Retired Tiger Reece McKenzie slams Richmond in stunning Facebook post

An extraordinary outburst from a young kind obviously distraught about not making it.

A rationally thinking person would not post something like that.

Boy needs help, big time.

4 minutes ago, faultydet said:

A rationally thinking person would not post something like that.

Boy needs help, big time.

Think you've nailed it faulty.

The idea of topping himself at 16  before going to the tigers is suggestive.

Edited November 2, 20168 yr by Bitter but optimistic

Hopefully he has the insight to know he needs help.

He does need help.  But I don't think its because he didn't make it in the AFl.  

I think his point was the level of care that as provided by the Tigers was substandard.  That fact he singles out the person who was in charge of pastoral care says that person shouldn't be doing that job and it seems has been replaced.  They also wanted to silence him which they know they screwed something up.   Maybe he was just told to go suck it up by the administration. 

Edited November 2, 20168 yr by Darkhorse72

Stand by for the fallout from the footy world about this!! 

Interesting last few posts on his Twitter. Perhaps wasn't a big fan of Deledio? Same day he was traded on 19 Oct he wrote 'typical', then read some of the other comment in the post...

https://twitter.com/reecemck21

Edited November 2, 20168 yr by TheCurseisBroken

He is well aware of his mental health issues, it was the reason he stepped back from football in the first place:

https://www.google.com.hk/amp/s/amp.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/reece-mckenzie-takes-leave-from-richmond-to-deal-with-mental-health-issues/news-story/eebd6d4839e47c77e4b81a47c0667471?client=safari

 

Clearly a young guy having a very hard time of things. Regardless of the motive or accuracy of the post, I hope he's now getting the support he needs.

It is Richmond... The kid probably has a point. 

12 minutes ago, Deestroy All said:

It is Richmond... The kid probably has a point. 

Agreed.

40 minutes ago, Darkhorse72 said:

He does need help.  But I don't think its because he didn't make it in the AFl.  

I think his point was the level of care that as provided by the Tigers was substandard.  That fact he singles out the person who was in charge of pastoral care says that person shouldn't be doing that job and it seems has been replaced.  They also wanted to silence him which they know they screwed something up.   Maybe he was just told to go suck it up by the administration. 

Pastoral care? Dan Richardson? Isn't he head of FD?

Why would they make him sign a silence clause?

The guy obviously had very serious mental health issues before he joined the Toiges but it sounds as if he received little help from the club. 

Hope he gets some very soon 

And asking anyone to sign a 'keep your mouth shut'clause is nothing short of bizzare. 

Edited November 2, 20168 yr by monoccular

I enjoy a dig at Richmond as much as anyone, but the fact he had suicidal tendencies two years before arriving at the club says alot. Best of luck to him in finding peace.

1 hour ago, demoniac said:

Hopefully he has the insight to know he needs help.

Sounds like the stages of grief.

However AFL clubs have destroyed lives in the past.   I hope he feels better, having got that off his chest.

I hope he gets the support and care he needs. 

Very sad situation.

39 minutes ago, P-man said:

I enjoy a dig at Richmond as much as anyone, but the fact he had suicidal tendencies two years before arriving at the club says alot. Best of luck to him in finding peace.

I don't see the fact that he had suicidal tendencies before having any fact in the matter. I would like to think any workplace would care about the welfare of their employees regardless of their history. Obviously Richmond could have done more to help this kid, although I don't think it's a problem that is isolated to Richmond. I would think that many clubs are lacking in the ability to deal with the welfare of all their players and maybe the AFL need to set up an external program for all players. 

The less said the better.

Poor kid. Obviously a few Roo's loose in the top paddock. 

Be interesting to see if Richmond actually reach out to him.

Edited November 2, 20168 yr by McQueen

IF it is the case that Richmond wanted him to sign a Deed of Release upon his 'retirement' from the club, the AFL is duty bound to investigate this.

Such a claim is remarkable, if true.

 

2 minutes ago, Ron Burgundy said:

IF it is the case that Richmond wanted him to sign a Deed of Release upon his 'retirement' from the club, the AFL is duty bound to investigate this.

Such a claim is remarkable, if true.

 

Good lucK with that RB.

It has taken them ten months to make no decision on Watson.

The reply will be no case to answer.

remember the Dusty investigation?

1 hour ago, Deefiant said:

I don't see the fact that he had suicidal tendencies before having any fact in the matter. I would like to think any workplace would care about the welfare of their employees regardless of their history. Obviously Richmond could have done more to help this kid, although I don't think it's a problem that is isolated to Richmond. I would think that many clubs are lacking in the ability to deal with the welfare of all their players and maybe the AFL need to set up an external program for all players. 

Really? You think his outburst is confirmation the club didn't do enough!!! That's a big and very unfair call on Richmond. Would you say the same if it was Melbourne and you knew none of the facts?

Don't know how you could form a conclusion either way Crystal Dees. As you've said, it seems we know 'none of the facts'.

Plainly there is an issue here. Outbursts such as this are regrettable. And rare. I feel sorry for the kid.

That the club asked a 20 year old to sign a deed of release upon his departure from the club would have to be unusual and, to my mind, it reveals something a bit bigger. I don't expect any of Terlich, Michie, Newton, M Jones or Dawes were asked to sign a deed of release upon being given notice of their delistings.

 

Seems like a pretty obvious call for help still. At least he's put it out there so people are aware that he needs help and the place that he's in.

The people I've known with depression haven't always done that and to their detriment IMO, so it's probably a start. Is social media the best place to do it? Each to their own, I suppose.

Edited November 2, 20168 yr by A F