St Kilda coach Alan Richardson is unsure when, or even if, Jack Steven will return to the AFL playing field after the midfielder's latest break to tackle a mental health issue.
Steven, 29, has taken indefinite leave for the second time this year after playing in four of St Kilda's first six games, with Richardson unable to provide a time-frame for his return.
"I really can't tell you, this is one of those unknowns," Richardson told reporters at Melbourne Airport on Friday.
"We're hopeful that he will come back and play, and he really wants to come back and play, but primarily we've got to make sure that we get him right and we don't know how long that will take.
"We can't really put a time-line on things, it will be when he's right to come back and play.
"We'll just support him now."
The club first announced Steven would take time away from the game on February 26, a break that ended when he was on hand to watch the Saints defeat the Western Bulldogs in their second pre-season game in Ballarat on March 10.
Despite missing two weeks of pre-season preparation, the four-time best-and-fairest winner played in the first two rounds before missing two games then returning to feature in rounds five and six.
Steven was reported to be sore but Richardson conceded his absence for games against Fremantle and Hawthorn was down to his mental health management.
On medical advice, it was initially felt that the structure of playing football would help Steven get on top of the issue.
But Richardson said that his condition had slowly deteriorated to the point both parties agreed another stint away was required.
"All the way through Jack has struggled to present himself in a manner both to train and then to play," the coach said.
"He's an exceptional footballer so he's been able to perform at a reasonable level, in fact he was quite impressive last weekend, but just the whole commitment to footy and to be at the footy club all the time was a bit much for him.
"We thought, and his experts thought, that playing footy would be the right thing to do so that was the avenue we down but now clearly having a break, and it may be an extended break, is the right way to go."
Steven's departure is the latest in a string of setbacks the Saints have overcome on their way to a 4-2 record.
Paddy McCartin's concussion issues have put his season in doubt, Dylan Roberton is out for the year with a heart condition, prized recruit Dan Hannebery continues to struggle with hamstring issues, skipper Jarryn Geary is recovering from a gruesome quad injury and Jake Carlisle will miss most of the season after back surgery.
Share
