Fremantle coach Mark Harvey expects to see more zoning in the AFL in 2011 as a result of the limit on rotations.

Hoping to improve on a break-out season by the Dockers in 2010, Harvey also wants new ruckman Jonathon Griffin to play forward, his team's kicking skills to be spot on and fitness to be at peak levels.

Fremantle beat Hawthorn in the first week of the finals last season before falling to Geelong in a semi-final at the MCG.

That led to a later start to pre-season training, but Harvey is confident his team can get up to the same level physically they were in 2010 for the start of the 2011 campaign.

"We're probably all behind because advancing two weeks into finals means you are effectively two weeks behind in pre-season from teams that didn't make it," Harvey said.

"Some of our senior players get back next week, so effectively it will only be four or five weeks prior to Christmas that we have to make sure we get somewhere near where we were last year.

"Because the game is getting congested and skills under pressure are becoming more apparent you can run as far and as fast as you like, but if you can't control the ball then you'll be running for the wrong reasons."

The AFL's new limit on rotations will cause some changes, according to Harvey.

"I actually think it might encourage zoning so the players can have a bit more of a rest hence stay on the ground a bit longer. It might just mean that zoning could come in a bit more," he said.

"Coaches look to how to rest their players with the limit on rotations and if you go into a zoning position some of the time, some of your players will get more time to rest."

Griffin is a new arrival at the Dockers after playing 41 games with Adelaide and Harvey plans to use him in the forward line to back-up Aaron Sandilands.

If he can't do that, he is unlikely to be able to hold his spot.

"In time you are going to find that with the demand of the game and rotations, that ruckmen are going tohave to play more forward otherwise we'd have to complement our team with a guy like Michael Johnson who is not really a recognised ruckman," Harvey said.

"Jonathon Griffin has played quite a bit of AFL in the ruck and we'd like to think he complements Aaron and that he could play as a ruckman in our forward line."

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