Fremantle coach Mark Harvey has rejected criticism the club was too harsh on veteran Dean Solomon after he was suspended internally for a late-night drinking session in Melbourne last Sunday.
According to the Dockers, Solomon was suspended for acting unprofessionally after he was out past 3am last Sunday night, in an incident that also saw Essendon's Mark McVeigh suspended for one match by the Bombers.
Fremantle had previously imposed a one-match ban on forward Brett Peake after he was out drinking through the week.
But the Dockers have come under criticism for their handling of Solomon, as the 28-year-old did not miss any training sessions or club requirements after he stayed on in Melbourne for an extra day following Fremantle's big loss to Collingwood.
Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Harvey stood by the decision, saying with so many youngsters at the club, an example needed to be set.
"We are trying to educate them the best way to prepare to become an elite team, and sometimes individuals will step over the line," Harvey said.
"With a young group you need to point them in the right directions, and this is another example of that. Perhaps our policy is a lot stricter than other clubs."
"In the end it comes down to the individual and what he thinks is going to get him to the elite level regularly and get the best out of himself."
Harvey said he was still tossing up whether to play Solomon in the WAFL this weekend, as the former Bomber has a slight knee complaint that could use a week's rest.
"He's got a rumbling knee, so that's not anything to do with whether he has a drink or not," Harvey said.
"It's just in the interests of what we get out of Dean for the rest of the season."
Solomon's omission has come at the worst possible time for Fremantle, though, as the 2000 premiership player has been particularly effective working through the midfield following season-ending injuries to Rhys Palmer and Ryan Crowley.
With skipper Matthew Pavlich also removed from that midfield with a calf injury, Fremantle looks set to field one of its lightest on-ball divisions seen this year against the Blues on Sunday.
Clayton Hinkley has been brought into the side to replace Solomon on the wing, while fringe Dockers Daniel Gilmore, Adam Campbell, Ryan Murphy and Kepler Bradley have all been named on an extended interchange bench that will be cut to four on Friday.
The Blues will also be taking a drastically changed line-up into Sunday's match after coach Brett Ratten swung the axe following the dismal 69-point loss to Essendon last Friday night.
High profile midfielders Nick Stevens and Heath Scotland, along with Jordan Bannister and Steven Browne, were all omitted, while Paul Bower misses due to a knee injury.
Brendan Fevola has been named at full forward despite having finger surgery last Saturday and Ratten has included Joe Anderson, Greg Bentley, Cameron Cloke, Jeff Garlett, Chris Johnson Bret Thornton, Jordan Russell and Chris Yarran in a squad that will be cut by three on Friday afternoon.