Latest news with #Koschitzke
Perth Now
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Former star breaks 20 years of silence on act of ‘shame'
Former St Kilda star Justin Koschitzke has made a chilling admission about his battle with head injuries during and after his playing days. Koschitzke retired from the AFL at the end of 2013 after 200 games, but he now admits there were times when he didn't want to take the field due to dizziness and other symptoms of concussion. Watch Justin Koschitzke on Unfiltered free and on-demand on 7plus Koschitzke — a former No.2 draft pick in 2000 — also told gun interviewer Hamish McLachlan that he can 'relate' to people who have had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and committed suicide as a result. 'The symptoms of people that have struggled with (CTE) and ended up taking their lives with it, really relate to me,' Koschitzke said in a chilling admission on Channel 7's Unfiltered. In 2006, Koschitzke infamously collapsed during a live television interview on Seven. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. That incident happened after he fractured his skull in a sickening collision with former Bulldogs star and current Essendon assistant Daniel Giansiracusa. 'So you're recognising the symptoms back then? Like, it's not as if you look back and thought I was suffering, you were very aware,' McLachlan asked Koschitzke. Koschitzke said he had always been 'very aware' that he wasn't quite right when he was playing, but he thought the symptoms would pass 'because I've just been smashed in the head'. '(I kept thinking) it will pass ... and this will get better, because you're in an environment where you don't want to lose respect from your teammates, you don't want to give an inch, you want to be in your armour because someone else is taking your spot (in the team),' he said. 'What I thought was 'manning up', was to come back and play that year, but if I had my time again, there's no way I would have played that year ... knowing what I know now. 'Maybe knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have played ever again. 'I can honestly say that. Why would I put myself in a situation to keep getting hit and keep getting hit knowing what I know and what I feel like as a 42-year-old? 'But back then your bulletproof, right? You think this is going to get better. Your legs are OK. No problem. Let's go and play. 'But it was just the most ridiculously uncomfortable period. Just Koschitzke and Daniel Giansiracusa after a sickening collision in 2006. Credit: @ChannelTen 'And running up the race with the helmet on going, 'I'm not ready. I'm dizzy, I'm out of body', and with the thought of the neurologist going, 'Jeez, I didn't know if you were ever going to walk or talk again', and then you've actually got a game to think about. You've got tactics, you've got opposition, you've got a game plan, you've got a structure, you've got all of this ... 'You've got to get yourself in a competitive environment, basically, when you're having an anxiety attack.' Koschitzke then admitted to feeling 'shame' for just wanting his team to lose and the AFL year to end. 'I don't think I've ever said this publicly before. It was here at the MCG, there was an elimination final that year against Melbourne (in 2006),' he said. 'Melbourne got three or four goals up in the third quarter or late in the fourth. Internally, I was the happiest person in this stadium or anywhere in Australia that Melbourne were going to win, and I didn't have to play the next week ... 'I can remember being dazed in that game and sort of blurring my way through to the end of the game. 'Melbourne wins. We're eliminated. Relief here. I'm toeing the party line in the rooms like it's a funeral, but in here I'm going, 'Thank God I don't have to rock 'n roll next week'. The shame you carry for that (feeling). 'You've got coaches and teammates and fans and supporters and everybody that's riding on your back to win a game before you, but internally I'm thinking, 'Oh my God, thank God I don't have to come and play again next week'. '(That was) 20 years ago, and that's the first time in public I've said that. Watch Justin Koschitzke on Unfiltered free and on-demand on 7plus '(Playing) became the worst two hours of the week, and then the shame you have to carry for that.' He said he often had to try and convince himself that he had the 'best job in the world' and there were 'millions of kids' who wanted to play AFL footy. 'And I get the opportunity to do it and play in it and be paid well for it,' he said. 'But I was like driving to the game (and I'm thinking) I just want this to be over.' If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
St Kilda great reveals heartbreaking reason why he forced himself to 'suffer quietly' after a life-changing injury rocked his career
