Nathan O’Driscoll: Fremantle supporting young Docker from Victoria after opening up about mental health battle

Fremantle players and team staff have rallied around Nathan O’Driscoll from the other side of the country after he bravely opened up about his mental health battles and revealed he had considered taking his own life. O’Driscoll took to Instagram on Wednesday around the same time as his teammates were departing for Victoria to prepare for game against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night. While they are thousands of kilometres away, Fremantle assistant coach Jaymie Graham said they were still doing everything possible to show O’Driscoll how much they love him. “We’re really tight group, and our players are a tight group,” Graham told The West Australian. “It is different, the fact that we are over in Melbourne. But there’s still plenty of support in Perth. He’s got plenty of teammates who will be playing at Peel this weekend. “Everyone has reached out and given him their love and support. I’m sure he’s felt plenty of love.” The AFL community has placed a huge focus on mental health following Carlton’s Elijah Hollands’ admission to hospital following an episode on the field against Collingwood. Geelong’s Bailey Smith, who has also been open about his battles, called for an AFL Mental Health Round after that incident. Graham said he didn’t know O’Driscoll was going to make his battle public until it appeared online. “I personally didn’t know,” he said. “But he knows he’s got our full support. I think it can only be a healthy thing, because it creates conversations. He’s been able to express himself, which is important. It’s allowed everyone to get around him, which is an important thing.” O’Driscoll’s powerful post has resonated around the country. “I wasn’t going to post this, but with the recent focus on mental health around the league, it feels like the right time,” he wrote. “Over the past four years, I’ve had some incredible highs, but also some very low moments. I’ve struggled with anxiety, a constant need to feel like I belong, and always putting others before myself. “There have been times when I’ve fallen into deep depressive states and three separate times when I’ve been extremely close to committing suicide. No one is there to judge you, every person I’ve opened up to has supported me in ways I never expected. “From the outside, it might look like I have everything, but what’s going on internally can be a very different story. Everyone is dealing with something, and it’s okay to not be okay.” LIFELINE: 13 11 14