COLIN Sylvia was receiving regular feedback from the Fremantle players and coaching staff prior to being banished from the club for failing to meet minimum fitness standards, according to Dockers defender Lee Spurr.

Sylvia has been sent to train with WAFL affiliate side Peel Thunder while he attempts to regain the fitness levels required at the Dockers.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon and the Fremantle squad provide regular feedback to players and Spurr, a member of the club's leadership group, said Sylvia was no different to any other player.

"All players get regular feedback throughout the course of the year and every week," Spurr said.

"Colin was no different in that regard. Everyone got feedback and Colin got feedback as well."

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Spurr said the playing group supported the club's decision to send Sylvia back to Peel Thunder but insisted the players were still supportive of the 29-year-old, and they hoped he would be able to return as soon as possible.

"If you look back a couple of years and you look at Michael Walters, he went back there (to the WAFL), came back and now he's one of the best small forwards in the competition," Spurr said.

"There's no reason why Colin can't do that and we'll give every resource to him to achieve that. I certainly hope he can and hopefully in six months’ time we're standing here talking about how good his comeback has been."

If Walters' experience is anything to go by, the road back to the club will not be an easy one for Sylvia.

Walters failed several skinfold tests in January 2012 and was sent away from the club to play and train exclusively with Swan Districts in the WAFL.

It took two months before Walters returned to have his skinfolds tested again and then both the leadership group and the coach had to tick off his return to the Dockers.

The dynamic small forward played 14 straight matches in the WAFL before finally winning back his place in the senior side six months after being banished.

Lyon told AFL.com.au that Sylvia returned in poor shape after Christmas and performed poorly in several 3km time-trials.

The ex-Demon will have to do conditioning training on his own and train with Peel Thunder at their training base in Mandurah, an hour south of Perth.

Spurr said the players were in regular touch with Sylvia and would communicate with him while he was away from the Dockers.

Walters has previously stated that the support and constant contact from his teammates was vital in helping him return.

Spurr said training away from the group would be difficult.

"It's certainly going to be a challenge for Colin," Spurr said.

"But I'm confident he can rise to that challenge and come back bigger and better hopefully."