Essendon defender Courtenay Dempsey will not be available for senior selection until further notice after failing to meet the standards and expectations set by the playing group and football club.

As a consequence, Courtney will train with the club's VFL side until he consistently meets the professional standards required.

Courtenay is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a hamstring strain and will return to the VFL squad once fully fit.

Senior coach Mark Thompson said it was a tough but necessary course of action.

“Courtenay is a talented player and an important member of our team. We’ll give him the necessary support required to regain the consistent standards we expect of him as a player at this football club,” Thompson said.

“We felt that Courtenay needed to understand that we can’t accept individuals stepping outside of team protocols and requirements.”

“We sat down with Courtenay and discussed the reasons why his training standards had dropped, and as a result we agreed the best way forward for him was to go back and train with the VFL side.”

 The club will not be making any further comment on this matter.