a kindness he gave to everyone else but not himself,’’ Judd continued.

“I hope he’s up having a beer with Troy, with the sun shining on them both (with low levels of UV), and when he takes the field, I hope the forwards aren’t trying to get goal side anymore and that the new teammates love playing with you as much as we did. Rest Easy.”

His tribute came after former West Coast player Brayden Ainsworth detailed his own battles with life after football and joined a chorus of advocates arguing for the AFL to adopt a mental health round.

Ainsworth, 26, said despite what some people thought, there was a lot of support provided to former players – but from his own experience it was very difficult to seek the help available.

“I didn’t reach out. I didn’t talk to them (the Players Association) because of so many multiple things,” he told ABC Perth radio. “When you reach out and you ask for help, that’s when it becomes real. I think that’s the scariest thing because (it means) what I am going through is a real thing, it’s not made up in my mind. It can be a hard thing to navigate.”

Ainsworth, a midfielder who played 15 games for West Coast before being delisted in 2021, said he was hospitalised with anorexia following the end of his playing career.

“It was the most challenging period of my life. It was all to do with physical and mental health, from the delisting and the self-worth and I guess the shame and guilt of what I was going through,” he said.

His life was in danger, with his organs under immense stress. He said “there was the potential I might not make it out”.

“I’m pretty lucky to still be here and live my life.”

Ainsworth said Selwood was a “kind, caring man who wanted to help as many people as he could – you left his presence feeling energised”.

“To know that he wasn’t feeling that himself is often what happens with these situations. They make everyone else feel like their best selves but deep down they are the ones hurting the most,” he said.

He also joined calls for the AFL to implement a mental health round: “No round is going to change everything but the awareness and the resources you can get (would) help others.”

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