Hands off Aaron Sandilands, warns Harvey - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Hands off Aaron Sandilands, warns Harvey

By Justin Chadwick 12/08/2009 07:52:18 PM Comments (0)

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey has lashed out at reports Aaron Sandilands could be on the move, warning rival AFL clubs to keep their paws off the 26-year-old ruckman or risk having their own stars poached.

Harvey was seeing red after a report suggested Hawthorn and several other Melbourne-based clubs had sounded out the possibility of luring Sandilands away from the Dockers.

Sandilands' manager Colin Young confirmed he had spoken to several Melbourne clubs about the possibility of a trade, with the Hawks especially keen to lure the Fremantle giant in time for next season.

Sandilands, the best tap specialist in the competition, is contracted to Fremantle until the end of 2010 and Harvey said clubs were wasting their time if they thought the Dockers would be willing to trade the 2008 All-Australian.

"People can talk and speculate as much as they like at the moment," a clearly displeased Harvey said on Wednesday.

"What I would say to every other club out there is forget about talking about Aaron Sandilands because you are wasting your time.

"It's a distraction for the group and it's quite easy to create innuendo or rumours or manufacture stories about football clubs right at this very time because we are coming to the end of the year.

"I could create stories about other players from other clubs if I wanted to.

"That appears to be happening a little bit too much with us so I'm officially here to end it."

Hawthorn have room in their salary cap to lure such a big-name player but Harvey said the Hawks should worry about shoring up their own list first before raiding Fremantle's.

"I think the Hawthorn players would be interested to know they've got so much money in their salary cap to spare, that's what I think," Harvey said in a thinly-veiled swipe.

"All our experienced players, bar Paul (Hasleby), are contracted until the end of next year.

"We have a young, exciting team coming along and what you'll find I think is maybe some players from other clubs might want to join Fremantle."

With the new Gold Coast franchise set to enter the competition in 2011, Harvey hinted informal talks had already begun with Sandilands to extend his current contract.

And Harvey scoffed at suggestions the travel burden Perth-based clubs endure could tempt Sandilands to consider a move east.

"If that's the extent people have to go or other clubs have to do to try to convince players to leave clubs I think they may need to have a look in their own backyard because we have the Gold Coast coming along and everyone's subject to this," Harvey said.

Midfielder Hasleby is yet to sign a new deal with the club but Harvey was pleased with how the veteran had not let the contract stand-off affect his on-field performances.

Meanwhile, Luke McPharlin is a certainty to return for Sunday's clash with Melbourne at the MCG after recovering from a calf complaint.

And defender Roger Hayden, who fractured his leg in round nine, has resumed full training and is a chance to resume in the WAFL this weekend.

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