Next fortnight won't define Freo: Harvey - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Next fortnight won't define Freo: Harvey

By Justin Chadwick 09/06/2010 04:37:41 PM Comments (0)

Fremantle's top-four credentials go on the line over the next fortnight but coach Mark Harvey denies it's a season-defining period for the AFL club.

The fourth-placed Dockers tackle St Kilda (third) in Perth on Sunday before facing off against Carlton (fifth) in Melbourne the following Saturday.

But Harvey, somewhat worried about his team's growing injury list, was quick to downplay the importance of the next fortnight.

"No I don't think (it will define our season)," Harvey said on Wednesday.

"I think you are finding a lot of teams are just starting to get caught up with some injury toll, we're one of them.

"So I wouldn't necessarily be judging us on the next two weeks, it would be more what we do after the break.

"But we'd like to think we can still match it with these teams over next two weeks, so we'll be trying to win these games absolutely."

Key players Luke McPharlin (knee), Des Headland (knee), Greg Broughton (foot) and Michael Johnson (suspended) will be sidelined until after the mid-season break.

But Paul Hasleby is a chance to return this week from a back injury and defender Alex Silvagni (ankle) is almost certain to be included.

St Kilda have Nick Riewoldt (hamstring), Steven King (hamstring), Jason Gram (groin) and David Armitage (knee) out injured but Harvey still felt the Saints were far better placed on the injury front.

"Yes Riewoldt's their best player but from a list management point of view they'd be really happy beyond Riewoldt I would have thought," Harvey said.

"They've actually got their side up and running."

The Saints, like they did for their round nine clash with West Coast at Subiaco Oval, have organised a charter flight to Perth in order to have the best preparation for the match.

Harvey complained the AFL were funding charter flights for several Melbourne clubs but not for either West Coast or Fremantle - the two clubs that must travel the most.

However, an AFL spokesman later confirmed the league only gives financial assistance when a suitable Qantas flight was unavailable.

While the AFL gave St Kilda $5000 to go towards their round-nine charter flight to Perth, the Saints' trip west this time around will be fully funded by the club.

"I'm not saying it's unfair, I'm just saying that if we're looking at it for a couple of clubs, let's look at it for the two longest travelling clubs, that's what I'm saying," Harvey said.

"In fact we're advertising, we're looking for a company that wants to charter us.

"It just seems to be happening a bit more for the Melbourne clubs, that they're getting charter flights here to Western Australia.

"So we are looking at doing that.

"Anyone that's interested out there, give us a call."

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