When grief ripples through a community – a note from Kate Cahill, Griefline CEO
Reflections on the recent deaths in the AFL community and why grief must be part of Australia’s mental health response.
In recent months, the AFL community has been rocked by the deaths of several former players — including the recent tragic passing of Adam Selwood and the voluntary assisted dying (VAD) death of football legend Robert Walls, a revered figure whose impact as a player, coach and commentator shaped generations of the game.
These devastating losses come just months after the deaths of Troy Selwood and Dale Tapping in February. In such close succession, they have left a profound imprint — not only on the families and friends left behind, but on teammates, coaches, club staff, and supporters across the country. This collective mourning speaks to the deep and far-reaching impact of grief within tightly knit communities like the AFL.
Many public responses have rightly centred on mental health — and it’s a conversation we must keep having. But it’s equally vital to acknowledge the role of grief, particularly the kind that arises when identity, purpose, and connection are disrupted. For professional athletes and those in high-performance environments, the end of a sporting career can bring a profound sense of disconnection — a “living loss” that is often unspoken. Endings of all kinds — whether of careers, roles, relationships, or identities — are accompanied by grief. When these experiences are unacknowledged, grief can quietly accumulate and become prolonged, complex, or overwhelming.
Endings of all kinds — whether of careers, roles, relationships, or identities — are accompanied by grief. When these experiences are unacknowledged, grief can quietly accumulate and become prolonged, complex, or overwhelming.
In 2024, 185,173 deaths were recorded in Australia. Each of these deaths profoundly affects an estimated nine people, meaning more than 1.6 million Australians experience bereavement each year. Around 1 in 10 will go on to experience grief-related mental health challenges, such as prolonged grief, — a risk that increases when the death is sudden, by suicide, or when multiple losses are endured close together.
The Productivity Commission’s Mental Health Inquiry reinforces the widespread nature of mental ill-health in Australia and calls for early intervention, integrated services, and person-centred approaches. While grief itself is not specifically addressed in the report, bereavement is a well-recognised risk factor for mental ill-health — and has a significant impact on productivity, contributing to both absenteeism and presenteeism in the workplace. Grief deserves a more visible place within Australia’s mental health and workplace wellbeing strategies.
While Griefline plays a national role in supporting people through grief and loss, we’re not alone. Organisations like Tackle Your Feelings and the Danny Frawley Centre are doing vital work to promote emotional literacy, mental fitness and wellbeing in the sporting world.
It’s this kind of community-focused, proactive support — not just crisis intervention — that helps shift the culture around grief and mental health. Together, we can keep having courageous conversations and build more connected, compassionate communities.
As a proud member of Mental Health Australia, I am advocating for greater investment in early intervention and prevention programs — including grief support. I will be attending the upcoming MHA Members Policy Forum in Canberra this June to discuss the implications of the federal election and highlight the urgent need to fund services like Griefline, which support the grief that so often sits beneath the surface of mental ill-health.
To all those affected by recent losses — in the AFL community and beyond — our thoughts are with you. And our support is here when you need it.
Kate Cahill
Chief Executive Officer, Griefline
Griefline’s national helpline is available 365 days a year, from 8am to 8pm (AEST). For free, compassionate, non-judgmental support, call 1300 845 745 or visit the website griefline.org.au
Note: “Living loss” refers to non-death-related losses, such as the loss of identity, purpose, or connection, which can evoke a grief response similar in intensity to bereavement. Learn more in Griefline’s grief and loss resource hub.
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics – Deaths, Australia 2024
