Fremantle captain Alex Pearce was an absentee when the club's travelling squad boarded the flight to Melbourne on Thursday afternoon.
The Dockers will take on Melbourne at the MCG for Round 22 on Saturday.
Pearce has been in brilliant form in 2026, but has battled injury problems throughout his 13-year career.
10 News reported that Fremantle key defenders Oscar McDonald and Brennan Cox did board the flight, but Pearce was missing.
It is expected that the Dockers skipper is being managed given the club has all but sown up top spot on the ladder and has a maiden-premiership hunting finals campaign ahead of them.
The form of veteran Oscar McDonald would have helped in Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir's decision to rest his skipper.
McDonald had one of the best performances of his 101-game, 11-year career last weekend against the Western Bulldogs.
The 30-year-old had 22 disposals (at 91 per cent), 19 kicks and 12 marks in a dominant display down back.
McDonald will line up against his former club Melbourne after spending six seasons on the Demons' list from 2015-2020.
Cox has missed the past fortnight through injury, but will take Pearce's place in the league's best backline.
Fremantle has continued with its ruck partnership of Luke Jackson and Mason Cox, despite Sean Darcy's strong form in the WAFL.
Darcy had 26 disposals, 41 hit outs and two behinds for Peel Thunder last Saturday.
Small forward Tobyn Murray also travelled with the group to Melbourne, but it may be more likely that it is an opportunity for the 21-year-old first year player to visit family and friends in his native state.
