EXCLUSIVE: Married At First Sight groom is identified as former rising AFL star Jake Edward who once battled with drugs and depression post-career
One of the participants set to appear on Married At First Sight‘s eighth season has been identified as a former rising AFL star who played for Carlton Football Club.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Jake Edwards, 32, is set to get married on the show next year.
The tattooed star has been photographed arriving at a warehouse for filming with his mystery bride, as well as outside of his Sydney hotel talking to fellow grooms.
EXCLUSIVE! Former rising AFL star Jake Edwards, 32, (pictured) is the latest Married At First Sight participant to be identified
In another telling clue that he’s joined the cast, his Instagram account is now private – which is a requirement for upcoming brides and grooms.
Jake was a star on the rise when he abruptly abandoned his promising football career with Carlton after one poor game.
While he didn’t gain senior AFL selection, Jake played five games for the club in 2008.
Wedding bells: Jake was pictured alongside a blonde beauty arriving at a factory in Sydney to film dinner party scenes last week
Spotted: The tattooed hunk was photographed outside his Sydney hotel talking to fellow participant while filming the Channel 9 reality show
At the age of 19, he drove home to his parent’s farm, calling the club on the way to tell them he was quitting footy.
He has also publicly spoken about his battle with depression and anxiety, revealing his mental health was once so bad he contemplated suicide.
What he had kept from his coaches and fellow teammates was that he was enduring a daily battle that included insomnia, self-isolation, and bouts of crying.
Jake was a star on the rise when he abruptly abandoned his promising football career with Carlton after one poor game. While he didn’t gain senior AFL selection, Jake played five games for the club in 2008. Pictured during a training session in November 2007
‘I did what every typical young male does and just closed off. I didn’t want to talk about it, I didn’t want people to know about it. I eventually had a meltdown and went to see mum and dad. I just couldn’t get out of bed,’ he told QWeekend in July.
Edwards lapsed into a booze and drugs spiral that culminated in him trying to commit suicide in his bathroom after a four-day binge.
He said he was angry and confused because he didn’t understand why he was going through what he was experiencing.
Outspoken: He has also publicly spoken about his battle with depression and anxiety, revealing his mental health was once so bad he contemplated suicide
Jake is believed to have recently split with his longtime fiancée, Paige and was still in contact with her only weeks before going on the show.
He will join co-stars Booka Nile, a Perth-based singer, and Bryce Ruthven, a radio presenter, who were also recently revealed as participants on the upcoming season.
Booka sings in a hugely successful Perth-based band called Make Them Suffer.
Meanwhile, Bryce, 30, is hoping to find the love of his life on reality TV, having reportedly ended his engagement to a woman named Lana earlier this year.
Single: Jake is believed to have recently split with his longtime fiancée, Paige and was still in contact with her only weeks before going on the show
Revealed: Jake will join co-stars Booka Nile, left, a Perth-based singer, and Bryce Ruthven, right, a radio presenter were also revealed as participants on the upcoming season