Dockers mentally ready for Hawks - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Dockers mentally ready for Hawks

By Justin Chadwick 30/08/2010 07:38:29 PM Comments (0)

Fremantle rested seven key players and were missing a host of others through injury when they were rolled by a near full-strength Hawthorn outfit in Tasmania.

The Dockers welcomed back 11 players in last week's six-point win over Carlton and Harvey believed the mass changes meant the Hawks would have little idea of what to expect come this weekend.

"That's the interesting part about this game, we saw Hawthorn (in round 21) and they didn't necessarily see us," Harvey said on Monday.

"I'm not sure whether we've got more aces up our sleeves but we've certainly got a different aspect to some of the structures than we had a couple of weeks ago.

"I said after the game on the weekend that if we had any scars (from that loss) it would have been (evident) on the weekend.

Emerging midfielder Anthony Morabito admitted Fremantle's young guns were physically intimidated in an 82-point loss to the Bulldogs in round 17.

But Harvey said his charges would be ready if Hawthorn chose to unleash a similar buffeting.

"That won't be an issue for us," Harvey said.

"If they want to try the intimidation tactic, if that's their card, well so be it, but it won't matter to our guys." Hawks star Buddy Franklin and Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich loom as potential match-winners for their respective sides.

But Harvey felt his side would struggle if they relied too heavily on Pavlich.

"It's not about kicking a bag, it's about having an even spread of your goalkickers," he said.

"If you rely totally on individuals then it can be a focus of the opposition's strategy.

"We like to think there are other avenues of what we can do.

"Particularly in and around the stoppage area for a start where we will get a lot more direction (from Aaron Sandilands) than what we had two weeks ago (when he was out injured)." Sandilands starred with 40 hit-outs, 20 possessions and 13 clearances against the Blues after a three-week layoff due to a foot injury.

Harvey hopes the 211cm ruckman can repeat that effort against the Hawks.

"He's pulled up really good, better than expected," Harvey said.

"To give him those three weeks off has done him the world of good ... I would have thought that he'd even benefit from that run." Pavlich, who is still yet to declare whether he will play on at the Dockers next season, said he felt something special brewing at the club.

"The weather's been great over this way, there's something in the air, and absolutely you want to be up at this time of the year," Pavlich said.

"This is my 11th year and this will be my fifth final that I'm playing this weekend.

"Regardless of what age or how long you've been in the competition you always want to be playing at this time of the year."

Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley, who kicked seven goals in the WAFL on Saturday, is leading the race to replace the injured Hayden Ballantyne (foot), but Des Headland is also in the mix.

Hawthorn will welcome back skipper Luke Hodge from a knee complaint.

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