Absent defender not a worry for Freo

All-Australian defender Michael Johnson didn't travel east with Fremantle today but the coach is adamant he won't be the latest player the Dockers have to overlook for Friday's clash with Hawthorn at the MCG.

Johnson was absent from Fremantle training and didn't board the plane for the Dockers' trip east this afternoon.

But coach Ross Lyon said Johnson had a personal matter to attend to and would make his way to Melbourne tomorrow.

Lyon said after their 48-point win over the Gold Coast Suns that star backmen Luke McPharlin and Johnson had both been sore in the wake of the physical contest.

But McPharlin was showing no ill effects today as he joined the main group while the session was open to the media and although Johnson failed to take to the track Fremantle expected him to retain his place.

Michael Barlow was not at Fremantle Oval after the club confirmed that he would miss four-to-six weeks with an injured left knee.

The Dockers were forced to make three changes to the team that defeated Gold Coast. Barlow was overlooked because of injury while Nat Fyfe and Zac Dawson were suspended earlier in the week.

Coming into today's travelling party were Zac Clarke, Clancee Pearce, Garrick Ibbotson, Lachie Neale and Hayden Crozier.