Fremantle coach Mark Harvey is confident Kevin Sheedy's Greater Western Sydney won't poach any of his AFL players, claiming the pair "smoked a peace pipe" years ago and had an understanding.

Harvey was coached by Sheedy his entire playing career and the pair remain good friends, with Harvey serving a lengthy stint as an assistant coach under Sheedy at Essendon before moving to the Dockers.

Sheedy - in his trademark style - rocked the boat recently when he claimed a poor season by Fremantle would make it easier for his GWS side to poach Dockers players.

But Harvey laughed off the claims, believing Fremantle would be able to ward off the threat despite the likes of Rhys Palmer, Michael Johnson, Ryan Crowley and Kepler Bradley being off contract at the end of the year.

"Over the last couple of years there's been a lot of speculation about our players leaving ... (and it) hasn't happened," Harvey said.

"I'd like to think that our retention and what we've been doing would hold that in good stead.

"We lost (Chris) Tarrant (to Collingwood), but Tarrant was 30 and for different reasons needed to go home.

"We never got (any of our players) poached by the Suns.

"So we've been through one club and now we've got a new club of course, which is GWS.

"A friend of mine manages to coach it (and) we smoked the peace pipe many years ago."

Harvey continued his tongue-in-cheek approach when probed further about Sheedy, adding: "You know Kevin Sheedy should worry about picking horses.

"Don't worry about picking players, (he should focus on) picking horses for his stallion.

"He mentioned martians many years ago and I'm sure he was one of them.

"I know how to read him. He's not a good card player."

Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich, ruckman Aaron Sandilands and midfielder David Mundy all signed long-term deals with the club last year in what Harvey hopes will convince other players - even if they're from interstate - tostay at the club.

"If you speak to (Michael) Barlow and those sorts of guys, they love the club firstly and then (they also love) living in WA," Harvey said.

"So a lot of that's got to do with your culture and the success of the team."

Meanwhile, Fremantle goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne will play his first match of the pre-season on Saturday when he lines up against the Western Bulldogs in Bunbury.

Ballantyne has recovered from a serious foot injury and joins Nat Fyfe and Sandilands as handy inclusions for the Dockers, with first round draft selection Jayden Pitt to make his debut for the club.

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