Fremantle coach Mark Harvey has taken the mickey out of the AFL's grab at NRL talent, joking the Dockers' No.1 rugby league target would be Parramatta prop Fui Fui Moi Moi.

Harvey initially referred to the 108kg, 183cm powerhouse as "Mui Mui Moi Moi" before suggesting he could play "wherever you want him to" in an Aussie Rules game.

Code hoppers Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt enraged NRL purists after their big-money switch to AFL but Harvey genuinely praised their move before joking about the Dockers' new target.

"It will be fascinating to sit back and watch the guys (Hunt and Folau), see their influence on the game and see what they might do," Harvey said.

"It is a great compliment to be able to attract players like that to our game.

"I am not talking about the money, I am talking about attracting sportsmen of that calibre.

"The real challenge is to make them into AFL footballers.

"However, if it was me I'd be thinking of getting Mui Mui Moi Moi, who plays for Parramatta and is a raging bull.

"That's who I'd be talking to."

While many experts believe Hunt and Folau will struggle in the AFL, Eagles coach John Worsfold said there was no reason why they couldn't succeed.

"There's always a search for players that can play the game, and why wouldn't you look for players you think can play and back yourself in to develop them," Worsfold said.

"Just because you're not developing them from 10 or 12 years of age doesn't mean you can't do it."

Meanwhile, Harvey confirmed Dockers midfielder Paul Hasleby would miss Saturday's clash with Adelaide due to a back injury but said Michael Barlow (hamstring) and Alex Silvagni (ankle) are available for selection.

And Harvey leapt to the defence of goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne, who has come under some criticism this season for his niggling tactics, which included pinching Gary Ablett and pulling the hair of Harry O'Brien.

"I won't sit him down because he's playing very (well) ... stop trying to look at punishment for players and look at what they're bringing to the game that actually brings people to the game," Harvey said.

"I've been to other sports and I've seen a lack of goals being scored or what you would call boring play, and hence the crowd have to start singing songs to be involved in the game.

"Now what's quite different about our game ... you get players pitted against each other that physically want to take each other on within the rules.

"That brings the raw factor to the game.

"That's what adds to the game, don't lose the character of the ... players and what they bring to the game and the team.

"That's how I see it, so make sure the raw factor's there."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP