Each year the AFLPA hands out an award for the ‘Most Courageous Player.’ This year I would love to see them award it to Mitch Clark or perhaps Simon Hogan (before him) – two guys who have walked away from what is a seemingly glamorous and highly-paid profession (which they no doubt worked hard to reach in the first place) to address their mental health issues away from the public eye and the high pressure environment at the club.
Mental Health/Suicide is one of the biggest killers among young men in Australia and I think that the actions of those two guys will inspire many other young guys to realise that it is not a sign of weakness to seek help.
To me, the decision that Mitch (and Simon) made required much more courage than any act that is possible on a football field and it is a credit to them and the clubs for handling it the way they have.

Well u better never say our team is soft it might hurt their feelings.

Well u better never say our team is soft it might hurt their feelings.

Well u better never say our team is soft it might hurt their feelings.

You're a peasant, at least try and show some kind of compassion and civility.

Well u better never say our team is soft it might hurt their feelings.

Maybe you should go down to training and tell the boys Mitch is soft...

Well u better never say our team is soft it might hurt their feelings.

Congratulations on displaying a complete and utter lack of empathy.

Well u better never say our team is soft it might hurt their feelings.

A prime example of a keyboard warrior.

Your a [censored] mate

TSFKA, I wholeheartedly agree. Our society does not yet collectively understand mental illness. When someone's lungs fail and they get cancer, they receive universal support and compassion. When someone's blood-pump fails and they have a heart attack, they receive universal support and compassion. When their brain malfunctions and they fall into depression, they receive... derision.

It's a terrible shame. I've personally supported a dear friend through a deep, deep depression and it is incredibly difficult for all involved. I can't speak for how it would feel personally - thankfully - but from the outside looking in, trying to help, I can say with certainty that it looks like hell.

Well done Mitch, for being a role-model that others having trouble with depression can look to for inspiration. I'm sure many others will seek professional help, with the help of their friends and family, thanks to Mitch's bravery in making this declaration. He could easily have lied and pretended his foot was never going to be right to play again, but he's made a conscious decision to do it this way, which I'm sure is for the benefit of others rather than himself. Truly a team player, and a fabulous human being.

I'll miss him, and wish him all the best.

Well u better never say our team is soft it might hurt their feelings.

Sounds like somebody needs a hug.

Its a game, they kick a piece of leather and air around, catch it, punch it..... we have the luxury of caring about such trifles.

So the bloke can't play footy for us anymore, I wish him all the best in getting his life into perspective. I pray that he gets the continued support that he needs and that he can keep finding the strength to pull himself out of that hole.

As someone who treats depression (including severe and suicidal), it is useful to stand back and get some perspective. Here is a young man who is probably feeling hopeless and helpless about moving forward. He has probably been advised to change his circumstances, to remove stressors which he feels contribute to his negative affect.

I hope he finds peace, and can break the viscous cycle which depression can cause.

Anyone suffering, reach out to appropriate support. I recommend 'breaking the patterns of depression' by Dr Michael Yapko if anyone is looking for some guidance from perhaps the worlds best in the field.

I like that my team handled this so maturely.

Read autocol's post.

Then compare it to angrydemon's.

Two starker contrasts you probably could not see.

I'm ashamed that people like angrydemon are Melbourne suppoters, tbh.

Each year the AFLPA hands out an award for the ‘Most Courageous Player.’ This year I would love to see them award it to Mitch Clark or perhaps Simon Hogan (before him) – two guys who have walked away from what is a seemingly glamorous and highly-paid profession (which they no doubt worked hard to reach in the first place) to address their mental health issues away from the public eye and the high pressure environment at the club.

Mental Health/Suicide is one of the biggest killers among young men in Australia and I think that the actions of those two guys will inspire many other young guys to realise that it is not a sign of weakness to seek help.

To me, the decision that Mitch (and Simon) made required much more courage than any act that is possible on a football field and it is a credit to them and the clubs for handling it the way they have.

Interesting idea TSFKA, definitely has merit.

But to work it would really require the recipient (Mitch or Simon) to become the AFL's pin-up boy (for want of a better phrase) for mental health issues, which is a big ask, particularly if that person is still suffering at the time. You'd have to do interviews, talk about the battle etc.

I've had to take extended leave from work on two occasions due to mental illness. The second time, it struck right before a massive team project at work - I couldn't take part in it, and like Mitch, felt despair that I was letting my colleagues down. We've all moved on now, but when we catch up for a beer, I still feel guilty, almost ashamed, that I wasn't around when the heat was on.

I guess what I'm saying is, for most people, once the illness has subsided or passed, they're pretty keen just to get on with their lives and not have to relive the experience.

And as posters in this and other threads have demonstrated, there's still a massive stigma associated with mental health issues which deters people from openly speaking about it, but I suppose that what your suggestion is trying to overcome.

Angrydemons, will you please change your username - people might think I'm you.

You wouldn't survive a day with clinical depression.

Before the AFLPA makes up its collective minds about the award, let's hope our own cheer squad does something appropriate with the banner this week and recognises Mitch Clark's courage as well as thanking him for his on-field efforts.

Well u better never say our team is soft it might hurt their feelings.

Broken Tibia & Fibula with multiple breaks of the tibia the trip to hospital & the recovery after plus the self doubts when jumping on it, etc, are like having a Chocolate Sundae.

getting smashed when the pack lands on you & a knee to the hip is but a fleeting second thought.

so many farmers who have given up the ghost from this problem aren't soft.

Soldiers returning from War after being involved in horrendous scenes, with this issue aren't soft.

in fact the ones who can cry are the luckier ones, with at least some release. others maybe they release, via unloading their anger on others?

iss pyaar that this is going to send a message to the playing group, melbourne football club is not the right environment for your mental health, this is going to send a message to the play group that quitting and leaving the club is the best thing for your development,

Angrydemons, will you please change your username - people might think I'm you.

You wouldn't survive a day with clinical depression.

What do U know, I had it over it his still quitter, the mind is a powerful thing, mitch should have quit last year we might have got that pp sooner

mitch should have quit last year we might have got that pp sooner

Not sure that you can actually "Schedule" clinical depression.

iss pyaar that this is going to send a message to the playing group, melbourne football club is not the right environment for your mental health, this is going to send a message to the play group that quitting and leaving the club is the best thing for your development,

,mitch has shown courage to try and get back to full strength at training the past 18 months, i myself have hidden in a room and occassionally gone into the paddock and thrown rocks at trees.it helps sometimes and is better than drugs,

your not understanding the situation is ok by me,i cant knock your lack of knowledge in this department.

but its a good idea to recognise courage under extremes,thanks for pointing out the mental fragility of the club.

hope this club doesnt implode in a mental collapse and ruin your life.

Maybe you should go down to training and tell the boys Mitch is soft...

Make sure N. Jones isn't within earshot. That could get really ugly.

Any which way u look at it walking away is the easy option, I wish I could quit my job, and still get paid depression or not, he is paid to play.

Any which way u look at it walking away is the easy option, I wish I could quit my job, and still get paid depression or not, he is paid to play.

Nonsense. Walking away would appear to me to be the hardest option. He's left a high paid career doing something that he loved and which could open the doors to a variety of other career options. How is that easy?

N.Jones no champ where did he go in the last qt v gws, did not have one possie, thars where champions stand up when game is to be won.

Nonsense. Walking away would appear to me to be the hardest option. He's left a high paid career doing something that he loved and which could open the doors to a variety of other career options. How is that easy?

man still going to be paid next year 10 times more then me