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Harvey defends resting players

By Mr Dandalooa

Some Fremantle supporters have questioned the wisdom of coach mark Harvey’s policy of bulk resting players as the club embarks on a finals campaign.

Several spoken to by FootyGoss, who declined to be named, wondered if it was better to risk playing injured ruckman Aaron Sandilands to secure a home finals, or pin all of the club’s hopes on it’s final game against Carlton.

But this week there was a twist when Carlton coach Ratten has inflamed already simmering tensions between the two clubs after Ratten also questioned the wisdom behind the Dockers’ policy.

The Dockers rested seven players in last week’s 116-point demoralising loss to Hawthorn in Tasmania, while another six key players also missed the match through injury.

It has been a tough month for Fremantle.

Ratten believes Freo took too big a big in resting so many players at once, but Harvey has come out swinging in defence of his decision.

“They (Carlton) underestimated us last time we played them and it looks like they’re doing that again,” he told the ABC.

“If he wants to inflame the game… bring it on, we’ll find out.”

Harvey maintained resting so many key players would pay dividends.

“Whether the guys have missed a week or three weeks, it doesn’t matter,” Harvey said.

“I think sometimes, the guys who didn’t play last week, they could actually play better.

“I mean you go through your career you don’t play every game, do you?

“So you miss games through injury every now and then.”

Matthew Pavlich, Nat Fyfe, Adam McPhee, David Mundy, Stephen Hill, Anthony Morabito, and Roger Hayden will return against the Blues this Friday night.

Sandilands is also a near certainty to return from a foot injury nut FootyGoss is unable to obtain confirmation.

A Fremantle spokesperson said it was likely he would return, but there were some issues the club had to nut out.

Hayden Ballantyne, Chris Mayne, Paul Hasleby, Ryan Crowley, Alex Silvagni and Des Headland are also pushing their cases for a return after recent injuries.

The Dockers will secure a home final if they beat the Blues.

Carlton must beat the Dockers and rely on Collingwood to beat Hawthorn to lock in a home final.