Paul Roos backs calls for AFL mental health round, points out 'scary' reality facing league
Paul Roos has backed calls for the AFL to introduce a mental health round, declaring the league mustn't wait for another tragedy before taking action and explaining players have the power to break down stigma by getting behind the concept.
But the former Swans premiership coach believes the AFL, its clubs and the AFL Players Association do a "really good job" in the mental health space.
"I think that's the scary part — if they're doing a really good job and suicide is still happening, we've still got a long way to go," Roos told Wide World of Sports.
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Calls for the AFL to introduce a mental health round have never been louder after Adam Selwood, a member of West Coast's 2006 premiership team, died at the age of just 41 on Saturday morning.
Adam's death is not being treated as suspicious and it came just three months after the death of his identical twin brother, former Brisbane Lion Troy Selwood, who took his own life in February.
Adam Selwood (left) and Chris Judd in 2007, during their West Coast days. Getty
The push for a mental health round is being led by Wayne Schwass, who played in the North Melbourne side that won the 1996 grand final, was later a teammate of Roos' at Sydney, and has since founded an organisation called PukaUp, which aims to combat suicide through education and facilitating conservations.
"It's not going to hurt. Having a mental health round is not hurting, is it?" Roos said.
"We can't wait until these things happen. We need to put systems in place and make sure they don't happen. I guess that's probably what we see; there tends to be reaction when something bad happens.
Adam Selwood speaks at the funeral of his identical twin brother, Troy, in February. Standing by his side are brothers Scott (left) and Joel. AFL Photos via Getty Images
"Particularly if players come out [and talk about mental health], then it's more normal. Athletes start to normalise things. And I think if you have a mental health round, then it's normalised at lower grades in footy or whatever it is. So, absolutely.
"I think players are role models whether they like it or not. High-performing athletes in all walks of life, all sports are seen as role models.
"So if the AFL and the players have a mental health round and they come out and they talk about it, absolutely, it helps. There's no question."
The AFLPA said in its statement on Adam Selwood's death that it offered "free and confidential support nationwide to all current and past player members as well as their significant others".
Paul Roos in 2005, during his time as Sydney coach. Getty
When contacted by Wide World of Sports, the AFL said it had a team of 37 people employed to provide support to talent pathways players, as well as a team of practitioners dedicated to reducing the root causes of mental health problems and responding to needs across the industry.
The league also said every player had access to a club psychologist and could seek help for their mental health with a specialist at any time, funded by the AFL, while there were also soft-cap concessions for mental health spend.
Additionally, there is an AFL-funded Indigenous psychologists network for culturally informed mental healthcare for First Nations players.
The AFL also pointed out that although it didn't have a mental health round, St Kilda shone a light on mental health every year through Spud's Game in honour of Danny Frawley, who took his own life in 2019.
Roos played 356 games for Fitzroy and Sydney across the 1980s and 1990s — a time in which the game became increasingly professional — and was coach of the Swans and later the Demons as the industry continued to evolve and become more responsive to mental health concerns.
"In my experiences, with sports psychologists at clubs, assistant coaches, leadership groups, the training the AFL provides, the help the AFLPA provides, it's a pretty good environment, really," Roos said.
"And I guess that's the worry; if the AFL's a good environment and players are still struggling, gee, no wonder we have so many people that have got mental health problems.
"The AFL is a really good environment — imagine what it's like to go to a bad environment."
The mental health crisis has not only been brought into focus this year by the deaths of Troy and Adam Selwood, with the decisions of several players to take personal leave adding another layer to the complex issue.
Among them are Carlton pair Elijah Hollands and Harry McKay, as well as the Western Bulldogs' Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who this month checked into a health retreat.
Ugle-Hagan, the top draft pick of 2020, was widely applauded for making that move.
Some of the greatest AFL players of all time have taken mental health leave over the years, including Lance Franklin in 2015, underlining the fact that mental health problems don't discriminate.
"The thing is we don't want anyone to be unwell and committing suicide. That's what we don't want," Roos added.
"One is too many."
If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000
