Depressed, on drugs…dumped

A father of an AFL footballer delisted at the end of last year speaks out against drug use in the league. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

WE'LL call him "Dad" and give his son the name "Mick".

Mick was delisted at the end of last year by a Melbourne-based AFL club, mainly for being not good enough, but partly because he had lost all interest in playing footy.

"I've never seen him as happy as the day he got dropped from the club," Dad said, insisting on the anonymity to protect his son.

Mick didn't take drugs until last year.

His preferred choice of narcotic was speed and ecstasy tablets, all combined with alcohol.

Up to eight of his teammates also took them. It was part of the routine, Dad said, and it is why he thinks the drugs summit yesterday could be the unmasking of a huge problem at footy clubs.

"Don't think for a moment any club is clean," Dad said.

"Two years ago the clubs tried to get the boys off alcohol and they all turned to the drugs, and I think now they're trying to get them to have a beer again.

"And why shouldn't they?

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Depressed, on drugs...dumped