Richmond's Shane Edwards says it's important teammate Chris Yarran is given the space and time he needs while on indefinite leave from the AFL club.
The Tigers revealed on Thursday that Yarran is seeking treatment for a mental health condition.
The speedster is yet to play a game for his new club since making an off-season move from Carlton.
Coach Damien Hardwick made it clear on Thursday that Yarran's health and wellbeing is the club's top priority and there is no timeframe for his return to football.
"I think he needs as much privacy as he can get. It's a private matter," Edwards said on Friday.
"He's sorting some issues out. It's a private matter but he's taking the right step forward to hopefully playing more football in the future.
"I reckon we just need to let him be and let him recover and make sure he can get on the track and help us out."
Yarran took time off last week to deal with a family issue, while he has suffered a wretched run with injury since leaving the Blues to sign a three-year deal with Richmond.
He underwent foot surgery earlier this year, while a recurring calf problem ruined his pre-season.
Edwards had his own injury concerns at the start of the season, hurting his shoulder then missing round two because of hand surgery.
The 27-year-old is now feeling as fit as he ever has and desperate to extend Richmond's recent resurgence after wins over Sydney and Fremantle.
"We put a lot of hard work in at the start of the year and didn't get as much reward as we would have liked," he said on the eve of the side's Dreamtime at the 'G clash with Essendon.
"It (the reason for the turnaround after a poor start to the season) is just consistency.
"Earlier in the year we played a lot of good quarters and a lot of good halves.
"But we often had a lapse in the third or fourth .. we just need to make sure we stick to the basics and play well all game."
Jack Riewoldt had a light training session on Friday but Edwards suggested the key forward would be right to face the Bombers.
"He's fine. He's probably just carrying on a little bit," he said.
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