The AFL will mandate a full-time psychologist at every club as part of key changes to aid players’ mental wellbeing in light of the Elijah Hollands ruling.
Carlton have been fined $75,000 after failing to safeguard Hollands, and instead allowing him to play against Collingwood despite suffering from a mental health episode.
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A total of six changes will be introduced by the league, as confirmed by Andrew Dillon and Laura Cane.
One immediate introduction will see psychologists appointed by clubs in a full-time capacity within each of the AFL and AFLW programs.
There will also be a “psychological fitness to play” best practice guidance, with Dillon emphasising the need to make mental tests as stringent as the physical safeguards already in place.
The AFL also want to improve understanding of mental health and will mandate literacy training in that area across football departments.
They will also review the club football department soft cap policy, with a view to increasing the minimum investment clubs must spend on their mental healthcare.
And the league itself will take on greater responsibility by setting up a wellbeing committee to advise the Executive and Commission on clinical governance, while establishing a healthcare incident manager system – to avoid the repeat of the Hollands incident.
Finally, the AFL will host a mental health roundtable with media partners in the lead-up to Spud’s Game.
!['[Hollands] should not have been left on the field': Andrew Dillon](https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/0a7972eb85e1277ff874a32f278a8dc8)
Meanwhile the AFL confirmed the money received from Carlton’s fine would go to their partner Headspace, which works in the mental health space for young people, providing wellbeing services for those affected and their families.
WorkSafe continue to look into the saga and they told Code Sports that early inquiries were being made, though no action may yet be taken.
“WorkSafe is assessing the matter to determine whether any action is required under the Occupational Health and Safety Act,” a WorkSafe spokesman said.
