Pavlich, Glass fit for AFL's WA derby - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Pavlich, Glass fit for AFL's WA derby

By Justin Chadwick 01/08/2008 08:03:28 PM Comments (0)

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey has declared captain Matthew Pavlich a certain starter for Sunday's western derby showdown with arch AFL rival West Coast while the Eagles welcome back skipper Darren Glass.

Pavlich missed last week's win over Port Adelaide with a jarred knee but Harvey said his star charge was 100 per cent fit and ready to go.

"He'll play," Harvey said.

"(I'm) more than confident he'll be right."

But the news isn't so bright for Luke Webster, Heath Black and Robert Warnock, who have all undergone season-ending surgery.

Webster, who underwent the same radical knee surgery as Sydney's Nick Malceski earlier in the year after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament for the fourth time, was forced to go under the knife again this week after copping a knock to his recently-reconstructed knee at training.

Although it was only minor surgery, Harvey doesn't expect to see the out-of-contract utility play again this season, putting the 26-year-old's future at Fremantle in grave doubt.

"You are not into giving games to players just for that (sentimental) reason but I think I've been pretty good at handling guys when they retire and their last games and things like that," Harvey said of Webster, who has managed just 33 games since making his debut in 2003.

"I'll sit down next week with him and we'll find out (about his future) from there. I'll just find out exactly where Luke's at."

Black and Warnock both had shoulder surgery on Friday and although Black is on the verge of retirement, the Dockers are desperate to retain the services of Warnock, who is out of contract at season's end.

"I said all along I'm comfortable with the situation," Harvey replied when asked whether he was confident of re-signing Warnock.

"Obviously Robbie's an important player. I think it was this time last year that Pavlich wasn't really signed and we signed him, so the club's been good at that."

Roger Hayden joins Pavlich as inclusions into the Fremantle side that beat Port Adelaide last week,,with Ryan Murphy (omitted) and Warnock (shoulder) the two to come out.

The Eagles have made just the one change to the side that beat St Kilda, with Matt Spangher forced to make way for Glass' return from a thigh strain.

West Coast coach John Worsfold declared Glass, forward Ashley Hansen and veteran David Wirrpanda fit to play this weekend despite the trio battling through training on Friday.

"Glassy's pretty comfortable, Ash Hansen should be right and Wirra's just Wirra," Worsfold said.

Harvey said he would use Pavlich in a variety of roles against the Eagles.

"Matthew's one of those guys that plays in many positions," he said.

"He'll be in and around the midfield. If you have a look at West Coast's midfield they've changed significantly over the last couple of weeks who they are putting through there.

"It will be intriguing the match-ups and who goes through the midfield on Sunday."

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