WESTERN Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said he could understand former player Scott West's post-retirement letdown, given the club champion's love for the game and blind determination to overcome the knee injury that ended his career.

Eade, who coached West for the final four seasons of his 16-year career, said he still got along well with the seven-time best and fairest winner, and had met him for coffee and lunch since his 2008 retirement. 

The Dogs' coach said he knew why West sunk so low in the months following the end of last season, given his immense passion for the game.

"His knee is still sore at the moment but he just wanted to hang on because he just loves footy and prepares extremely well. He was as professional as anyone I'd seen," he said.

"It was a big part of his life. I think now he's got his head around that, he's got a clear direction where he wants to go.

"At the time, maybe if he'd thought about his knee being as bad as it was, then he could have prepared for some coaching but I think he just wanted to play”.

Eade admitted he wasn’t aware of the full extent of West's downward spiral, which Saturday's Herald Sun revealed as alcohol-fuelled and lonely.

"I knew at the time why he was upset about being made to retire because I knew it was such a big part of his life," he said.

"I think that was the reason he wanted to keep going, because he loved footy so much."

Current Bulldogs' defender Lindsay Gilbee said players were becoming more aware of their lives after football, and were putting steps in place to ensure they had something to go on to.

"We do have time on our hands but I think a lot of the guys realise how quickly AFL football can pass you by," he said.

"A lot of our guys and our coaching staff are big on guys doing uni courses and stuff like that. I think it's more the focus these days than guys going home and playing PlayStation."