Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has urged the media to tone down their cynicism over forward Jesse Hogan's battle with clinical anxiety after a drinking session delayed his AFL debut for the Dockers.
Hogan's off-season signature was seen as the answer to Fremantle's longstanding quest for a dominant key forward, but that excitement has been tempered following events of the past week.
Hogan was incapable of training on Sunday after a night out on Saturday.
The Dockers subsequently made him unavailable to play against North Melbourne on Sunday, but insisted it not be described as a suspension.
Instead, Fremantle have said that Hogan's problems with alcohol stem from his battles with anxiety and mental wellbeing issues.
There has been no timeframe placed on his return.
"We need to respect this is a mental health issue, this is a wellbeing issue and you probably need to back off a little bit," Lyon told reporters on Wednesday.
"I can only be guided by our club doctors in this space.
"If you're more inclined to overrule our doctors and think you're more skilled in that area, I'm happy to hear that, but I'm telling you I'm not skilled in dealing with that."
Lyon wouldn't be drawn on Hogan's behaviour while under the influence of alcohol over the weekend.
"I'm not denying anything but I'm not prepared to go into what the outcome of him not being well looks like in detail because it's not appropriate," Lyon said.
"This has been an ongoing issue with Jesse in regards to working and feeling well and handling his wellbeing issue.
"We're dealing with what we're dealing with and the facts are the facts."
Australian Associated Press
