It is not often you see a player make the decision to step away from the game at the age of 20.
But a battle with mental health and a general lack of motivation and desire to remain in the AFL system were the driving forces behind former Brisbane Lions player Jaden McGrath’s decision to quit.
“In my second year I started to struggle with a lot of mental health issues and it was affecting the way I was able to commit to training.” McGrath said on Mix 104.9’s Balls ‘n’ All with Jacko.
“I thought it was the best decision to go home and give someone else an opportunity.”
McGrath played three games for the Lions in 2015 before being ravaged by injury throughout the latter half of that year and in 2016.
The Victorian said the dramatic transition from underage football to the elite level is the biggest challenge for young players to overcome.
“It’s the shock of how full-on it actually is going from training after school to training every single day, plus all the physio, massage, pilates and other stuff like that.
“To a degree you miss the socialising aspect – not having that freedom – the biggest thing for me is trying to find that love for the game again.”
But McGrath was full of praise for the way his former club handled the delicate situation.
“Brisbane were excellent for me, they went above and beyond to help me out and get me the best support from psychiatrists and psychologists.
“There’s a tremendous amount of support for the players, which is good.”
When questioned on a potential return to the AFL sometime down the track, McGrath stated that it was unlikely.
“Maybe in a couple of years when I mature a little and get on top of the mental health issues, but at this stage of my life I can’t see myself wanting to get back into that environment.
“It’s a pretty stressful environment to be in and I can only imagine it is going to get stricter and more stressful in the years to come.”
Twitter – @JClark182
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