INTERIM Melbourne coach Neil Craig has warned against the rush to condemn Essendon Jobe Watson, the subject of fierce jeering from West Coast supporters on Thursday night following his admission at having taken a banned substance.
Craig said Watson's comment was just one small piece of a detailed and complicated puzzle and that it was dangerous to draw conclusions based on one utterance.
"There's a lot more information around and that dovetails in a whole lot of different directions and to just release one piece of information is really dangerous," he said at AAMI Park on Friday.
"I understand to a certain extent why people might react to Jobe like that. But the information will then come out and people will be able to make their assessments based on factual information and the whole picture, rather than the bits and pieces we have now.
"I think we need all parties - media, clubs and players - to show some responsibility here and keep calm about it. The results, the findings will be related and then you will have factual information.
"You are dealing with people's reputations."
Craig sat through a lengthy interview with ASADA and the AFL earlier this year when it emerged there had been contact between the Demons and controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank.
"Having sat through a four-hour interview, there was information that I learned though questions and answering that I didn't know about.
"It's information that you guys don't have at the moment and that's the way it should be."
The AFL has drawn fire from some quarters, particularly Carlton coach Mick Malthouse, for pretty much remaining silent this week. But Craig supported the League's actions.
"I am not in charge of releasing the information but I would back the AFL to make responsible decisions about what information should be released into the public arena. I'm backing them in," he said.
Ashley Browne is an AFL Media senior writer. @afl_hashbrowne
