The tragic past of a footy hero: AFL star opens up about being sexually abused by a Little League coach as a nine-year-old and how he plied himself with drugs and alcohol at the height of his career before attempting suicide Footy star opens up about sexual abuse he suffered as a boy at his beloved club Rod 'Rocket' Owen starred for St Kilda in 1980s after AFL debut at age 16 Owen, now 54, revealed he was sexually abused by team managers aged nine He has struggled through drug, alcohol and gambling addictions through life