Dale Thomas' move from Collingwood to Carlton was one of the most controversial in recent memory.
A hero in the Magpies' drought-breaking 2010 premiership, Thomas' shock switch to their arch-rivals at the end of 2013 to reunite with former coach Mick Malthouse was seen as the ultimate betrayal by Collingwood fans.
Combined with the fact Thomas accepted big money from the Blues when free agency in the AFL had only just been introduced, the then 26-year-old was under intense pressure to deliver at his new club.
In a video for headspace, the utility has spoken about the toll injuries had on his mental health while trying to make a success of his highly-publicised transfer.
"My second year (at Carlton) in the first minute of the first game, I dislocated my shoulder and my was season done," Thomas, 31, said.
"In terms of trying to start fresh at a new club and make an impact, escape a bit of that media scrutiny and then have it all heaped on you again.
"Four days later, I had the birth of my first child so it was a bit of the yin and yang on life in a week.
"Looking back now I probably wish I had've delved a bit deeper into coping with the injury first and then the excitement of being a first-time dad.
"When those disappointments come along now it's something I look back on and I deal with so they don't build up and bubble away
"For too long I went and took the weight of the world on my shoulders in terms of not reaching out to people about what was actually affecting me."
Thomas has played 76 games for Carlton for a career total of 233 after making 157 appearances for the Magpies between 2006 and 2013.
He is part of a headspace campaign, which includes Western Bulldogs premiership hero Tom Boyd, to help young men stay on top of their mental health.