Justin Koschitzke believes he returned to the footy pitch too soon after the St Kilda great suffered a horror head injury during a match in 2006. The 42-year-old, who said he had 'suffered quietly' after the life-changing injury, even thinks in hindsight that he should have perhaps hung up his boots entirely. During the Saints' Round Six victory over the Western Bulldogs back in 2006, the 42-year-old fractured his skull in a contest with Daniel Giansiracusa. Scary scenes unfolded, with Koschitzke dropping to the floor before he was taken from the field on a stretcher. He was expected to miss around four weeks of action due to the injury, but spent much longer on the sidelines, having struggled to regain hearing in one of his ears. Koschitzke, who is an advocate for mental health and wellbeing, would go on to miss 13 games of footy that season, returning for his side's Round 19 clash against Geelong. "Maybe knowing what I know now I wouldn't have played ever again" Justin Koschitzke discusses the hindsight he now has years on from this shocking incident. Watch Unfiltered on Seven and 7plus 👉 — 7AFL (@7AFL) April 23, 2025 Justin Koschitzke (pictured) has revealed that in hindsight he wishes he had retired from professional football instead of returning to play after sustaining a life-changing concussion But during an open and honest interview with Hamish McLachlan on Channel 7's Unfiltered, the 42-year-old revealed he would have done things differently in hindsight. 'You were recognising the symptoms then? It's not as if you look back and say you were suffering then, you were very aware of it then?' McLachlan asked, reflecting on the moment he was knocked out against the Bulldogs. 'I was very aware of it, but I thought that's OK because I've just been smashed in the head,' Koschitzke told the broadcaster. 'It will pass, this will get better. I suffered quietly. I couldn't tell anyone because you're in an environment where you don't want to lose respect from your team-mates or give an inch, you want your armour because then someone else is taking your spot.' Koschitzke has been open about his struggles with his concussion and mental health in the past, revealing in 2022 that he was unable to remember games that he had played in. During the interview the 42-year-old also revealed that there were games in which he wished his side would even lose. The footy star, who was drafted to the Saints in 2000, would hang up his boots in 2013, following a glittering career in which he kicked 247 goals across 200 appearances. But if he had his time again, Koschitzke stated that he perhaps wouldn't have returned so soon. 'What I thought was manning up was to come back and play that year when if I had my time again, there's no way I would have played that year. 'Maybe knowing what I know now I probably would never have played ever again. I can honestly say that. 'Why would I put myself in a situation to keep getting hit and keep getting hit - knowing what I know and feel as a 42-year-old. 'But then you're bulletproof. Your legs are OK, no problem, let's go play.' 'But it was the most ridiculously uncomfortable period. Running up the race, with the helmet on, going: "I'm not ready, I'm dizzy, I'm out of body," with the thought of the neurologist going: "Jeez, I didn't know if you were going to walk or talk again". 'And then you've actually got a game to think about. You've got tactics. You've got opposition. You've got a gameplan and a structure and all of this, you have to get yourself into a competitive environment, basically, while you're having an anxiety attack.' If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 24 at any time of the day, seven days a week for anonymous support and guidance.
7NEWS
23-04-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Former St Kilda star Justin Koschitzke breaks silence on playing AFL with head trauma
Former St Kilda star Justin Koschitzke has made a chilling admission about his battle with head injuries during and after his playing days. Koschitzke retired from the AFL at the end of 2013 after 200 games, but he now admits there were times when he didn't want to take the field due to dizziness and other symptoms of concussion. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Koschitzke — a former No.2 draft pick in 2000 — also told gun interviewer Hamish McLachlan that he can 'relate' to people who have had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and committed suicide as a result. 'The symptoms of people that have struggled with (CTE) and ended up taking their lives with it, really relate to me,' Koschitzke said in a chilling admission on Channel 7's Unfiltered. In 2006, Koschitzke infamously collapsed during a live television interview on Seven. That incident happened after he fractured his skull in a sickening collision with former Bulldogs star and current Essendon assistant Daniel Giansiracusa. 'So you're recognising the symptoms back then? Like, it's not as if you look back and thought I was suffering, you were very aware,' McLachlan asked Koschitzke. Koschitzke said he had always been 'very aware' that he wasn't quite right when he was playing, but he thought the symptoms would pass 'because I've just been smashed in the head'. '(I kept thinking) it will pass ... and this will get better, because you're in an environment where you don't want to lose respect from your teammates, you don't want to give an inch, you want to be in your armour because someone else is taking your spot (in the team),' he said. 'What I thought was 'manning up', was to come back and play that year, but if I had my time again, there's no way I would have played that year ... knowing what I know now. 'Maybe knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have played ever again. 'I can honestly say that. Why would I put myself in a situation to keep getting hit and keep getting hit knowing what I know and what I feel like as a 42-year-old. 'But back then your bulletproof, right? You think this is going to get better. Your legs are OK. No problem. Let's go and play. 'But it was just the most ridiculously uncomfortable period. 'And running up the race with the helmet on going, 'I'm not ready. I'm dizzy, I'm out of body,' and with the thought of the neurologist going, 'Jeez, I didn't know if you were ever going to walk or talk again,' and then you've actually got a game to think about. You've got a tactics, you've got opposition, you've got a game plan, you've got a structure, you've got all of this ... 