THE AFL Players Association is pushing to make it easier for clubs to employ clinical psychologists by keeping expenses outside the football department cap.
Richmond announced on Thursday that recruit Chris Yarran was taking indefinite leave from the club to seek treatment for a mental health condition.
The Tigers, who employ a part-time clinical psychologist, are also helping young key forward Reece McKenzie recover from a mental health condition.
The push to keep some player welfare costs outside the football department cap will form part of the ongoing CBA negotiations.
One proposal is to include the salaries of clinical psychologists under the cap, but allow spending on related medical costs to come outside the cap.
It is understood there are concerns at the AFLPA that spending on performance-focused positions has marginalised player welfare as a valued area at some clubs.
Mental health advocate and North Melbourne premiership player Wayne Schwass said the investment in player welfare should equal that invested in sports science.
"You’ll have all sorts of people for strength and conditioning, fitness and rehabilitation but we may only have one part-time psychiatrist or psychologist," Schwass told SEN on Friday.
"I’d like to see clubs in our industry invest some of that money into bolstering the emotional skill-set and resources available at football clubs.
"Look at two psychiatrists or psychologists, let’s look at welfare people."
Richmond, which has been praised privately for the way it has helped both Yarran and McKenzie through their mental health battles, also employs a mindfulness coach.
The players have spoken positively of the impact Emma Murray has had in that role.
A recent visit from the Resilience Project – a presentation that teaches positive mental health strategies – also made an impact on the group.
Geelong is seen as an industry leader in player welfare, with three staff working in the area, while the Sydney Swans employ a full-time clinical psychologist.
The AFLPA's push to boost investment at clubs in player welfare will ramp up as CBA negotiations – which are stuck on the players' request for a percentage share of revenue – progress in the coming months.
The concern within the industry if areas like clinical psychology were excluded entirely from the football department cap is that the gap between the rich and the poor would grow.
Still, it is understood the AFLPA would prefer an 'arms race' to the current situation, which sees clubs baulking at welfare appointments while they are included under the cap.
