Carlton AFL player Elijah Hollands was admitted to hospital this week, following a mental health episode during a game against Collingwood on April 16.

Not long after, Geelong star Bailey Smith suggested a dedicated mental health round in a post-match interview with Channel 7. In this interview, Smith opened up about his own mental health struggles.

His opinion was supported by fellow athletes, including West Coast Eagles ruckman Matt Flynn, who says it was amazing to see the support, despite the confronting incident.

“I don’t think many guys have actually come out in that sense and had that conversation to say it on the big stage, especially after the actions of what happened with Elijah Hollands earlier in the week,” he says.

“It was quite confronting to have that conversation, but amazing to see someone like himself and his stature to come out and have that conversation with the AFL.”

James Chansbury is a 2nd year undergraduate Psychology student at UWA and a long-distance track runner. As an athlete, he’s represented WA and the UWA Athletics club at a national level.  

“I think a mental health round in the AFL is long overdue. As the premier sport in our country in terms of advertising and engagement – the spotlight and opportunities the league can provide to grow awareness, in particular to men’s mental health – should absolutely be more thoroughly explored and utilised,” he says.

Even more so with the risk factors of concussion in the game, and the associations between repeated head knocks and mental health deterioration – a mental health round has never been more needed.”

However, if a match like this were to go ahead, Matt Flynn believes it would be about commemoration and celebration.

“I think it would be a lot about commemorating people that have put some time into this space and have even lost their lives to mental health battles,” he says.

He says it would be wonderful to have mental health charities and organisations such as Beyond Blue and Headspace involved.

As role models for so many young Australians, AFL players are the first people that are expected to step up and talk about topics like this. According to James Chansbury, it’s important that it is becoming more and more talked about on such a national level.

“I think the examples that AFL players set as role models to younger athletes both boys and girls, means that even the encouragement of one young person to speak up or speak out already demonstrates that stigma can be reduced. All it takes is one person feeling comfortable enough to speak or saving one person’s life and it’s more than just a symbolic effect.”

After being in the sport for 10 years, Flynn believes there is a lot less stigma and encourages more people to start speaking up if they need help.

“A lot more people are open to speak about it and are happy to be vulnerable in that space, so I think the stigma has started to fade off a little bit and people understand that everyone has got their own mental health challenges and you don’t need to be going through the worst thing in the world to access help,” he says.

If you or anyone you know are struggling please don’t hesitate to call Lifeline at 13 11 14