Craig O’Donoghue: Time to put health support behind West Coast Eagles’ 2006 squad amid Adam Hunter’s passing

It’s time for West Coast to put an ongoing welfare team behind the players who were at the club during their 2006 premiership era. Adam Hunter’s tragic passing this week will be felt by his mates and the club for a long time. Regardless of what a report to the coroner finds about Hunter’s cause of death, it is a reminder of how vulnerable men are in their 40s, and how challenging life can be for elite athletes in retirement. Hunter was more than a premiership star. Fans remember him as a swingman who went forward and kicked the goal that gave West Coast a seven-point lead late in the match. But that was only one brief moment from his life. Hunter was a father and had a loving partner. His former teammates are also fathers with loving partners. That’s their real lives. No crowds. No fanfare. The reaction from Hunter’s non-Eagle friends this week has been just as heartfelt and painful as those who wore the blue and gold. AFL careers last a fraction of a lifetime. Winning a premiership guarantees sporting immortality but the off-field habits which became synonymous with that 2006 team mean a large group of those grand final heroes’ lives have been anything but normal. Several have spent time in jail. Others have been through court. Many have had drug issues. Then there’s the ones who have been through divorce. That’s just a list of things we know about. There are red flags everywhere for men in their 40s. And now, that group has suffered the shock loss of a mate. It’s easy to say people are responsible for themselves but we all know that peer group pressure exists and the rock star lifestyle of an AFL premiership star is way different to that of a normal person. A retired player in their 40s, who is living a normal day-to-day life, would make vastly different choices to when they were competing. The AFL Players’ Association sent out a reminder to players and media during the week that their wellbeing services are available for anyone who needs it. But blokes between 40-50 aren’t exactly known for making the call themselves. The premiership team were born between 1974 and 1986. That was an era of “man up”, “harden up”, “don’t be soft”, “sticks and stones may break my bones” and “you’ll be fine.” Vulnerability was frowned upon. We all know that most men suffer in silence and need to be shoved through the door to even visit a doctor. Now is the time to ensure those players feel supported and get full health checks regardless of whether they are thriving or struggling. Those who have problems could then get the help they need. Those who have nothing to worry about will get important re-assurance. Some might just need the time to talk. That group is in mourning. The men who were still close with Hunter will be devastated. Those who lost touch, as happens with most groups, will be questioning themselves. The squad will be experiencing a range of emotions including grief, anger, guilt and shame. This is a high risk period. Many will also be mourning the loss of their premiership teammate Adam Selwood’s twin brother Troy just one day earlier. It’s been a horrible week. Plenty of people at West Coast have talked about the regrets from the way that off-field era was handled, but those are just words. Now it’s time for action. Put a program in place that protects these players from the damage that either was done to their bodies at the time or simply may have been done. Give them all thorough health checks – physical and mental. A lot of players experienced big head knocks which only adds to the risks they face in retirement. It’s easy to say that the footy club can’t be responsible for guys forever, but the premiership cup will sit proudly on display forever. A premiership is for life so give those guys the chance to live their best lives too. It’s not like other premiership teams throughout the league are having the same concerns. This is unique. The 2006 Eagles should all have another 40 years in front of them. Their memories may not be great by the time the 2066 reunion comes around, but don’t let underlying or unknown issues stop them from being there. Make the support ongoing so the people in charge can build trust. That’s when former players will feel comfortable about disclosing both how they feel mentally and what their body is feeling. They might also feel comfortable about passing on information about their mates too. The support should be face to face. The group has gone its different ways and some players are living overseas and interstate. It’ll take time, effort and money. But that is a small price to pay. It usually takes a tragedy to promote change. The legacy of Shane Warne’s shock death from a heart attack was the introduction of a free Health Check that has helped many people. Now is the time to do whatever is required to protect the ongoing health and wellbeing of the 2006 Eagles.