Dockers’ dodgy Hogan diagnosis

FREMANTLE have been exposed by medical professionals for making up Jesse Hogan’s diagnosis.

The Dockers confirmed they have now stopped using the term “clinical anxiety” to describe Hogan’s mental state.

A club statement earlier this week included comments from Dockers football manager Peter Bell, who said the star recruit had made poor choices around drinking alcohol because of “clinical anxiety”.

The Dockers have since reNORTH moved the word from that statement.

Several Perth clinical psychologists have reportedly had concerns about the term, with one saying clinical anxiety was not a diagnostic category and using the term could confuse people about mental disorders.

One said “AFL media spin managers” should not be deciding on the terminology for psychological disorders.

Hogan is sidelined indefinitely after drinking too much the night before training last Saturday night, with coach Ross Lyon saying the forward “clinical” had been withdrawn from Sunday’s season-opener against North Melbourne on medical advice.

Lyon said cynicism about the number of players being diagnosed with mental health issues was not warranted.

“It was an unavailability for selection because of the wellbeing issue and the mental health issue that we’re working through,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hogan’s former mentor Paul Roos backed the player to fight through his issues, saying he had already shown his resilience.