AFL great Jimmy Bartel opens up on ‘incredibly violent’ father and dark family past

Geelong champion and Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel has revisited his dark childhood and time spent with an abusive, alcoholic father.

Bartel, an Australian Football Hall of Famer , has previously spoken about his violent father, but he has now shared more details about the relationship, and documented one “scary” night in particular.

Bartel was only a baby when his parents split up but his father still featured in his life.

“I didn’t understand the reason for the separation early doors or the volatility in that relationship,’’ Bartel said on the A Life of Greatness podcast .

“Even though my parents divorced, my mum never said a negative word about my father, who was violent.

“He battled alcoholism and gambling addictions and was incredibly violent towards my mum and others in m