Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley is anxious and stressed but somewhat relieved since his doping saga became public, according to skipper Matthew Pavlich.
Crowley’s AFL career hangs in the balance after failing a doping test in July last year.
The 31-year-old has been provisionally suspended since last September, and will face the AFL’s anti-doping tribunal in the near future to find out his fate.
Crowley, the 2012 club champion, faces a suspension of up to two years.
Pavlich said the playing group were doing their best to help their friend through the process.
“Clearly, it’s been a stressful and highly anxious time for him, and it will remain that way until the hearing date is set, and the hearing has transpired,” Pavlich said on Thursday.
“He’s probably somewhat relieved that it’s now been made public.
“He’s spoken to the players and he’s able to move forward.
“It’s an incredibly difficult time for him and everyone at the club is supporting him through it.”
Pavlich said he only found out about Crowley’s positive test on Monday when the situation was made public.
He said the playing group were surprised and shocked to hear the news, but he backed them to remain resilient heading into the club’s season opener against Port Adelaide on April 5.
Fremantle claim Crowley tested positive after taking a banned painkiller that he sourced from outside the club.
Even though Crowley’s act went against club protocols, Pavlich was confident the players had been educated enough about the issue.
“There doesn’t need to be any more. I’m very confident of the level of education that is present at the moment,” Pavlich said.
Crowley has been the league’s best tagger for the past three seasons, and his likely absence in 2015 will leave a major void in Fremantle’s line-up as they attempt to win the flag.
Pavlich said fringe players Matt de Boer and Clancee Pearce were two options to fill the gap.
De Boer and Pearce will have the chance to vie for the tagging role in Sunday’s practice match against West Coast at Domain Stadium.
Fremantle included defender Luke McPharlin, Aaron Sandilands, Lee Spurr and Danyle Pearce for their final hitout of the pre-season, but Hayden Ballantyne (calf), and Tendai Mzungu (hamstring) were forced out.
Pavlich is confident Ballantyne, Mzungu and Michael Barlow (ankle) will be fit for the season opener.
West Coast welcomed back midfielder Scott Selwood (ankle) and ruckman Nic Naitanui (back) from injury, but forward Jack Darling (foot) appears set to miss the early part of the season.
