Dockers insist discipline is no problem

Veteran defender Luke McPharlin denies cracks are starting to show in Fremantle's renowned culture, and warns players who don't live up to the club's lofty standards will be dealt with.

Fiery small forward Hayden Ballantyne yesterday accepted a one-match ban - his fourth suspension in just over two seasons - as the cumulative effect of two reprimands from the AFL match review panel over separate incidents in the Dockers' 17-point loss to Sydney at the SCG last Saturday.

North Melbourne also have concerns ahead of the Len Hall tribute match at Patersons Stadium on Friday night, with All- Australian full-back Scott Thompson suspended for striking Collingwood's Travis Cloke and star West Australian Daniel Wells in doubt with a foot injury.

Ballantyne's absence leaves Fremantle vulnerable in attack, given fellow goalsneak Michael Walters had surgery on his left ankle last week and could be out for another four months.

Two of Ballantyne's potential replacements, Colin Sylvia and youngster Josh Simpson, are also unavailable because of poor discipline.

Sylvia is serving a two-match WAFL ban, while Simpson's career is in limbo after he refused to fly to Sydney as the travelling emergency last week.

McPharlin made it clear the leadership group was less than impressed with Simpson after the club's top 2012 draftee reacted badly to being dropped in the wake of his promising display as the substitute against Essendon in round four.

Simpson and his management were due to meet club officials yesterday, but it didn't eventuate.

Fremantle released a statement saying discussions were ongoing and until they were finalised, the 20-year-old would be on leave.

The issues come on top of defender Zac Dawson missing round three through suspension and young ruckman Zac Clarke having a delayed start to the season after injuring a knee at an off-season music festival.

Star midfielder Nat Fyfe also missed two matches for his bump on Gold Coast's Michael Rischitelli.

Only three Dockers missed games through suspension last year, however, they have already reached that mark just five rounds into 2014.

But McPharlin played down suggestions the team's strong culture, which has been a feature since coach Ross Lyon took over at the end of 2011, was slipping.

"We believe our culture is very strong, and has been for a number of years now," he said.

"We've had a couple of incidents early in the season that we wish didn't happen, but this is part and parcel of trying to organise and manage 40 players.

"For the great majority of our playing group, it's a very strong brand and a very strong culture.

"Unfortunately some players fall by the wayside, but we deal with them internally."

The loss to Sydney left the Dockers with a 3-2 record and McPharlin urged his teammates to rediscover their ruthless best against the Kangaroos.