AFL world reacts amid brutal news about Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton
He's an AFL and Hawthorn Hall of Fame member, and has become a popular commentator and analyst since retiring. But speaking at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, the 60-year-old opened up about what life is like due to his career.
As reported by , Brereton said he struggles to sleep some nights due to chronic shoulder pain, and has been forced to take anti-inflammatories for the better part of 40 years. 'Some mornings my beautiful partner Julie has to put on my shoes and socks for me," he said in his 'Toast to Football' speech at the annual Norm Smith Oration. "With the pain in my spine, where they put in a cage inserted there, I can't reach. I just can't put on socks and shoes.
'Some days I have to walk down the stairs sideways because I haven't any cartilage – bone on bone, that is – for 40 years. Some days I can't shake hands with other men, and if they do so, I fear they'll re-open some of the broken bones in my hands from defenders' spoils and from when [an opponent] jumped on my hand deliberately. Some days I have to crab my way down the stairs because my often half-a-dozen times reconstructed ankle will not flex any more.'
Brereton recounted many of the battles he had with opposition defenders during a brutal era of hard-nosed footy. 'Some nights I sleep very little because of the arthritis in my shoulder joints. That's from decades of lifting as heavy weights as I could, purely because the position I played required it," he said.
Brutally, he revealed he sometimes questions whether his career was worth the price he's now paying. But he always lands on the same answer.
'I often ask myself, in that moment of true misery, when I can't move, that moment of weakness, I'll ask myself – was it worth it?" he admitted. 'And the answer's always the same. I'd do it all over again, exactly the same again. Maybe next time, though in the next lifetime, I might go a little harder.
'[It gave me] a lifetime of employment, it's given me a small dose of fame, occasionally given me romance. It has given me great friendships. It's given me my life's greatest mentor – Allan (Jeans, his Hawthorn coach). And it has given me a purpose. But it's also taken away something very dear to me.'
AFL fans were stunned to learn of Brereton's plight, taking to social media with messages of support. Journalist Jake Niall said the revelations "should concern the AFL and past and current players."
One fan wrote: "Good for him to speak out so others understand. Some things like that can be far too embarrassing to share. Particularly someone with Dermie's hardened image."
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It comes after the son of Brereton's partner Julie was recently picked up by Essendon in the AFL's mid-season draft. Archie May, a 198cm-tall forward from WAFL club Subiaco, went to the Bombers despite Collingwood fans hoping to snare him.
May had previously revealed how Brereton has helped with his development. "Obviously it's a lot of hard work and sacrifices that go into the journey. I think it's about proving the people close to me right," he said of his mother's partner. "Dermott has been massive in my development. Especially in the last few years as I took football more seriously."
Good for him to speak out so others understand. Some things like that can be far too embarrassing to share. Particularly someone with Dermies hardened image.
— 'Chickenhead' 👌👨🌾🧑🍳🥷🕵️♂️🐣🐤🐔🐓🌏🌕🔥🐎 (@Jimali1111) June 6, 2025
That's what afl players (professional players of any sport) give up to live the good life, their body. It's the cost of living the good life, getting paid really good money and opening up a lot of doors in life. Of course your body is going to be minced playing 10+ years of footy
— Harry grant (@happyharrygrant) June 6, 2025
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