Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd revealed on SEN that he suffered self-esteem issues throughout his career, adding that the levels of depresson, self-esteem and other off-field issues are "staggering".
Lloyd said he started to question his worth as he was ''getting smashed from pillar to post'' during a seven-game losing streak.
''I felt embarrassed about myself, I felt vulnerable,'' adding he didn't want to speak to anybody outside his teammates and immediate family.
Collingwood skipper Nick Maxwell confirmed off-field issues such as Lloyd's were widespread in football clubs when talking on SEN on Saturday morning.
Lloyd said the depression only alleviated itself after he "poured [his] heart out" in a counselling session and then had a big game against West Coast.
Lloyd showed a lot of courage in sharing such a story and his example might help others speak up and seek help before issues such as depression get out of hand.
Roos rallies the troops
Former Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos has rallied the troops in a column for the Herald Sun, calling on players to stand tall at the next round of collective bargaining negotiations.
Roos recalled how far the Players' Association had come a long way since its embryonic days, and it was important that the Association stood firm in its negotiations with the AFL.
He called on the players "to stand up for yourselves", while warning they needed to understand that free agency might not be to the players advantage.
He wrote that he had met an owner of an NFL club who told him that free agency might be a great thing for star players, but left very little for what he described as "role players".
Roos said negotiations was more than just about money. It was about showing "you can make a difference if you really believe in something". Problem was, the former Sydney coach did not enunciate what difference could me made, or how.
This was his vague suggestion: "Now with the CBA negotiations taking place, is your chance to put some big issues fairly and squarely on the agenda."
Like all readers of the Roos' column Media Watch was left to wonder just what these big issues might be.
In Short
The VFL is likely to survive despite moves for a revived AFL reserves competition, The Age reports.
The Herald Sun has two stories praising Essendon skipper Jobe Watson with Mike Sheahan noting how he has stepped up in a changed role under James Hird while Jon Anderson looks at how Watson got himself fit and became the player that has seen him backed into third favourite for the Brownlow Medal.
The Age reports that a retailer selling Fremantle jumpers for $30 below competitors has taken supplier ISC to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission after ISC refused to sell the retailer jumpers at wholesale price.
Kane Cornes is struggling after being dropped after 174 consecutive games, The Advertiser reports.
The West Australian has taken a shot at the AFL for implementing heat rules for Sunday's clash between Fremantle and North Melbourne at Patersons Stadium, labelling it "bemusing".
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