AFL Players Association CEO Paul Marsh has vented his frustration over people questioning the validity of players coming out with mental health issues.
Fremantle's Jesse Hogan is the latest player to come out with mental health issues, with clinical anxiety ruling him out of Round 1.
Speculation that players were using mental health as an excuse to cover up drug abuse has been raised throughout the football media.
Marsh says this questioning is unacceptable and must stop.
“You get to this point where the players have got this courage to address and talk about an issue as private as their mental health struggles, then we’ve got this deplorable situation where people are questioning players’ motives in this situation,” he told SEN’s Whateley.
“It’s just got to stop.
“It’s the biggest health issue in our country.
“It’s time to get behind these people and support them.
“There’s clearly no relation to drugs in Jesse Hogan’s situation and that’s on record.
“We’ve got to be having a real hard look at ourselves if we’re questioning players who are having the courage to share that they’re struggling with mental health issues.
“I think that’s a really poor position that we’re now in if we’re having those conversations.”
Hogan joins St Kilda’s Jack Steven in coming out with mental health issues in 2019.
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Hear Gerard Whateley's full interview with Paul Marsh in the player below.