A NIGGLING calf complaint has forced Melbourne forward Chris Dawes out of Sunday's match against Fremantle.

He's been replaced by Cam Pedersen, while Billy Stretch was added to the club's emergency list.

The Demons told AFL.com.au Dawes hadn't strained his calf, but given his history of calf issues the club didn't want to risk him against the Dockers.

It expects he'll only miss one week of football and should return to face the Sydney Swans in round six.

Dawes has suffered a long history of calf problems, which resulted in a delayed start to last season and helped restrict him to 12 games in 2013.

Last year he saw Australian Institute of Sport specialists in Canberra to try to better handle the issue.

In his three matches this season Dawes has booted two goals and averages 11 disposals a game.