Garry Lyon has described his year away from football to deal with mental health problems as the most humbling experience of his life.
Lyon returned to the spotlight on Monday morning in his new role on SEN radio's breakfast show alongside Hamish McLachlan, Tim Watson and The Age's Sam McClure.
![From left: Sam McClure, Tim Watson, Garry Lyon and Hamish McLachlan.](/web/20170131135330im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/1/d/3/t/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu16kb.png/1485744576207.jpg)
He has recorded an extensive interview with veteran football journalist Mike Sheahan, with an excerpt played on the show. The interview will be played in full from 8am on Tuesday.
Lyon stepped down from his media roles almost a year ago amid revelations of his relationship with the former wife of his friend and The Footy Show colleague Billy Brownless.
![Garry Lyon has taken up a position in the media again after a year off.](/web/20170131135330im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/1/7/9/q/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu16kb.png/1485744576207.jpg)
He took an extended break to have treatment for mental health issues. He spoke of losing control of his emotions at the time, and said he expected he would have to confront his issues publicly as he re-entered the spotlight.
"I can't sit here and not expect some talk about what has happened in the past 12 months or so," he said.
"What I can tell you, it has been the most humbling process in my life.
"Because when you get to this stage in your life, when you lose control of your emotions, it just strips all ego from you, because you are in the hands, or you fall at the feet of whoever can help you.
![Garry Lyon and Billy Brownless in happier times.](/web/20170131135330im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/f/i/r/d/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu16kb.png/1485744576207.jpg)
"You have this situation where you can't control your emotional state.
"It just humbles you. I've historically been a confident person, I've got a really healthy ego.
"Sometimes your self awareness isn't what it should be, because you can get carried away ... you ride your success without stopping to say, hang on, where am I at.
"If anything, I've never been more self aware than I have been right now, and hopefully, you know, I'll come back with a degree of humility that helps me recognise maybe in others, if they are struggling.
"But also have self-awareness to be able to say this is where I'm at, let's not let this get out of control. Which is why the workload and life balance is really important."
Lyon took almost a complete break from footy in 2016.
"I didn't go to a game, but I watched every Melbourne game they played and, I guess, the second half of the year, I watched more and more footy," he said. "But I didn't watch much the first half of the year."