The move forms part of new mental health and illegal drug policies for clubs, which the league commission approved at a meeting on Monday night.

The league will present the policies to club presidents and secretaries at a meeting on Wednesday night.

Wimmera Football League mental health commissioner Gavin Morrow said the league wanted to help clubs take preventative measures to stamp out illegal drugs, and ensure club officials and players had sufficient support to deal with mental health issues.

Mr Morrow was appointed to the new commission portfolio earlier this year. 

He said a Wimmera Uniting Care worker would visit each club to deliver a package of information, and also provide access to a guest speaker who could give club members a first-hand perspective on both issues.

League chief commissioner Trevor Albrecht said the policies followed similar ones at AFL level.

“Our policies will work as an umbrella for all clubs to give them the structure they need to deal with mental health and drugs,” he said.

“A couple of clubs have already implemented an illegal drugs policy, so this is just progressing on that forward thinking.” 

Mr Albrecht said the league would roll out the policies in the next month, with speakers attending clubs on Thursday nights for the rest of the season on a rotating basis.

He said the policies aimed to help both clubs and the wider community.

“Football clubs are the heart of the town and have a large number of members,” he said.

“Not all towns, especially smaller ones, have direct services to help them with mental health or drug issues.

“We are reaching out to a wider span of people and acting as the vehicle to drive that support network.” 

Mr Morrow said the approach was about providing a support network for clubs.

“If someone recognises changes in behaviour in themselves or another person, they will know how they can help,” he said.

Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly’s David Berry will also speak to club presidents and secretaries on Wednesday night about healthy living and positive life decisions. 

Mr Morrow said he had already received interest from other football leagues in Victoria about the new policies.

“Neighbouring leagues who have heard about what we’re doing are making contact and looking at doing something themselves,” he said. 

Mr Morrow said the illegal drugs policy was not about shaming those involved with drugs.

“We know there’s drugs out there in the community, even though we don’t know any specific cases within clubs,” he said. 

“We don’t want drugs in clubs, but we also want to stress that our intent is to get help for any person who is using drugs.

“We are also in talks about a potential social media policy – we are keeping our eyes on it.

“It’s a possibility, but only if it becomes a problem within our clubs.”

Mr Morrow has community mental health experience through his work as a committee member with Healthy Minds Horsham.

He has helped the league develop the new health and drug policies in the past few months.