Shane Birss

[Throughandthrough]

Re: Shane Birss

i received a message that

I passed on the forum’s best wishes to Shane Birss last Friday night and he was pleased.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Shane Birss

Always enjoyed watching Shane play and was sad when he left us. Didn't realise he was struggling - a few of my friends are also struggling with depression, so I understand a little of what it is like. I hope that things turn around for him quickly, and he gets back to doing what he loves, playing footy.

[Throughandthrough]

Re: Shane Birss

Shane having the week off from West Adelaide, spending the weekend with his family in rural Victoria. Apparently he has played one, skipped one, played another, and then skipping this weekend.

Is expected to play next week.

As an outsider it appears that West Adelaide is making sure Shane's health is of utmost priority, as this week is a very important game for that club if they want to keep their thin finals hopes going.

[comrade]

Re: Shane Birss

Shane having the week off from West Adelaide, spending the weekend with his family in rural Victoria. Apparently he has played one, skipped one, played another, and then skipping this weekend.

Is expected to play next week.

As an outsider it appears that West Adelaide is making sure Shane's health is of utmost priority, as this week is a very important game for that club if they want to keep their thin finals hopes going.

Appreciate the insight.

Fantastic that the footy club is ensuring Shane’s wellbeing is looked after.

[Throughandthrough]

Re: Shane Birss

http://southern-times-messenger.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/my-private-battle/

MY PRIVATE BATTLE
sportAustralian Rules/Footy08 Jul 09 @ 11:55am by Reece Homfray
Shane Birss at City Mazda Stadium. Picture: Nat Thompson
WEST Adelaide’s star AFL recruit Shane Birss’ courageous decision to break his silence on his private battle with depression could result in an historic partnership between Beyond Blue and the SANFL to help players let go from the top level.
Birss was hospitalised after suffering a depression-related breakdown in December 2008 - two months after being delisted by St Kilda.
``You put so much into it (AFL career) then it’s taken away from you, then you cop the knock of a breakdown it just floored me,’’ Birss said.
He signed with West Adelaide only to walk away from football in March, but played his second League game for the Bloods on Saturday.
The SANFL said last week it would investigate a partnership with mental health organisation Beyond Blue, to help delisted AFL players in their transition to the state competition, if there was enough support from the clubs.
``No doubt clubs are fully aware of issues when players are delisted,’’ said SANFL general manager state league and partnerships Darren Chandler.
``Whether it’s their own players coming back, or players they’ve recruited.
``Responsibility lies with the clubs in that area, but the SANFL would provide support if they asked us.’’
Beyond Blue has delivered a professional sports program to all AFL players, national cricketers and some state-based teams for two years. Acting deputy chief executive Clare Shann said there was no reason it could not be rolled out to the SANFL. The program aims to lift depression awareness and reduce stigma, and help those concerned about teammates.
``It’s available now and we’re very interested in delivering that as broadly as possible,’’ Ms Shann said.
Former players can use AFL Players’ Association (AFLPA) services including career counselling for three years after finishing.

FIGHTING BACK

SHANE Birss was on a boat with friends and his fiance at Lakes Entrance when it hit him that his AFL career was over.

After 71 games in eight years with the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda, he didn’t know what to do next.

``I was on holidays when it happened to me over Christmas time,’’ he said.

``I just wasn’t myself and I had a pretty serious breakdown.

``My head got all muddled up and I couldn’t think, couldn’t do stuff.’’

At the peak of his fitness and just two months out of the AFL system, Birss ended up in intensive care in a Melbourne hospital.

``I can’t put a finger on what actually caused it probably my brain thinking what’s going on in life?.

``January was pretty tough, I went through some pretty hard days.’’

One thing Birss does know, and freely admits, is that he wasn’t prepared for life after football.

When the crowds disappeared and the training regime was gone, he had to re-assess not only his career but his life.

``It all came to a head when I finished.

``You put so much into it (AFL career) then it’s taken away from you, then you cop the knock of a breakdown it just floored me.’’

During his AFL career, Birss was too busy worrying about next week to worry about life after the game.

He says there’s a stat somewhere that shows he was named an emergency more times than he actually played.

