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Harvey refrains from F word

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey is keen to see the return of key players, after a tragic spate of injuries dampened an otherwise glowing season for the Dockers.

Harvey hopes the return of defender Chris Tarrant and David Mundy for this week’s derby will give the boys a much needed boost for the home game.

And in what can only be called a selection surprise, South Australian Justin Bollenhagen will debut against the bottom-placed Eagles.

There is no denying that Fremantle were travelling along nicely before a string of injuries put the squad on the back foot.

The Dockers have a 6-0 derby record under Harvey’s watch, but coy as ever, the coach reckons that statistic is deceptive.

“I mean these games, if you have a look at them over the last couple of years, West Coast have been in control of the game for long periods and we’ve managed to get up and win,” he was reported as saying.

The Dockers’ crippling injuries in recent months saw the club lose four of their past seven games, and from dizzying heights they dropped to fifth spot on the table after the loss to the Bulldogs last week.

The Dogs in turn took their place.

For Harvey, who is yet to utter the F word, finals talk continues to be off limits.

The coach said, like any other coach: “What we are trying to do is get as many wins as we can to build up to whatever is perceived that might happen later on.”

Aaron Sandilands uttered the almost identical phrase on Channel 7 this week when asked if the club was still a top four chance.

“The players we’ve got out at the moment we’re working as hard as we can from a sports science point of view to try to get them back as quick as we can,” Harvey said.

Kepler Bradley was named on an extended interchange bench after recovering from a knee injury, but Rhys Palmer (shoulder) and Clancee Pearce (knee) were forced out of the side.

The return of Tarrant from a five weeks off will see the 29-year-old get the job on West Coast dangerman Mark LeCras.

Doubts linger over the fitness of Brad Sheppard, who was named on an extended interchange bench, and forward Josh Kennedy.