Troubled Fremantle midfielder Josh Simpson says he wants to keep his AFL dream alive despite hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons last week.

The Dockers fined Simpson an undisclosed amount on Thursday and banished him to the WAFL after he failed to board the team’s flight to Sydney as a travelling emergency last week.

Simpson will return to Fremantle training next week, but no date has been set on when he will be available for senior selection again.

In the meantime, he will play for the Dockers’ WAFL-aligned club Peel Thunder.

“I have had a lot of time to think about my actions and the consequences this may have had on my career,” Simpson said in a statement.

“I am motivated to be an AFL player and, with the continued support of the football club, I will make the most of this opportunity given to me.”

Simpson’s manager Jason Dover said his client made a poor decision that was clouded by a number of ongoing personal, family and health issues.

The 20-year-old has fallen foul of Fremantle’s standards on two occasions within the past four months.

Patience is starting to wear thin with the talented forward, who was Fremantle’s first pick in the 2012 national draft.

Simpson doesn’t have to look far as to how he can revive his career.

In 2012, Michael Walters was also banished to the WAFL after returning to pre-season training in sub-standard shape.

Walters worked hard to win back the trust of his teammates, and is now one of the best small forwards in the competition.