Former Fitzroy and Adelaide coach Robert Shaw has called out those on social media trolling AFL players who have taken time away from the game for mental health reasons.
Collingwood superstar Dayne Beams was the most recent player to do so, stepping away from the game indefinitely.
Shaw called out those on social media who have made fun of these players, labelling them “cowards”.
“These players are under extreme pressure and I do sympathise with them and I don’t have any sympathy for people who call them soft at all. I think they’re cowards,” he told SEN Afternoons.
“You’re all cowards because you don’t understand the development of young men and women in today’s society and the exposure to social media and these sorts of things.”
Shaw believes the AFL must allow teams to spend as much money as they want on mental health and wellbeing.
“I think this salary cap for football departments is not good,” he said.
“We should have an open salary cap, providing clubs put the money towards the health and wellbeing of players.”