COLIN Sylvia's road back to AFL football has hit a hurdle after he was ruled out of playing in the WAFL this week due to concussion.
Fremantle made the decision to send Sylvia away to train with WAFL club Peel on February 5, stating the 29-year-old was "not meeting the physical requirements for AFL football".
The veteran suffered a minor quad injury in the first practice match against Swan Districts and had a relatively quiet game in the second against Claremont, when the club lost by 115 points.
Peel had a bye in round one of the WAFL season and Sylvia missed round two with a calf issue. The Thunder lost their opening match in round two but have since won three in a row.
After 17 touches in round three, Sylvia had 16 in round four and kicked the match-winning goal against Perth.
He gathered just four possessions in the first half last weekend against East Perth and played no further part due to concussion.
A Fremantle spokesman told AFL.com.au on Friday that Sylvia had been ruled out of Peel's clash with Claremont on Sunday after failing a concussion test this week.
"Unfortunately he sustained a knock last weekend and was concussed," the spokesman said.
"He has had follow-up tests this week, which he has failed and as a result is not available for selection."
Perhaps indicative of where Sylvia sits in Fremantle minds, the out-of-favour midfielder is not listed on the club's official injury list.
Sylvia has been given a set of training and playing guidelines to fulfil in order to return to the Fremantle fold but he has now managed to play just two-and-a-half games in the first five weeks of the WAFL season.
The former Demon was recruited by Fremantle as a free agent at the end of 2013 and is contracted until the end of the 2016 season.