Courtenay Dempsey on Four Corners about struggles post-retirement

[Slats]

SOME of Australia’s biggest sports have revealed their struggles post-retirement and life after the final siren can be very tough going.

Retired athletes attempting to deal with life after sport can go through a chemical withdrawal similar to coming off hard drugs, according to a Four Corners report.

After he was delisted by Essendon last year, Courtenay Dempsey told the ABC program he has struggled.

“I do feel bitter. Like a piece of meat, just getting thrown and forgotten about once they know you’re done,” he said.

After the end of his 133 game AFL career former Bombers star Dempsey, 29, said he didn’t know where to turn in the wake of the supplements saga.

“I’ve been stuck in this regimen for 11 years, 12 years, most of my life, and all of a sudden I’ve got to go out into the wider world and fend for myself, which I don’t have a clue about because I went from school straight into football. All I know is football,” he said.

The former defender said his family urged him to seek help for depression.

“You devote your whole life into that club and then all of a sudden they just take it away from you, and you’re thinking, ‘What have I done wrong?’” Dempsey told the program.

“I’ve done everything that you’ve asked me to do and yet, you still throw this at me.”

Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell told the program the club has attempted to help Dempsey with his life after football and would continue to do so.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/s...t/news-story/0e3d82e578779bf88cf02d226d85b881

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Do the Bombers have programs in place to encourage further study or apprenticeships?

I know Carlton used to do this years ago.

 

[demondavey]

Do the Bombers have programs in place to encourage further study or apprenticeships?

I know Carlton used to do this years ago.

Yes according to the program they have employed them recently

 

[RUNVS]

Yes according to the program they have employed them recently

Are they qualified for those jobs though, and are they careers, or just jobs?

 

[demondavey]

I think it's important to look at this very carefully. I watched the program and it was very interesting. Firstly, I think you're kidding yourself if as an AFL player or sportsman/woman you don't think of life post football even if the club does nothing or has anything in place. You simply need to have the initiative to move into another career post football and plan for it.

Going into an AFL career you simply must know it won't last forever, I think you've got yourself to blame if you do finish your career and have nothing. It's so much easier to say I was treated like a piece of meat and let go.

Injuries, compensation, disclosure of information re your health, incorrect treatments, all open up other scenarios which I think should make clubs liable. But I think you need to stop and some point abs tell yourself it isn't forever and you need to make hay whilst the sun shines, I.e Saving a portion of your wage, contributing towards an investment, studying, focusing on life after sport.

 

[demondavey]

Are they qualified for those jobs though, and are they careers, or just jobs?

Well when I say employed I mean the clubs have put programs in place to educate and help players with careers post football. Four corners didn't really go into detail.

 

[Craze]

I watched this and, whilst I do feel that the AFL and other professional sporting bodies have a duty to deliver programs supporting players into retirement (especially since careers start at an age when everyone else is doing an apprenticeship, a uni degree or TAFE certificate, and given that careers are so short and fraught with vagaries of injury and form), players have to take responsibility for themselves. There are so many examples of players f***ing up because presumably they don't listen when clubs deliver sessions on avoiding recreational drugs, respecting women, not racially vilifying other players, managing their high incomes, generally being decent self-reliant human beings.

It is an unfortunate trend that, more than any time in human history, people seem to be so willing to blame others for their own situation in life.

There is a strong sense of entitlement going on in Australia at the moment.

 

[demondavey]

SOME of Australia’s biggest sports have revealed their struggles post-retirement and life after the final siren can be very tough going.

Retired athletes attempting to deal with life after sport can go through a chemical withdrawal similar to coming off hard drugs, according to a Four Corners report.

After he was delisted by Essendon last year, Courtenay Dempsey told the ABC program he has struggled.

“I do feel bitter. Like a piece of meat, just getting thrown and forgotten about once they know you’re done,” he said.

After the end of his 133 game AFL career former Bombers star Dempsey, 29, said he didn’t know where to turn in the wake of the supplements saga.

“I’ve been stuck in this regimen for 11 years, 12 years, most of my life, and all of a sudden I’ve got to go out into the wider world and fend for myself, which I don’t have a clue about because I went from school straight into football. All I know is football,” he said.

The former defender said his family urged him to seek help for depression.

“You devote your whole life into that club and then all of a sudden they just take it away from you, and you’re thinking, ‘What have I done wrong?’” Dempsey told the program.

“I’ve done everything that you’ve asked me to do and yet, you still throw this at me.”

Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell told the program the club has attempted to help Dempsey with his life after football and would continue to do so.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/s...t/news-story/0e3d82e578779bf88cf02d226d85b881

His mistake was devoting everything to the club. You can get kicked out as quickly as you get hustled in. I am sure he had some idea it was coming. You've simply got to think about your career after footy and realise you won't be running around for an AFL club forever.

