AFL legend Michael Tuck has opened up his his son Shane's tragic death on Monday aged 38.
Shane played 173 games for the Tigers between 2004 and 2013, kicking 74 goals.
He passed away onย Monday morningย leaving behind his wife Kat and children Will and Ava.
Michael, who played 426 games for Hawthorn and won seven premierships, said Shane had been struggling with mental problems "he couldn't get rid of".
โHe was a big, strong kid and he just had a few issues and he couldnโt get rid of them and that was the only way out,โ Michael told The Herald Sun.
โA lot of men think theyโre alright and theyโre actually not, and the best help they can get is telling people actually how bad they are, and not saying, โIโm alright, Iโm alrightโ.
โIt was bit like that (with Shane), he kept it all in because he was a tough, strong man. But youโve got to show โฆ itโs not a weakness, itโs just to express yourself with honesty and donโt try to cover up things.
โHe didnโt mean anything by it, he just couldnโt admit he had a real bad problem.โ
Michael said he was focused on the good times he spent with his son but that the family was rocked by the tragedy.
โIโm just thinking of the good times and you try to keep yourself busy doing things,โ he said.
โHe will always be there and I just have to be grateful for the time I had with him.
โOur family, his brother and sister, are very, very upset, so itโs a very, very sad family at the moment.
โWeโll never get over him.โ
