Fremantle coach Mark Harvey wants the AFL to look at tightening the rules regarding late team changes, labelling Geelong's withdrawal of three players on the eve of their win over the Dockers as "strange".

Joel Selwood (concussion), Cameron Mooney (general soreness) and Tom Lonergan (calf) were initially named in the Cats' line-up for Saturday night's clash at Patersons Stadium before being withdrawn on Friday.

As it stands, teams are allowed to make changes to their team after Thursday's original submission as long as they notify the AFL.

Although Harvey conceded Geelong's late changes played no part in his team's 11-point loss, he said the AFL should look at clamping down on multiple late changes.

"I mean to make three changes from a Thursday to a Friday is strange," Harvey said.

"It didn't throw us out because once you know you know, we'd already picked our side.

"It's got no implication to the game but the fact that there were three late changes made is an issue I think."

Geelong coach Chris Scott hoped both Selwood and Mooney would be fit for Sunday's home clash with Port Adelaide, but Lonergan remains in doubt.

Meanwhile, Harvey labelled Matthew Pavlich the greatest Docker ever ahead of the skipper's club-record 239th appearance this weekend.

Pavlich will surpass Shane Parker's mark of 238 games when he lines up against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday, and Harvey said the six-times All-Australian had surpassed Peter Bell as the club's greatest player.

"I would have thought so, yeah," Harvey said.

"I think he (Pavlich) is right up there with the best of the competition, not just with Fremantle."

Harvey blamed his team's waywardness in front of goal for the loss to Geelong, who eked out the 13.11 (89) to 10.18 (78) win despite having four fewer shots on goal.

Chris Mayne, Pavlich, Stephen Hill and Adam McPhee all missed gettable shots in the crucial last quarter, handing Geelong their second win on the trot.

"I mean the supply was there, it was just the ability to be able to finish (that was missing)," Harvey said.

"We owned a lot of the play but couldn't convert."

Harvey hinted midfielder Garrick Ibbotson (ankle) and Alex Silvagni (stomach) were likely to return via the WAFL next week.

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