Former AFL star Brock McLean joins InsideOut as eClinic Ambassador to shine a light on men’s experiences with eating disorders

Former AFL player Brock McLean has joined the InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders as an ambassador for its world-first eClinic, using his lived experience with bulimia nervosa to challenge stigma and highlight the often-overlooked reality that eating disorders affect men too.

By sharing his journey, Brock hopes to encourage others to seek support earlier and remind Australians that recovery is possible. 

Brock McLean is a former elite athlete and respected mental health advocate based in Brisbane.  

Best known for his AFL career with the Melbourne Demons and Carlton Blues, Brock was celebrated for his resilience and commanding on field presence, playing 157 games over nearly a decade in the league.  

Away from the spotlight, Brock faced a private and prolonged struggle with bulimia nervosa. 

Beginning during his playing years and continuing beyond retirement, his experience was closely linked with co-occurring mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety.  

Like many men, he initially struggled to recognise the signs of an eating disorder or see himself reflected in the available support services.  

“My experience with bulimia nervosa was scary. I felt I had no control of what I was doing and in turn, that made me feel completely helpless”, said Brock.  

“The biggest challenge I faced was coming to terms with the fact I wasn’t well and that I needed to seek help, something that was really difficult for me, given the stigma around men's mental health and eating disorders.” 

“I honestly thought asking for help would be emasculating. But once I did, I quickly realised how much strength that took, which in turn broke down so many misconceptions I had about allowing myself to be vulnerable. That put me in a position to start getting better”, he said. 

Now in a place of strength and stability, Brock is committed to shifting the narrative around eating disorders by publicly sharing his story.  

He regularly speaks about the importance of seeking help, challenging stigma, and redefining vulnerability, not as weakness, but as a form of courage.  

Brock has collaborated with multiple mental health organisations and regularly speaks at schools, sporting clubs, and corporate events about his experience.  

He has also trained as a coach and mentor, supporting young athletes in both performance and emotional wellbeing.  

Brock is now a proud ambassador for the InsideOut eClinic – Australia’s first free, fully online, national treatment hub for eating disorders.  

It offers flexible, self-paced programs, including BEeT for binge eating and bulimia nervosa, SkillED for a wider range of eating disorder symptoms, SupportED for carers, and a Healthcare Professionals (HCP) Hub.  

By removing traditional barriers to care, the eClinic ensures patient access to vital support when they need it most, regardless of their postcode, socio-economic status, or cultural background.  

InsideOut Director and Clinical Psychologist Professor Sarah Maguire welcomes Brock’s ambassadorship. 

“We’re delighted to welcome Brock McLean as an ambassador for the InsideOut eClinic. By courageously sharing his experience, Brock is helping to break down stigma, highlight that eating disorders affect men and people of all genders, and show that recovery and strength is gained through facing and addressing vulnerability,” said Prof. Maguire. 

Eating disorders among men are significantly under-diagnosed. (1)   

The prevalence of binge-eating disorder (BED) may be as high in men as in women, while the prevalence of extreme weight control behaviours, such as extreme dietary restrictions and purging, may be increasing more rapidly in men than women. (2,3) 

“Brock’s voice will be an important part of ensuring Australians everywhere know that free, proven and effective support is now available through the eClinic.”” 

“The InsideOut Institute’s eClinic is a fantastic initiative, given one of the biggest roadblocks people face is the cost of accessing professional help, in what is already a fiscally tough environment for a lot of families,” said Brock. 

“This is going to help so many people suffering from an eating disorder and in turn, will save lives and change the course of many others and their families.”  

Now recovered, Brock continues to advocate for more inclusive approaches to treatment and greater awareness of eating disorders in sport and among men.  

He describes this chapter of his life with his partner Stephanie and their young daughters as his happiest and healthiest – proof that recovery is not only possible, but worth pursuing.  

He believes the future of eating disorder treatment lies in accessibility, empathy, and early intervention – all of which are at the heart of InsideOut Institute’s mission. 

Should you suspect you, or a loved one, may be living with an eating disorder, speak to your local healthcare practitioner without delay, or complete our online screener and assessment.  

For support services with 24/7 helplines contact: 

Butterfly National Helpline: 1800 334 673  

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 

LifeLine: 13 11 14  

Men’s Line Australia: 1300 78 99 78

Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800 

 References

1. Deloitte AE. Paying the Price, Second Edition: The economic and social impact of eating disorders in Australia. Report commissioned by The Butterfly Foundation. 2024. 
2. Dal Brun D, Pescarini E, Calonaci S, Bonello E, Meneguzzo P. Body evaluation in men: the role of body weight dissatisfaction in appearance evaluation, eating, and muscle dysmorphia psychopathology. Journal of Eating Disorders. 2024;12(1):65. 
3. Gorrell S, Murray SB. Eating Disorders in Males. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2019;28(4):641-51.