Ruffles to debut for Fremantle - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Ruffles to debut for Fremantle

By Justin Chadwick 08/07/2009 08:22:40 PM Comments (0)

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey insists his side's absolute focus remains on winning despite announcing the club will wheel out their 10th debutant of the season in Saturday night's AFL clash with Adelaide.

Tim Ruffles, plucked with pick No.68 in last year's national draft, will become the latest cab off the rank as the injury-plagued Dockers attempt to snap a seven-game losing run that has left them languishing in 15th spot on the table with just three wins to their name.

Fremantle could feature as many as seven first-year players against the in-form Crows at AAMI Stadium.

The Dockers will again be without skipper Matthew Pavlich (calf), although Dean Solomon will return after serving his club-imposed suspension.

Despite the massive injection of youth, Harvey was adamant the immediate focus remained on winning rather than shoring up priority picks in the national draft.

"For sure, that (winning) is why we play the game," Harvey said on Wednesday.

"I said to the guys you've just got to be brave and daring and don't discount the opposition.

"As I said to them, the majority of the games we're right there, and that's the self-belief that we're getting out of what we're doing.

"It's only a matter of time before the whole list grows and gets more mature, gets more experience, things will start to turn around.

"It looks like Adelaide's going to be at full strength so it's a good challenge for a first-gamer and some inexperienced players that we've got.

"I think we have to be brave in selection and know where we're heading with what we are doing at the moment."

With the new Gold Coast club set to plunder the draft from 2010, and possibly a team from western Sydney shortly after, Harvey forecast doom and gloom for some of Fremantle's more seasoned AFL rivals.

"I wouldn't like to be an old list going into the draft beyond next year," Harvey said.

"There are three years of drafting that are going to be compromised, and if you're an old list, well I'm not sure where you are going to get the players from.

"Hence this is our plan (bringing in more youth).

"I think every club will be compromised (due to the concessions) because the newer clubs will be going after players from the rest of the competition and putting reasonable money towards them.

"So everyone's going to be compromised whether it's through the draft or through trying to get players from established clubs."

Ruffles has been in solid form for WAFL club Perth but his 180cm, 67kg frame will need protection against the battle-hardened Crows.

Harvey said Ruffles would play on the wing and drift forward at times.

"(He's a) lively, sort of a little spring-heeled jack.

"Good acceleration and a good leap on him.

"He needs to evolve his body, too He's just elusive when he plays."

Ruffles will join Stephen Hill, Nic Suban, Greg Broughton, Hayden Ballantyne, Zac Clarke, Michael Walters, Clancee Pearce, Matt de Boer and Luke Pratt as players to have made their debut for Fremantle this season.

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