Jeff Farmer's chances of earning another contract with Fremantle have taken a massive hit after the 31-year-old was slapped with a one-match ban by the AFL's match review panel.

Farmer was charged with a level two striking offence for his undisciplined forearm hit on West Coast's Mark Nicoski during the third quarter of the Dockers' 33-point western derby win on Sunday.

Farmer's existing bad record of eight matches suspended within the past three years meant the offence, which drew 125 demerit points, was increased by 50 per cent to 187.5 points and a one-match ban, irrespective of whether he enters an early plea.

The suspension couldn't come at a worse time for the out-of-contract Farmer, who is fighting for his footballing future after an indifferent season.

Farmer, whose career has been littered with both on and off-field controversy, has registered just 20 goals in 17 games this season and was also suspended by the club in round 14 for missing a recovery session.

The club has said it would wait until the end of the season before deciding whether to re-sign Farmer but with coach Mark Harvey clearly looking to youth to turn around the club's fortunes, the 246-game veteran is facing an uphill battle to remain with the club.

But a day after Shaun McManus bid farewell to the Dockers, and with Peter Bell and Matthew Carr already long gone, defender Michael Johnson urged the club to offer Farmer another contract.

"I would love to (see Farmer play on)," Johnson said.

"Jeff's a leader to all the Aboriginal boys at the club and also to a lot of younger guys.

"I would like to see him stick around for a couple more years because I reckon Wiz (Farmer) is a great leader on the field and a lot of boys look up to him.

"If I've got anything to talk about he's always there to back me up. He's sort of like another brother to me.

"I haven't spoken to Wiz about his future. I think he's spoken to his manager but the way I've seen it I think he'll be playing on next year."

Defender Heath Black is expected to announce his retirement before the end of the season while question marks still surround the futures of former Bomber Mark Johnson, vice-captain Josh Carr and Dean Solomon.

"We've got a few older players who are retiring this year and I guess it's time for the young players to step up," Johnson said.

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