Puka Up founder, mental health advocate and North Melbourne premiership player Wayne Schwass spoke to Jack Heverin on SEN's The Sporting Capital about the retirement of young Bulldog and former number 1 pick Tom Boyd.

Boyd retired yesterday at the age of 23, citing both physical issues and mental health difficulties.

"In a footy context, there’s some sadness in this for me," said Schwass.

"A 23-year-old, big brute of a boy, with his footballing career ahead of him. Premiership player. He has a lot ahead of him in a professional sense.

"But equally, I’m also incredibly proud and heartened by Tom’s decision. I don’t know Tom at all, but I’m assuming there’s been a lot of thought, there’s been a lot of discussion with the key people in his life.

"This would have been a very considered, careful decision.

"While it’s disappointing that the 23-year-old Tom Boyd AFL football player won’t play football anymore.. he’s got the rest of his life."

Schwass has spoken openly about his struggles with depression across his footballing career, and Heverin asked whether the North Melbourne Premiership player could empathise with Boyd’s challenges.

“I played my final 180-odd games in that headspace (of not enjoying football). There were fleeting moments where I enjoyed the thrill of playing footy again, where my mind was at ease.

“But the final two-thirds of my career, were playing footy but equally fighting this private battle. I fell out of love with the game, I didn’t enjoy it, I didn’t want to be there. I felt lost and disconnected.”

Schwass spoke passionately about the challenges facing young elite sportspeople in the current social media climate.

"Go and find me a 20-23 year old young man who can deal with the unrelenting scrutiny of elite-level performance, the world of social media and what comes with that, the big contract, the expectation, and still at this ripe young age of 23 deal with that on a daily basis.

"I would argue that there wouldn’t be many, if any… that could handle the unrelenting scrutiny that Tom has had to live with."

If you are experiencing mental health difficulties, Lifeline Australia can be reached on 13 11 14