 

[demondavey]

I watched this and, whilst I do feel that the AFL and other professional sporting bodies have a duty to deliver programs supporting players into retirement (especially since careers start at an age when everyone else is doing an apprenticeship, a uni degree or TAFE certificate, and given that careers are so short and fraught with vagaries of injury and form), players have to take responsibility for themselves. There are so many examples of players f***ing up because presumably they don't listen when clubs deliver sessions on avoiding recreational drugs, respecting women, not racially vilifying other players, managing their high incomes, generally being decent self-reliant human beings.

It is an unfortunate trend that, more than any time in human history, people seem to be so willing to blame others for their own situation in life.

There is a strong sense of entitlement going on in Australia at the moment.

Agree. You'd be surprised how much money you could save as a player on a salary of even 100-150k for 3-4 years. Or what you could purchase as an investment. Not to mention being a 10 year player making 2-3 million for example, I get the tax component of it as well, but you've seriously got to look at the decisions you make.

You're totally kidding yourself if you think it isn't going to end, or end abruptly.

 

[Orange Agent]

12 years on an AFL salary? Pretty sure I could retire on that, wtf did he spend it on?

 

[SBYM]

I find it really hard to have much sympathy for this particular predicament, and notions like this don't do much to bring me around.

I’ve been stuck in this regimen for 11 years, 12 years, most of my life, and all of a sudden I’ve got to go out into the wider world and fend for myself, which I don’t have a clue about because I went from school straight into football.

 

[demondavey]

12 years on an AFL salary? Pretty sure I could retire on that, wtf did he spend it on?

What would be the average income for him you think? Wonder what he walked away with finance wise?

 

[J_Moore]

12 years on an AFL salary? Pretty sure I could retire on that, wtf did he spend it on?

Probably not hey?

 

[SBYM]

Is he struggling financially, or just mentally? Or both?

 

[demondavey]

Is he struggling financially, or just mentally? Or both?

Mentally I think. Didn't go into finance too much.

 

[theyellowsash]

I wish i could earn hundreds of thousands per year for 11 years doing something i love even if im pretty average at it. Any sensible person wouldnt need to work for the rest of their lives after 10 years on an afl wage.

 

[SBYM]

Mentally I think. Didn't go into finance too much.

Rideo. Hopefully he has taken that advice from his family and is speaking to the professionals.

 

[SBYM]

In any case, the old cliché about coaching them to be not only solid footballers but also solid men needs a bit more of a pump up in my eyes.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

“I’ve been stuck in this regimen for 11 years, 12 years, most of my life, and all of a sudden I’ve got to go out into the wider world and fend for myself, which I don’t have a clue about because I went from school straight into football. All I know is football,” he said.

Didn't like this comment.

To say that the club don't give a **** about him after his career ended is wrong. clubs now do a lot of hard work to setup up players weather it's getting a job or being well off when they retire.

 

[Rod Stroker]

I watched this and, whilst I do feel that the AFL and other professional sporting bodies have a duty to deliver programs supporting players into retirement (especially since careers start at an age when everyone else is doing an apprenticeship, a uni degree or TAFE certificate, and given that careers are so short and fraught with vagaries of injury and form), players have to take responsibility for themselves. There are so many examples of players f***ing up because presumably they don't listen when clubs deliver sessions on avoiding recreational drugs, respecting women, not racially vilifying other players, managing their high incomes, generally being decent self-reliant human beings.

It is an unfortunate trend that, more than any time in human history, people seem to be so willing to blame others for their own situation in life.

There is a strong sense of entitlement going on in Australia at the moment.

At the moment? It's be going on for years.

It's a real worry what's been happening down there. Like the world owes someone a living.

 

[hoianbulldog]

I can't believe that any afl club or manager wouldn't have a discussion with players about preparing for life after footy.

I hope he gets through his stuggle but players need to take responsibility.

 

[demondavey]

At the moment? It's be going on for years.

It's a real worry what's been happening down there. Like the world owes someone a living.

Life isn't easy. You make you're own way. Getting a leg up financially is of huge assistance, not to mention all the support services clubs offer these days.

 

[SherbertLemon]

A real sense of entitlement here. A complete lack of rational thought as well.

I have empathy in the sense that he needs direction, but once a player has exhausted their utility it's curtains.

Just like any other job. Absolutely playing the victim which I do not respect. He obviously has the discipline to be work 9-5 if he was an AFL footy player, go out and work it out like the rest of us.

 

[demondavey]

I can't believe that any afl club or manager wouldn't have a discussion with players about preparing for life after footy.

I hope he gets through his stuggle but players need to take responsibility.

I think they did in his case

 

[Anja_Nees]

I know plenty of people who have had to study a long time to qualify in their professions and it's not uncommon for doctors, psychologists etc to get started in their mid to late 20s with a whopping HECS debt to boot.

By the same age an okay player like Dempsey has been earning anywhere between say $100k-$300k for a decade. I know of one player who retired around 30 at the end of a $350k a year deal who was flat broke within about two years.

Clubs should be doing what they can for these guys while they're around but to be honest how much sympathy can you have?