Captains inspired

Mental health support vow

THE AFL’S captains have united to laud Majak Daw’s inspirational recovery as the league pledges to get serious on their demand for greater mental health support.

Daw this week ran for the first time in his recovery from a fall from the Bolte Bridge, with North Melbourne urging patience but nevertheless stunned by the speed of his recovery.

Greater Western Sydney captain Phil Davis yesterday said the video of his teammates supporting his first session was one of football’s great moments.

“As much as guys do amazing things in the footy field, that was as good as anything I have ever seen,” he said.

Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn, a junior rival of Daw (pictured below), said it was the “best thing he had seen”.

North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell said yesterday the Roos players were blown away by Daw’s determination.

“It put a smile on everyone’s faces and I am sure it did for everyone in the league as well. We will be there every step of the way for him and we can’t wait to see him progressogress from here on in.”

The AFL updateded the AFL’s captains onn the plans for greater mental health support and a new Head of Mental Health position at a breakfast yesterday.

“The landscape iss changing but it hasn’tn’t changed totally yet,” Davis said.

“We are not at a level of complete openness. Foror ‘ Maj’ to go through that, it’s a story of where we need to get to.

“Mental health is a huge priority and when you hear the AFL and AFLPA talk about it so passionately [yesterday], it’s exciting.

“It’s the thing that we have said for the past 12 months is the most important issue [for players] and now they are doing something about it.”