“You’re trying to make me cry,” AFL great Shane Crawford says to 7NEWS presenter Mike Amor.

The pair are sitting down at the MCG — where the Brownlow medallist experienced the highest of highs — to discuss the lowest of lows.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Shane Crawford opens up on death of brother, Justin.

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Crawford wants to open up about the suicide of his brother Justin — who died age 45 — three years ago this month.

He’s doing it to send a message.

“It’s just like a wild storm that’s just thrown into your face and you just don’t know how to sort of move through it,” Crawford told 7NEWS.

“When I heard the news from my mother, and it took a full day for my mother to communicate with me,” he said.

Justin was also an AFL player.

He played first at the Sydney Swans, before joining his brother at Hawthorn.

Over four seasons in the 1990s Justin played 46 games, kicking 32 goals.

“He adored his son and had such an unbelievable relationship,” Shane said.

“Just to know that he didn’t feel worthy enough to be around for that ... umm, he was obviously well and truly over the cliff.”

Crawford’s decision to speak out coincides with the release of new data from health and life insurer AIA provided, exclusively to 7NEWS.

“We’ve got to try and stop it. We’ve got to be better at dealing with it and and trying to stop it before the worst can possibly happen,” Crawford said.

The data shows a surge in mental health disability claims, up from just 15 per cent of all claims in 2012-14 to 23 per cent in 2024-25.

“It is absolutely indiscriminate and the mental health situation in Australia has been getting more and more urgent each year,” mental health expert Dr Jaime Lee told 7NEWS.

AIA payments for mental health claims almost doubled from $280 million in 2023 to $557m last year.

In the first five months of this year, 28 per cent of total and permanent disablement claims have been mental health related.

“That’s what’s really concerning is that when it’s a life insurance claim, it’s for disability as a result of mental health, which means that they’re actually unable to work or perform their normal duties at work,” AIA CEO Damien Mu told 7NEWS.

“And so that’s a real concern if we’re saying one in four people are now claiming for that reason.

Crawford is joining ironman Guy Leech and ultrarunner Sam Gash to raise money and awareness at the top of the famous heartbreak hill during Sydney’s City to Surf fun run on Sunday, August 10.

For every extra mile the trio runs on a treadmill at the iconic location, AIA will donate $300 to the Blackdog Institute.

“Mental health knows no boundaries, is indiscriminate, but it’s men in particular that seem to be fairing worse,” Mu said.

Since retiring from AFL at the end of 2008 (his last game was the 2008 grand final), Shane has had a successful career in television.

He currently appears on Seven’s House of Wellness. Crawford is also an ambassador for AIA.

If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.