Fremantle's Harvey wants more players - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Fremantle's Harvey wants more players

By Tim Clarke 14/05/2008 05:19:25 PM Comments (0)

As he attempts to repair Fremantle's broken season, coach Mark Harvey has called for the AFL to expand playing lists to help clubs avoid large numbers of broken players.

With Des Headland this week joining Paul Hasleby, Andrew Browne and Luke Webster on the Dockers' long-term injury list, Kepler Bradley is in line to become the 35th player to pull on a Fremantle guernsey in just eight rounds this year.

And Harvey said with the speed and intensity of the AFL increasing a further 10 per cent this year, the time was coming when clubs would need even more players to cope with higher injury tolls.

"That is where we are at. I had a meeting with the AFL last week and they said intensity has gone up 10 per cent again, so that is 20 per cent in two years," Harvey said.

"It is taking its toll, so perhaps we should look at extending lists with a couple more players. And it is probably a good time to do it at the end of this year.

"The way it is going, after seven rounds you are seeing teams who have not got too much left in players to actually select from. And I don't think that has happened before in the competition."

Clubs can currently have a maximum of 40 players on their senior lists, including two veterans.

Rookies can also be promoted to the senior list to replace long-term injury absentees.

Harvey said the changes to interchange rules revealed by the AFL on Tuesday night and to be introduced in round nine were an obvious effort to reduce rotations and subsequently slow the game down.

"The AFL have put restrictions on the rotations now, so you will find a lot of clubs reduce their amount of rotations anyhow," Harvey said.

"They are slowing it down by the paperwork we have to do to get players on and off the ground."

A former Bomber, Bradley's heavy concussion suffered in a pre-season game in South Africa has curtailed his start to his full Dockers career.

But growing confidence in West Perth's WAFL side - playing alongside fellow Docker Adam Campbell who is also in line for a recall - will see Bradley included in the squad to take on the unbeaten Western Bulldogs.

"They will be in the squad, we have just got to find the right balance in the forward line and they are in good form at WAFL level. They are right in contention," Harvey said.

Rested from training on Wednesday were Roger Hayden, Chris Tarrant, Chris Mayne and David Mundy, while Heath Black will be considered and Antoni Grover is rated 50-50.

With the capitulation to Melbourne in their last outing still hanging over the Dockers, Harvey said he felt a win was not far away - despite only have sung the song once all year.

"Our form is actually OK without winning, that is the problem," Harvey said.

"The boys know they are close and they are anxious for a win - that is where the mind is."

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