Latest news with #RailwaysFootballClub
ABC News
29-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Football clubs in regional WA step up efforts to tackle suicide
Warning: This story discusses content some readers may find distressing. The football community was shattered when former West Coast Eagles premiership player, Adam Selwood, died suddenly in May. It was just months after his twin brother and former Brisbane player, Troy, died by suicide. Now regional football clubs are taking a closer look at whether they are doing enough for players' mental health. Data from suicide prevention advocacy group Think Mental Health shows one person from WA dies by suicide every day, with three out of four of those being men. In Geraldton, about 400 kilometres north of Perth, sporting teams have felt the ripple effect of suicide too many times. Railways Football Club head trainer Grant Russell said the impact left more questions than answers. "Sadly I've lost a couple of close mates to suicide, I've also lost other people within the football club," Mr Russell said. "When I lost a very good friend a few years ago to suicide I thought to myself, 'Why?' Mr Russell, known to his club mates as Grunter, was diagnosed with bipolar almost 20 years ago. He said hoped he could harness his experience to help others. "I totally understand how you can feel lost in the darkness and think, 'Where do I go next?'" he said. "I'm quite happy with the way I cope with my illness but it is something you must be conscious of every single day." Earlier this month, the Railways community was rocked when a teammate tried to take their life. It lit a fire under the club that change was needed. "It shouldn't have taken that to kick us where it hurts to get ourselves aware and really talking about what the issues are," Mr Russell said. The Great Northern Football League holds two mental health rounds within a season. Mr Russell said he wanted to inspire meaningful conversations. He was able to get the players and umpires to wear blue arm bands and added "Think Mental Health" covers to one of the point posts. "There were a number of people that asked me, 'Grant, why is there one on one point post only' and I said, 'That's the point,'" he said. "People are going to ask why and we can now open up and start talking about mental health. In Northampton, 50 kilometres north of Geraldton, the local footy club has also struggled with mental health issues. "We've lost some very close friends, cousins, relatives [to suicide]," Northampton Rams Football Club president Anthony Jupp said. "I definitely think coming from the country it's more about the isolation and thinking no-one's there to help them. "Definitely one [of our players] thought he was all alone but he didn't realise what he meant to the community, to all his friends and family." Mr Jupp said the strong country mentality was a constant barrier to players seeking help. He said a lot of players did not think they needed mental health support or would be too nervous to reach out on their own. "But if we can get someone to come to the club and speak to the group as a whole I think, you know, if we only reach one or two, that's perfect," he said. Mr Russell said he wanted people to know it was OK to not be OK. "I know that [can be a] throwaway line that all campaigns use, but it is OK," he said. After the passing of the Selwood brothers, Great Northern Football League president Carrissa Bellottie said she was shocked that mental-health rounds were not run at the national level. "It definitely did come as a shock [because] we've had mental-health rounds here for years," she said. "More recently Country Footy WA have got a new program called Tackle Your Feelings. "So that no matter who you are, there's some sort of mental health program that you can reach out to at any given time." The new initiative provides psychologist-led training for sporting clubs to identify and respond to poor mental health among members. The AFL created a mental health strategy in 2020 and partners with the Black Dog Institute for the annual "Spud's game". The AFL Players Association offers mental health support for current and former players. In a written statement, WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti said football clubs served as important platforms to talk about mental health.
West Australian
10-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Tributes flow as Railways' player-coach Bodhi Stubber celebrates 200th game in Great Southern Football League
He was given a guard of honour at the start of the match and chaired off as the sunshine ebbed away at the end, the applause ringing throughout to recognise Bodhi Stubber as the life and soul of the Railways Football Club. The fearless defender and dual premiership captain received worthy recognition after playing his 200th league game for the Tigers on Saturday. The 30-year-old made his league debut at the age of 15, has won three GSFL premierships and is a three-time George Stephens medallist at his club and in 2023 was a joint runner-up in the Kleemann Medal. His milestone game against the Royals at the Keep the Sheep Stadium, was a fitting tribute to the player-coach, almost an exhibition match in fact, as he was able to indulge his considerable skills with a dominant display that finished with six goals. A modest man, he spent three quarters of the game setting up his teammates before taking the fourth quarter by the scruff of the neck and cutting loose himself. He converted four goals with perfect strikes in that period, boot connecting with ball as though launching a Burley from 50m through a 6.4m gap was the easiest thing in the world. He seemed embarrassed by the fuss, but he appreciated reaching the milestone in this most brutal of sports. 'It's great to have been able to play 200 games with such a great club,' he said. 'I'm not great on personal milestones but it is nice to sit alongside some of the old timers who have done it.' His highlights did not come from individual honours. 'Oh, I just love training, the mateship, premierships, the trips — everything which is great about country football,' he said. 'I came through the juniors and have just loved it ever since. 'I think it's my job now to pass that experience and that enjoyment through to the next generation. 'That is the most important thing; you have to enjoy it, or there's no point.' He is equally passionate about his coaching role, even though he has no intention of hanging up his playing boots. 'I'm going to hang around for a bit yet,' he promised. Craig Bevan knows him well, as a clubmate, father-in-law and employee at Albany's Aqua Ice business. He said Stubber was someone who leads by example. 'He's a hard man, a dedicated man and I think that hard work and dedication is rubbing off on the other players,' he said. 'He sets an example and when the others see how hard he goes, they want to follow his example and not let him down.' Royals' coach Darrell Panizza was also keen to pay tribute, rather than dwell on his side's 119-point drubbing. 'Congratulations to Stubber, he had a really good match,' he said. 'He has been an ornament to the game and to the Great Southern Football League.'
