Dogwatcher wrote:I just hope this is a mental health issue and its not being used to cover something else.
Cynical, I know.
Mmm. I share your sentiments, Dogwatcher.
The term 'mental health issues' appears to be the term relied upon by the club in their dealings with the media, but it has a pretty broad scope. It could be depression, for example, but (as far as I understand it) it could also be any form of addiction.
If Franklin's issue is the former, a la Mitch Clark, then why not say so? Clark's recent battles (as with others before him, such as Nathan Thompson) and an improved awareness in the general community thanks to organisations such as Beyond Blue etc have cleared a space for depression to be treated and recognised in the footy world with the respect, dignity and seriousness that it deserves. The sooner it's out there, the sooner Franklin's rehabilitation can begin, because the public will be 1000% behind his return to health. It would also assuage the concerns of the public about whatever his affliction is, given he is in the public spotlight. The longer 'mental health issues' are used as the reason, the sooner people will want to know what the actual issue is.
On the other hand, if it were the latter then I understand why it would be referred to under a more general description, for more 'political' reasons.