Johnson was suspended for five matches and fined $5000 following drugs charges last week, but Fremantle, which sits third on the AFL ladder with a 7-2 record, was still able to notch a gutsy road win against the Sydney Swans on Saturday.
Fresh revelations emerged on Wednesday that Johnson was caught in possession of ecstasy five years ago, while he was also spotted at a Perth nightclub at 5am last weekend.
Chief executive Steve Rosich confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that no further sanctions would be handed down to Johnson following the new developments, but said the scope of his counselling could be increased.
Harvey said he didn’t expect the continued off-field drama to hinder his players when they face North Melbourne at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.
“If we were going to see it we would have seen it on the weekend,” Harvey said from Fremantle Oval on Wednesday. “If there was any evidence it would have come out then, so I’d say no.
“I think probably everyone’s looking at our younger players and thinking they will [fall over], but you can look at a word called desire and how far that can take you.
“If the group was going to get affected it would be the younger guys that haven’t been through this before.”
Johnson resumes training on Monday and he will be unavailable for four more AFL matches. Harvey said he would instruct Johnson to watch Sunday’s game “from afar”.
The coach said he had spoken to his player twice in the last week, but not specifically about the drugs charges he faced in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday.
“I’m Michael’s coach; that’s what I am,” Harvey said. “I’ve spoken to Michael about how he’s going, not about it specifically since it happened. In time I’ll talk to him.”
Rosich said the 25-year-old was “distressed and disappointed with himself” but was looking forward to returning to training on Monday.
“Michael certainly has lost some trust and respect with the football club and also with his fellow players and that respect and trust needs to be earned back,” Rosich said.
“We’ll certainly provide him that opportunity, that opportunity will be best granted by being back at the football club and he'll be back on Monday.”
Fremantle has completed a gruelling three-match stretch that included trips to Brisbane and Sydney, with two road wins and a Friday-night loss to Collingwood considered a better than expected result.
However, having experienced two six-day breaks in those three games, Harvey said the club may be forced to make changes to a winning side against North Melbourne.
“We’ve had three big games in 14 days and we might just need to make a few changes through that,” he said.
Clancee Pearce and Matt de Boer both travelled to Sydney as emergencies and would be likely inclusions if changes go ahead.
Harvey said the club would not reassess its 2010 goals until the mid-season break, despite winning four of its last five games.
“It’s a good time to focus and see where you’re at,” the coach said.
“Naturally you’ve got seven games after that and you’ve got an angle of where you can head, what you need to do and what lies ahead.”
Fremantle faces North Melbourne (home), Adelaide (away), St Kilda (home) and Carlton (away) before its bye.
