FREMANTLE has lost patience with Cam McCarthy, with the forward dropped from the side set to host Adelaide at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

It came as Aaron Sandilands withdrew from the squad earlier in the day after failing his cognitive test this week by a “wide margin” following his concussion against North Melbourne.

McCarthy kicked just three goals in his past five matches to notch a tally of 12 majors in 11 appearances this season.

The 23-year-old’s absence in the forward line will be offset by the return of Hayden Ballantyne and Brandon Matera after the duo put in encouraging showings for WAFL side Peel.

Asked about his side’s set-up in front of goal, Dockers coach Ross Lyon said: “It’s such a young forward line.

“It was really enjoyable in the first six or seven weeks because we were averaging a lot of entries. That’s just dried up a bit being quite young so it can be quite challenging.”

Sandilands missed last weekend’s loss to Collingwood after the 211cm giant was left concussed after an attempted shepherd on North Melbourne’s Sam Durdin a fortnight ago.

The 35-year-old was named in the extended squad to take on the Crows yesterday before he was withdrawn today.

“He's failed his cog state by a wide margin, that had occurred earlier in the week,” Lyon said.

“There's opportunities to test tomorrow and closer, but we think it's just a bit risky. When you've been around some concussion, they do look a bit doey in the eyes, and a bit glazed, and he certainly looked that earlier in the week.

“Sometimes they have symptoms of ongoing headaches. I haven't checked in too much. Except flagged early that, 'Mate, you'd have to be 100 per cent'. “But we're going to take no risk. There's no pressure. He'd have to be bouncing out of his skin to let him go and play, so we're not at that level yet.”

Lyon indicated there could be late changes on Sunday depending on the weather with heavy rain forecast but said it was likely both Michael Apeness and Scott Jones would share ruck duties again.

Lyon said Harley Bennell would not play for Peel tomorrow after failing to play out the game last week due to tightness in his troublesome calves.

He confirmed Bennell had not been scanned.

“He’ll miss this week and we are optimistic on the next week but it’s been quite tricky, hasn’t it, getting him to the line consistently so I certainly don’t sit here and guarantee it,” Lyon said.

“It’s really at the lower end and it’s really gone to the other side. He is trying to catch up a long way, it’s going to take a bit of time unfortunately.”