The AFL has accepted Fremantle’s explanation for the controversial late inclusion of ruckman Aaron Sandilands in their side for the win last Saturday over Richmond.

The league issued a please explain and could have fined the Dockers after they brought in Sandilands for Jonathon Griffin at the last minute.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick was clearly non-plussed about the change in his post-game media conference.

But Dockers coach Ross Lyon angrily denied any suggestionthat it was a ruse.

Fremantle said they took Griffin out of the side because he suffered a groin strain in the pre-game warm-up.

The league announced on Tuesday it had received a medical certificate from the Dockers medical staff, plus a copy of an MRI scan.

Once team lists are lodged 90 minutes before the opening bounce, the teams can change their lineups only when a player suffers an injury or illness that is not pre-existing.