``That was the hardest thing about my career in and out all the time and having to go back to the VFL, prove myself, then being dropped, get a game, get dropped,’’ he said.

Drafted by the Bulldogs from Gippsland at No.26 in 2000, Birss played 51 games before asking to be traded. He ended up at St Kilda in 2007 where he played 20 games in two years.

``But I still felt it was a bit of a battle. I probably went to two teams with very strong midfields.’’

Then came the delisting, which Birss said he ``probably saw coming’’.

``But when I actually heard (it) I was very upset.’’

After considering nominating for the AFL’s pre-season draft, Birss decided to sign with SANFL club West Adelaide after meeting coach Andy Collins and football operations manager Scott Turner in Melbourne.

Initially he liked the idea of a new challenge but the closer he got to moving to Adelaide, the worse he felt.

But despite being diagnosed with depression, suffering a breakdown and his time in hospital, he was determined to play for West Adelaide.

``I drove over and was okay but we weren’t training at the time and it really knocked me about.

``I was on medication and when I went to training it was really hard, just getting through training.’’

Some days he struggled to get out of bed.

``To pick myself up and do day-to-day stuff was tough. I was sleeping all the time and flat.’’

After struggling to run in his first trial game for the club, Birss decided he needed time away from football.

And he said telling his teammates was tough.

``I had to because we started saying I was injured and it just wasn’t the way to go for the boys, to lie to them.

``That was really tough. Especially when you come over here and you want to make a difference.

``But to come out and say it I think actually helped because then people knew why I wasn’t there and what I was going through.’’

Three months on, Birss has played two League and two Reserves games for Westies and is ready to enter the workforce.

He says he’s ``still coping with a lot of stuff’’ but is thinking ``more positively’’.

``Footy-wise, fitness I’ve still got a long way to go because laying down and having everything knocked out of me ...

``I’ve got a big pre-season ahead of me. I want to stick with it and get back to my best because I still want to hang around here for a while yet.’’

And if he had one piece of advice to offer a young AFL draftee: ``Do as much as you can’’.

``I thought I would have been fine ... a lot of guys study, but I haven’t been the studying type.

``I wish now that I would have done a few more things outside of football ... because at the moment even looking for jobs is hard.

``But the West Adelaide footy club and my fiancee Amy have been a huge support.’’

Birss is also keen to continue the growing public awareness and understanding of depression.

``The illness is not you, it’s the way you feel. Because all you want to do is get better.’’

If you are suffering depression, phone Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or go to http://www.beyondblue.com.au

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Shane Birss

It breaks your heart when you read about a really wonderful bloke like Birssy struggling as he has.

I sincerely hope he, with the support of fiance & footy club can win this battle.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Shane Birss

Not one mention in there of the ALFPA.

With the amount of money they are given by the AFL, I hope they have had some sort of role to play.

[Desipura]

Re: Shane Birss

Part of me says, would it not be great if he was playing great footy again and got picked up by one of the Adelaide clubs and had a good AFL career. Thats just me wanting a happy ending I guess.
More realistic though is that he will continue playing in the SANFL (and hopefully playing in a winning grand final) and having a job outside work that he enjoys.
Good luck to him whatever path his life takes him

[Mofra]

Re: Shane Birss

It breaks your heart when you read about a really wonderful bloke like Birssy struggling as he has.

I sincerely hope he, with the support of fiance & footy club can win this battle.

Ditto. He has a fairly good support network by the sounds of it so hopefully he'll be ok.

[Twodogs]

Re: Shane Birss

I've battled depression most of my adult life and I wish I'd been diagnosed earlier. Shane seems like he's taking steps to ensure it doesnt ruin his life and I think the earlier you can get on top of mental illness the better your chance of recovery.

Also being involved in an organisation like a footy club helps reinforce a positive lifestyle and the involvelment of your peers can only help I reckon.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Shane Birss

There is so much i want to say in this thread, i just dont no where to start, so i wont say anytihng apart from i hope Shanes doing heaps better now, i know his family and friends will be giving him lots of support.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Shane Birss

Anyone know how hes been going with footy lately???