Fremantle Docker Michael Johnson made a brief appearance at Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday over an allegation of assault on a Bunbury school teacher following a bizarre incident at Leederville kebab shop Cosmos in November.
Johnson, 32, was given $500 bail as the case was adjourned to a later date - with his lawyer requesting a copy of CCTV footage of the alleged incident.
Parts of the CCTV footage from the kebab shop were aired on Seven News, prior to police charging the Dockers key defender with assault occasioning bodily harm.
The adjournment will not please Johnson's employer, with the Dockers keen to put the issue behind them and focus on the season ahead.
Police will allege the All-Australian defender assaulted a Bunbury school teacher who filmed him with his pants down around 3am inside the popular late-night eatery.
The incident occurred while Johnson was on leave from the club, with Fremantle Dockers chief executive Steve Rosich releasing a statement days after the alleged assault saying he was "disappointed" at the situation Johnson found himself in.
"In this instance the position Michael placed himself in, including his alleged behaviour, was not acceptable. As a club we support the person and challenge the behaviour," he said.
"Thankfully, there was not anyone seriously injured.
"Given that the matter is still being investigated by police, the club is not in a position to comment further or discuss any possible sanction until the investigative and legal process is completed."
Johnson was previously removed from the Dockers' leadership in 2010 because of a drug charge. He was reinstated in January, in the lead-up to a 2016 season in which he would play only four games because of injury.
The 32-year-old has played 209 AFL games since his debut in 2005 and his presence in defence is widely regarded as pivotal to Fremantle bouncing back from a disastrous year, in which the Dockers dropped from minor premiers to fourth last on the ladder.
Before the Johnson incident, Fremantle had a great start to the off-season, using the trade period to add Cam McCarthy from GWS, Bradley Hill from Hawthorn, Joel Hamling from the Western Bulldogs and Shane Kersten from Geelong, as coach Ross Lyon looks to return the club to finals contention.
Johnson's court proceedings come as fellow Docker Harley Bennell prepares to face Fremantle Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with no authority to drive.
The Gold Coast recruit hit the training track with his Fremantle teammates on Wednesday, with onlookers saying he looked extremely fit.
Former Docker Shane Yarran, who retired from the AFL in December, will also face court in February, accused of common assault and unlawful wounding.
He has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful wounding charge which relates to an allegation he stabbed another man with a broken bottle outside a pub in 2015.
