ANZAC ambush on the cards

by Kema Rajandran

April 23, 2008

DOCKERS coach Mark Harvey says Fremantle could take Geelong by surprise on ANZAC Day, and that out-of-form forward Chris Tarrant will more than likely miss the game.

Harvey provided no insight into Tarrant’s mysterious injury, which will keep him out of the AFL but not the WAFL.

“He is restricted,” Harvey said at a media conference on April 23, “but I just think at this time it’s best for him to play a full game.”

Although the Dockers have only won one of their five games this season, Harvey believes Geelong will be uncomfortable on the Subiaco soil, and Freo has the gumption to win.

“I don’t think we’ve played that bad other than one game,” he said. “There is a general perception of the public, but perhaps this is a game that Fremantle might win.”

Harvey acknowledged Geelong had started strong early in games this season, and tends to control the game. Fremantle would have to reverse its trend of playing catch-up footy, he added.

“What we can’t do is go in there and play in awe of Geelong,” he said.

Harvey hoped the ANZAC spirit would get the adrenalin pumping, and give his underdog team a boost.

“The focus is on football, but you make players understand the relevance of the day and how Australians would want them to play the sport and represent what we did in the wars,” he said.