Still not proud of a performance he rated the worst during his time coaching in the AFL, Fremantle coach Mark Harvey says he will stick to his threat of putting an axe through the underperforming Dockers.

But exactly who will pay the price for last week's ten-goal home defeat to previously struggling Richmond is still being guarded, with a closed training session - and only slightly more open media session - at Subiaco.

With a daunting trip to South Australia to take on the Crows this weekend, Harvey confirmed changes would be made, but would not name names.

"It was a game we weren't proud of, a lack of competitiveness, so everyone has been put on notice," Harvey said.

"We have got a few blokes who are sore, but even on form there will be three or four changes.

"There have been a lot of home truths, yesterday was a day off, and believe me we needed a day off."

With Heath Black definitely ruled out with a tear to a quad, and Des Headland also sore, the likes of Matt Carr, Shaun McManus and youngster Garrick Ibbotson will come under consideration.

And despite another quiet performance, Harvey said forward Chris Tarrant will be "in the mix" for selection, despite being away from Perth this week for family reasons.

Harvey again defended the former Magpie, saying some of the barracking he copped from his own fans on Sunday was a follow-on from media scrutiny on him after a slow start to the season.

"The reason for that is because people want to keep writing him and putting him down, and therefore supporters read it and that is the onflow," Harvey said.

"I thought Chris Tarrant's first 15 minutes was fantastic, and then he copped that heavy knock ... and it was a credit he got up.

"Dean (Solomon) did not get up, and Chris was as dazed as Solomon, but stayed on the ground.

"I don't think it matters if they perform or not, the minute they have a bad game (media) want to write them off or challenge the club about selection."

Tarrant is understood to be flying from Melbourne to join the rest of the squad in Adelaide on Thursday.

And Harvey will be returning to the scene of his first, and best, day as Dockers senior coach, last year's round 16 win at AAMI Stadium.

"It was an unusual scenario, wasn't it. My first game, and on the back of a very unusual week," Harvey said.

"There was a lot of emotions running into this game, and so there are in this game again."

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