HAVING players take to the field while managing mental health illness is part of the complex solution to managing the problem in the AFL, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says.
Beveridge has experience in the area, having seen injury-riddled midfielder Lin Jong take a break from playing football on Thursday while still training, as he focuses on his mental health issues.
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Last month, Dogs premiership hero Tom Boyd retired at just 23 after losing the passion to play.
Beveridge believes more education is required.
"It's probably just understanding it even more, and I think the point we've got to get to is when players are having these clinically diagnosed challenges, that we can still get them to the point where they can still play the game at this level," Beveridge said.
"That's the biggest unknown, because with physical injury, there's a finite timeline in return. With mental health, there isn't, and we found that with 'Boydy'.
"You actually haven't got an endpoint, and that's the most disconcerting thing in the whole equation."
The point we've got to get to is when players are having these clinically diagnosed challenges, that ... they can still play the game - Luke Beveridge
Beveridge warned against a situation where juniors coming through hide their battles in a bid to be recruited.
"We don't want to get to the point where players aren't getting an opportunity before they get drafted, because I'm pretty sure 17 and 18-year-olds who have gone through the pathways and already know that it's going to be tough for them, that declaration's not going to happen, because they want their opportunity," Beveridge said.
"It's just making sure that we can manage it and still have players with these challenges become very good players at AFL level."
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Inspirational defender Dale Morris is recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered in March, and skipped the dreaded knee reconstruction that would require a 12-month rehabilitation period for his own method to see him back in far quicker time is closing in on a comeback.
"We anticipated he'd almost be right this week. He's back in almost full training. He's pretty good but there's a few things going on (to do with) DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) and fatigue. We're hoping in a couple of weeks he'd be right to play," Beveridge said.
Another heart-and-soul player, Tom Liberatore, has recommitted until the end of 2021.
It hasn't always been a smooth relationship, with the dogged onballer having signed on for a further season very late in 2018, with the protracted nature of negotiations raising eyebrows externally, but the Dogs are rapt to have him.
"Liba's probably had some really big challenges. The two knee recos, and even post some success (the 2016 flag), we all came back and he probably wasn't where he wanted to be, as far as his productivity went through those periods," Beveridge said.
"He's learnt a lot about himself. The thing about Tom is his devotion to the footy club has never been questioned … he's much-loved here and he's just a significant part of our culture more than anything.
"There's no doubt we asked him to jump through a few hoops before he signed a new contract and he was prepared to do that, and it's to his credit that he's been able to perform at the level he has this year."
At 27, Liberatore is averaging 23 disposals and six clearances per game this year.
"It's that old adage, you can't choose whether or not you grow old but you can choose whether or not you grow up. Liba's never going to make that total choice to grow up I wouldn't have thought," Beveridge said.
"He's a beauty, and that youthful energy drives an AFL footy club a lot of the time.
"He was such a significant reason for our success in recent history and we're hoping he'll be a significant reason in our future success."
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