CONTROVERSIAL Fremantle young gun Josh Simpson has suffered another setback in his bid to establish a regular spot in the AFL and will miss Saturday’s big clash against Sydney.

Simpson, 20, missed his flight to Sydney on Thursday afternoon and was replaced in the travelling party by promising forward Hayden Crozier.

It is believed an announcement was made at Perth Airport in a bid to locate Simpson, who was due to be first emergency for the clash against the Swans.

Crozier was withdrawn from duties with Fremantle’s WAFL alignment club Peel Thunder to play against East Fremantle in Mandurah on Good Friday afternoon.

Simpson also did not play for Peel today as expected in the clash against the Sharks.

The gifted Simpson was dumped after indiscretions over his past two seasons while a developing Docker at East Fremantle.

He was not foreign to disciplinary problems with Fremantle and his WAFL club last season after he was taken with great expectations as the Dockers first choice and number 17 overall at the 2012 national draft.

Simpson was allowed compassionate leave from summer training when he was homesick and headed back to Yalgoo, his remote country town 500km north-east of Perth and about 200km inland from Geraldton in WA’s Mid-West.

He had been expected to make his third Dockers appearance after making a comeback to the team as substitute in Fremantle’s strong victory over Essendon last Sunday.

Simpson managed an impressive 13 possessions in just the second half against the Bombers after the nippy left-footer replaced experienced midfield star David Mundy when he was ruled out of the rest of the match with concussion.

He was tipped to replace injured small forward and mentor Michael Walters who has had surgery to a serious ankle injury and is likely to miss the rest of the season.

Originally published as Josh Simpson misses Freo flight