He would go on to collect five junior best-and-fairest awards in a row."I know he was my son, but he was a natural," Tony says.Despite his clear talent, Nick was selfless on the field, known for passing off the ball to help lesser-skilled players get a touch or a goal."We loved those years and he was just so happy playing and doing what he loved," Kerry says.The AFL was his dream."He'd be asking me, 'Do you think I'm good enough, Dad?' And, I said, 'Of course you are,'" Tony says, 'You're as good as any of the others.'"His parents would remind him that footy "wasn't everything" Several Australian players who've been diagnosed have died by suicide."We don't really have enough data to draw a sort of a causal link between the two, but … it's a disturbing association, which I think needs more investigation," Dr Buckland says.He believes the AFL, like all major contact sports, needs a CTE prevention protocol."The way we're going prevent it is by reducing exposure, just like skin cancer and the summer sun, you reduce your risk by reducing exposure."Warning: The next section contains references to suicide.On the surface, life looked great for Nick.He'd carved out a strong semi-professional career, playing for the Casey Demons in the Victorian Football League then for Norwood in South Australia's league.He was at uni, had a loving girlfriend, an adoring family and supportive friends.But privately, his mental health was a constant battle.Nick tried medication