Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico reveals a urinary retention diagnosis forced him to wear a nappy

AFL legend Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico has revealed how he had to trawl pharmacists for nappies after a bladder condition left him urinating 30 to 40 times a day.

The Hawthorn grand final winner recently underwent surgery for urinary retention which left him needing to wear adult diapers.

The notorious hardman played with broken ribs and a punctured lung in his  1989 grand final success but said the pain from his bladder condition was worse than anything in his football career.

‘The worst is when you’re walking around the chemist looking for nappies and trying to hide it,’ he admitted

Following his health scare the 64-year-old urged men to get their health checked and not to try to tough it out like he did.

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AFL legend Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico has spoken out about a health condition which forced him to wear a nappy as he urinated 30 to 40 times a day

The 64-year-old revealed he recently underwent surgery for urinary retention in April, an illness which left him needing to wear adult diapers

‘Fortunately it wasn’t cancer or my actual prostate, but a lot of my mates were worried about me because of my so-called leakage,’ DiPierdomenico told the Herald Sun.

‘I thought silly men like me just put up with the pain, we all think we’re invincible. A punctured lung could have been my last game, but this was worse than any footy ­injury.’

The AFL icon said he felt ashamed walking around pharmacists looking for nappies but still did nothing about it until April when the pain got so unbearable he had to check himself into hospital.

‘We talk about men’s health all the time. The pain got so bad I went to emergency, and the persistence of the doctors fixed me up quick,’ DiPierdomenico said.

The father of two said an operation fixed the issue in April but he wishes he had addressed the issue earlier.

The notorious hardman once played on with broken ribs and a punctured lung in his 1989 grand final success but said the pain from this condition was far worse than any he experienced in his entire football career

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DiPierdomenico said he would tell his story at upcoming events to remind men to get themselves checked.

‘We’ve lost EJ Whitten and many others so it’s just important to get the prostate and all areas checked,’ DiPierdomenico said.

DiPierdomenico played 240 games for Hawthorn between 1975 and 1991.

He won five premierships and was awarded the Brownlow Medal in 1986.

He is also a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

DiPierdomenico played 240 games for Hawthorn between 1975 and 1991. He won five premierships and was awarded the Brownlow Medal in 1986