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Chris Yarran's departure prompts debate on social media pressures

AFL football operations manager Mark Evans has conceded that Chris Yarran's departure from Richmond highlights the pressure that some players face, but says there are no easy solutions to trolling on social media. 

Former North Melbourne star Wayne Schwass, who himself battled depression as a player, told SEN on Wednesday that social media was a particular trap for modern day players because they were subject to abuse, and said more funding needed to be directed toward mental health programs at AFL clubs.

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"I'm not suggesting that the game of AFL is any more demanding or has any more pressure than elite sport but we've got more than just Chris Yarran," Schwass said

"We've got other players within the space of a couple of months that have decided that the demands of football and the pressure of life have got too much that they have decided to walk away from the game.

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"I think it is a timely reminder that this is a really demanding business and I've advocated for a long time that we have great medical teams, some of the best in the world, but we might have one part-time or full-time psychiatrist.

"We need to reinvest some money into the welfare and emotional intelligence of our playing group so that we can assist players dealing with injuries of the mind and not just injuries in a physical sense."

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Schwass said that while it was unfortunate for Yarran, "my view is a bit more holistic and that is football is a part of someone's life, it's not their full life.

"I would believe that he has made the best decision in his own interests. I would support that and I hope he gets his health and well-being 100 per cent right and he can enjoy life, whatever life has to offer him moving forward."

Evans acknowledged this later on the same program saying it was sad when players found they couldn't cope. 

"Mental health is such a complex issue ... and I know clubs and the AFLPA have increased their services around this, but it is still a relatively unknown set of events for people. It is such a personal and unique thing that they go through and while you can have greater understanding it doesn't mean that the solutions are just simple," Evans said.  

"Many of the behaviours emerge because the player isn't in a healthy space and then I think some of the pressures of the game ... I don't think we understand what it would be like for a player who has mental health issues who is being trolled pretty hard on social media." 

Yarran's former teammate Eddie Betts posted an emotional tribute to him on Instagram. "It is so hard to see you finish like this but you'll always be the biggest gun in my eyes, I have missed playing beside you but I'll always be here for you," he wrote. 

"To all my brothers in AFL, I know it can get tough at times but we just have to speak up and help each other out it's hard seeing young indigenous players pack up and leave. Mental health doesn't discriminate."

Richmond's head of football Neil Balme said it wasn't as easy as saying players should "get off Twitter".

"The most important thing that we do at footy clubs is attach to them and have some sort of connection to them and the real opportunity of social media ... is that it gives a wonderful opportunity to connect," Balme said.  

"Now with it, because it is so immediate and so hard to control, you know sometimes bad things will happen. You get people who don't have to qualify what they are saying [and] can say what they like. So there'll be some stuff in it that you don't like, there will be some unreasonable stuff written, you know players might make a mistake and send something out they shouldn't make as well.

"So there are some dangers around it but I guess the overall value is that it does give a wonderful connection between the players and the fans."

With former Richmond and West Coast player Ben Cousins also facing more trouble after missing a court appearance in Perth, Evans said the former West Coast and Richmond player had to be able to accept the help offered. 

"I've just caught up with that news and it's distressing, but I know there are a lot of very, very good people who have been trying to help. I couldn't knock them one iota in terms of the number of times or the amount of help they have offered." 

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