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Headland sanctioned but Freo stays tight-lipped

By Mr Dandalooa

The Fremantle Dockers have sanctioned veteran Des Headland after he was caught up in a police investigation following a late-night drinking session on the weekend.

But the club is staying mum on the club-imposed sanctions.

Headland and young up-and-comer Michael Walters have been caught up in a police investigation into a brawl between up to 20 people which occurred at 1am Sunday near a taxi rank outside the Leederville Hotel.

Reports say no-one was seriously injured in the incident and that no charges have been laid.

The Dockers say Headland and Walters informed the club about the incident, but sanctions have been made regardless.

“Because it is the subject of a police investigation the club is not in a position to comment,” football operations general manager Chris Bond said.

FootyGoss understands that while the two are believed not to be involved in the brawl, the Fremantle Football Club is clamping down on players staying out late.

Dockers midfielders Dean Solomon and Brett Peake have already served one-week club-imposed suspensions this season for separate late-night drinking sessions.

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

He said the club handles “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, Pavlich said.

The leadership group had put a recommendation in to the extent of the sanction as well as the club.

But because Headland is injured and was unlikely to return for Saturday’s western derby with West Coast it is likely that any potential ban may only be imposed once he recovers from his hamstring strain.

Fremantle has had a horrid season, sitting last on the ladder with a just three wins this season.

The Dockers have lost their past nine games, including an humiliating 117-point defeat to Adelaide in round 15 when they kicked just one goal.

Headland has played just four games this season.