'You've got to get yourself in a competitive environment, basically, when you're having an anxiety attack.' Koschitzke then admitted to feeling 'shame' for just wanting his team to lose and the AFL year to end. 'I don't think I've ever said this publicly before. It was here at the MCG, there was an elimination final that year against Melbourne (in 2006). 'Melbourne got three or four goals up in the third quarter or late in the fourth. Internally, I was the happiest person in this stadium or anywhere in Australia that Melbourne were going to win, and I didn't have to play the next week ... 'I can remember being dazed in that game and sort of blurring my way through to the end of the game. 'Melbourne wins. We're eliminated. Relief here. I'm toeing the party line in the rooms like its a funeral, but in here I'm going, 'Thank God I don't have to rock 'n roll next week,'. The shame you carry for that (feeling),' he said. 'You've got coaches and teammates and fans and supporters and everybody that's riding on your back to win a game before you, but internally, I'm thinking, 'Oh my God, thank God I don't have to come and play again next week. '(That was) 20 years ago, and that's the first time in public I've said that. '(Playing) became the worst two hours of the week, and then the shame you have to carry for that.' He said he often had to try and convince himself that he had the 'best job in the world' and there were 'millions of kids' who wanted to play AFL footy. 'And I get the opportunity to do it and play in it and be paid well for it,' he said. 'But I was like driving to the game (and I'm thinking) I just want this to be over.'
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy great reveals the shattering reason he used to pray that his team would LOSE their matches
St Kilda great Justin Koschitzke has revealed the shattering effects of how multiple concussion injuries and battling with his mental health led him to secretly hope that his team would often lose matches. The 42-year-old enjoyed a glittering career in the AFL, joining the Saints alongside his good friend Nick Riewoldt as a pick one and two swoop in the 2000 National Draft. The New South Wales-born forward, who would also play as a ruckman for the Victorian outfit, would go on to boot 247 goals across 200 appearances or the footy club before hanging up his boots in 2013. Koschitzke has been open on his struggles with concussion and mental health following his retirement, having stated back in 2022 to 3AW that he doesn't remember multiple AFL games that he played in. This week, the 42-year-old has again been reflecting on his career and revealed to Hamish McLachlan on Channel 7's Unfiltered, that there were some occasions where he hoped his side would lose games. 'It was here at the MCG, it was an elimination final that year against Melbourne,' he said to the legendary broadcaster, during an episode of the show which is set to air on Wednesday. The 42-year-old (right) enjoyed a glittering career in the AFL , joining the Saints alongside his good friend Nick Riewoldt (left) as a pick one and two swoop in the 2000 National Draft 'Melbourne got three or four goals up in the third quarter or late in the fourth. 'Internally, I was the happiest person in this stadium, or anywhere in Australia, that Melbourne were going to win and I didn't have to play the next week. 'Twenty years ago, that's the first time I've publicly said that. It became the worst two hours of the week. 'Then the shame you carry with that. I've got the best job in the world and you try and convince yourself (you do).' After joining the Saints in 2000, Koschitzke would go on to be crowned the AFL's Rising Star in 2001, but the following season, he suffered a hamstring injury that plagued him for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. During the 2006 season, he suffered a devastating fractured skull during his side's Round Six victory against the Western Bulldogs. He was subsequently ruled out for a large chunk of the season, having struggled to retain hearing in one of his ears. Speaking on The Agenda Setters, Riewoldt also spoke on his mate's mental health issues, but added the former footy star was in a 'much better place now.' 'I'm aware of Kosi's struggles, we're still really good mates,' Riewoldt told The Agenda Setters. 'It'll be a really confronting watch for people. Kosi's in a much better place now. But in reference to that, the footy field had just become a really dangerous place for Kosi on the back of head knocks and concussions and stuff like that. 'It just shows you never quite know what's going on in the minds of some of the people you think you know really well, including some of your teammates.' Having sustained several head injuries during his career, Koschitzke opened up in 2022 about how his mental health was, several years after having retired from the sport. 'There's multiple games I can't remember finishing the game or driving home and that's just ludicrous when you think about it,' he said on 3AW's Footy Then and Now Podcast. He added: '[My] mental health goes up and down, there's memory loss, there's mood swings, there's all sorts of things. 'And I'm sure there's a lot of other players out there that feel the same. 'It's just a management thing, knowing how to work on it and navigate through a lot of stuff.' If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 24 at any time of the day, seven days a week for anonymous support and guidance.
