Dockers go to ground on Headland penalty - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Dockers go to ground on Headland penalty

By Justin Chadwick 21/07/2009 05:45:22 PM Comments (0)

Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich denies the club's players must adhere to a strict night curfew despite Des Headland becoming the third Docker this year to face the wrath from the leadership group after a late night out.

Headland and youngster Michael Walters hit the headlines on Monday when it was revealed they had become caught up in a police investigation into a brawl outside the Leederville Hotel at 1am on Sunday.

Police have not laid any charges over the melee, which featured up to 20 people, but the investigation is ongoing.

It is understood Headland and Walters only arrived at the scene after the brawl to help out Headland's injured friend.

Pavlich said the leadership group had met to decide Headland's fate but refused to detail what penalty was handed down.

The Dockers have already set a tough precedent this year into how they deal with any big nights out, with Brett Peake and Dean Solomon each stood down for one week earlier in the season for separate late-night drinking sessions.

Complicating matters on this occasion is the fact that Headland is injured and was unlikely to return for Saturday's western derby clash with West Coast in any case.

It could mean that any potential ban may only be imposed once he recovers from his hamstring strain.

"We'll wait and see how he's going with his injury and all those things, that will pan out," a tight-lipped Pavlich said on Tuesday.

"We handle all these situations by case-by-case scenario.

"The players have to make the correct decisions and not be robots, but ensure they make the correct decisions of times and places (to be out) and things like that.

"We've handled the situation internally with the leadership group, put a recommendations in and the club has as well and at this point that's about all we can say about it.

"It's been handled internally at this stage."

It is unclear whether Walters, a first-year player who has been taken under Headland's wing, will face any sanctions.

Meanwhile, Pavlich declared both he and ruckman Aaron Sandilands were almost certain to line up for the Dockers against West Coast.

Sandilands hasn't played since straining his hamstring in round 14 while Pavlich has missed the past three games with a calf injury.

"I've trained really well over the weekend and again yesterday morning," Pavlich said.

"I'm running at 100 per cent.

"We won't know until Thursday morning but I'm pretty confident I'll get up."

Pavlich said defender Chris Tarrant, who injured his knee against Brisbane on Saturday, was also on track to tackle the Eagles but Byron Schammer would miss another week through injury.

Fremantle sit last on the table following nine losses on the trot but will fancy their chances against West Coast after snaring the past four derbies.

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