Pavlich stunned after Dockers loss - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Pavlich stunned after Dockers loss

By Roger Vaughan and Tim Clarke 06/05/2008 03:35:28 PM Comments (0)

Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich has admitted to feeling "shell-shocked" about Sunday's disastrous AFL loss to Melbourne.

While Pavlich is proud to be in the Dream Team side for Saturday's Hall Of Fame match against Victoria, the week's break from club matches is also a welcome diversion for the key forward.

The Dockers have only one win from seven matches - the same as the last-placed Demons and West Coast - after squandering a 50-point lead at halftime on Sunday at the MCG.

The previously win-less Demons mounted the biggest comeback in club history to win the match by a goal, despite a five-goal haul from their skipper.

"(I'm) obviously very disappointed with the way things ended up - yeah, speechless was the word I used directly after the game but I guess I got over that part, just shell-shocked about it all, really disappointed," Pavlich said.

"This focus (the Hall of Fame match) has taken a bit off that, but still (I'm) making sure I get around the guys and speak to them to ensure they're on the job for training this week and then the (Western) Bulldogs in a week's time."

Pavlich was speaking at an AFL Players' Association media conference and that was all he wanted to say about his team.

The Dockers face an interesting month after the week's break.

They host the unbeaten Western Bulldogs, play improving Carlton at Telstra Dome, return to Subiaco to play Port Adelaide, before the long trek to the Gabba to take on Brisbane.

At their best, the Dockers would fancy their chances in at least three of those games, but given their current form they could conceivably reach the halfway point of the season at 1-10.

On Monday night, Fremantle coach Mark Harvey announced the club would use the week off to conduct a review of the team.

"It is a good time to do it, so everyone can get settled and get into where things are going right and wrong," he told Fairfax Radio.

Despite Fremantle's plight and their lack of success, Harvey said the underperforming club still had a solid image.

"I think people respect Fremantle being a competitive club, that is where I think it is at at the moment," he said.

"But on the back of that, there is not a lot of success.

"Okay, we got beaten by Melbourne, but I think they are going to beat other clubs in the near future - in time you will find Melbourne will take sides right to the wire."

Harvey also is far from giving up on the top eight, but admits it will be tough to break into the top four.

"Top-four sides are winning clearly, and therefore the rest of the competition are a chance to make between fifth and eighth," he said.

"It is still fairly tight after round seven.

""We have got six out of our top 10 guys out of the side at the moment, and include (Paul) Hasleby in that - and not many people want to talk about that.

"That can be telling.

"(Des) Headland, (Roger) Hayden, (Antoni) Grover, Hasleby, Josh Carr, Heath Black - hopefully in the next couple of weeks we get a lot of them back.

Hasleby is out for the season with a knee injury.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news