‘You can’t mandate good mental health’: Jeff Kennett speaks following Daw incident

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says mental health is a social problem — not an AFL problem — and advised against relying on mandatory spending.

As a current club boss and former chairman of Beyond Blue, Mr Kennett is uniquely placed to comment on the state of the game’s approach to mental health.

He spoke about the matter on 3AW Breakfast today for the first time since an incident involving North Melbourne player Majak Daw this week prompted widespread debate about the AFL’s handling of players.

Good interview with @jeff_kennett on @3AW693 this morning regarding Mental Health and the obligations of any employer. Good governance should always and predominantly be focused on the welfare of people. It is not just for one group, but all.

— Dr Debra Bateman (@debbateman) December 19, 2018

Many have been quick to criticise the league, and The Age today reports the AFL is looking to make it mandatory for clubs to spend a certain amount on mental health experts under the football department cap.

But Mr Kennett said that approach would be piecemeal.

“I’m not going to whack the AFL over this,” he said.

“Mandating is not the answer.

“It is actually having the spirit and recognition that the welfare of people is a priority.”

Click PLAY to hear the full interview with Jeff Kennett