GippSport Program Coordinators, Ryan Evans and Brenton Dinsdale, discuss mental health and the benefits that participating in organized sport can have on an individual’s physical and mental health. Later in the program, special guests Nick Walsh and Brendan McCartney, discuss the Tackle Your Feelings program, which is a mental health training program for Community AFL Football & Netball Clubs.
Our Guest
Nick Walsh
Nick is from Ireland, moving to Melbourne at the age of 17 to play Aussie Rules Footy. He spent 3 years on the list of the Melbourne Football Club before returning to Ireland and playing/captaining County Team, Cavin for 9 years. Nick also represented Ireland in International Rules football, against Australia, before returning to Oz in 2011 where he coached at the Giants, in Sydney, for 7 years. Through Nick’s playing and professional career, he has dealt with the roller coaster of pressures that this professional industry portrays; and certainly understands how pressure can have a negative effect on peoples’ mental health. Nick joins us today as a Program Manager for the Tackle Your Feelings program;
Brendan McCartney
Many of us would remember Brendan as the senior coach of the Western Bulldogs between 2012 & 2014. Brendan started coaching at the Newtown & Chilwell Football Netball Club before being appointed as the head coach at Ocean Grove. Here, he guided the senior team to four consecutive Bellarine Football League premierships from 1994 until 1997. In 1998, he took a role with AFL club Richmond as assistant and development coach and then, from 2000 to 2010, he was an assistant coach with the Geelong Football Club, before moving to be the forward line coach at Essendon in 2011. Shortly after the conclusion of the 2011 AFL season, Brendan was appointed as the new senior coach of the Western Bulldogs. Brendan joins us today as a facilitator of the Tackle Your Feelings program.
Between Games is designed to support community sport as another avenue for volunteer club administrators to gain some valuable information on club development, up to date sport and recreation information as well as relevant and topical issues. Proudly presented by GippSport, a Regional Sports Assembly in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.
