Former AFL football star Gary Ablett Snr has confessed "shame" about his post-career battle with drugs and the death of a young companion during a drug binge.

But the father of 20-year-old Alisha Horan, an infatuated fan of Ablett's, who died in his room at Melbourne's Park Hyatt Hotel in 2000 from a drugs cocktail, says the ex-footballer's confession is "garbage" and hopes Ablett will one day overdose on drugs.

In an interview with the Herald Sun, a few weeks ahead of the launch of his autobiography, Ablett said he began experimenting with drugs to combat depression he had suffered all his life.

He said he felt deep remorse for the tragedy.

"Apart from the pain and grief of the tragedy, I felt a deep sense of shame and failure over my own behaviour, and I still feel deep regret and remorse. I just wish I had a time machine," he said.

"I can't begin to imagine the pain suffered by those close to Alisha and in no way do I want to attempt to beguile her loved ones of the pain and grief of a loss so great.

"After it happened I could not get out of bed for about six weeks, such was the devastation. I was so grieved and depressed over the whole thing."

But Alisha's father Alan Horan has condemned Ablett for speaking out.

"Why would anyone bother printing garbage like that to start with? Don't believe him" Mr Horan told journalists.

"I wish he'd just overdose and go away."

Ablett had refused to answer police questions about Ms Horan's death from a combination of heroin, ecstasy and amphetamines on legal advice and declined to respond to most questions at her coronial inquest. He later made a full statement to police.

Ablett was cleared of criminal charges but was fined $1,500 for using and possessing heroin and ecstasy.

Ablett said the book was sport-oriented and did not refer to Ms Horan.

"It's a football book and I don't think it's appropriate, and I don't want to be in any way profiting from that tragedy," he said.

But Ablett said he was "disappointed and grieved" by the personal judgments of some about his lifestyle, saying personal and media criticism showed "the old tall poppy syndrome is alive and well in Australia"

Ablett thanked his "relationship with Jesus" for enduring his self-destructive behaviour.

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