Source: perthnow.com.au

A CONFIDENT Mark Harvey has revealed that his Dockers are ready to confront trendsetting on-ballers from power clubs Geelong, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs.

Emerging from predominantly closed training for much of the summer, Fremantle players are noticeably beefier in their upper bodies and core strength around their waists and thighs.

"I'd like to think that our midfield can at least match it with the great midfields that are around at the moment," Harvey said.

"Physically, I'd like to think that we can evolve a lot better than what we've been because of how we've developed that area of our game."

Harvey has put in motion practical and mental training schemes to offset possible second-season blues for last year's first-up sensations Steven Hill, Nic Suban and Greg Broughton.

Emerging ruckman Zac Clarke and midfielder Rhys Palmer, who is effectively entering only his second season, have had special training to make them more effective in their crucial prime roles for 2010.

Palmer, who turns 21 on February 13, is expected to be held back over the next month as the Dockers head into their NAB Cup and practice match schedule, but the classy left-footer remains a contender to launch the new season against Adelaide on March 28.

Harvey said preparing to overcome any second-season letdown was critical for his young troops.

The Dockers blooded 11 newcomers last season, more than any other AFL outfit.

"What I've been doing with the guys over pre-season is putting them on our more experienced players throughout the course of training and just recently through pressure of games," Harvey said.

"I actually look at experience and the initiation of playing in the AFL.

"They've got to look at where they're at and where they need to go to.

"I've made them aware of things like the opposition is now aware of who they are and they'll have to extend what they can do on the football field.

"They know their strengths and weaknesses now and they have to keep working on their game."

With the anticipated returns of proven match-winners who missed chunks of last season through injury, Harvey is buoyed at the prospect of the Dockers winning more than the six games they have in each of his past two seasons.

On-ballers Ryan Crowley and Palmer, defenders Michael Johnson and Roger Hayden and goalscorers Chris Mayne, Hayden Ballantyne and Des Headland are all on the comeback trail.

"A lot of those guys are playmakers and they have the ability to firstly put the opposition on notice that they don't feel comfortable with what they're doing all of the time," Harvey said.

"Secondly, they have the ability to break a game open against a lot of those players and do significant roles in the team, and hence we don't then rely on a lack of experience in those areas.

"Then hopefully our younger players can evolve knowing that those guys can be on the track a lot more and play a lot more."

Harvey predicted his strengthened midfield would be more productive in winning a greater share of contested football.

The Dockers were 15th at winning contested possessions, with the bulk of influence in congested traffic coming from giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands, with 195 contested possessions, and veterans Paul Hasleby (168) and Matthew Pavlich (148).

Harvey and his support staff have moved significantly over summer to ease the burden of responsibility on Sandilands, while the brilliant Pavlich is destined for a switch back to more permanent forward duties.

"Physically, we'll evolve from a contested situation and situations we'll be able to more than hold our own than we have," Harvey said.

"If we can hold our forward line together I think you'll see some dangerous avenues towards goal and I think our defence will be stiffened up substantially.

"On top of that, over the past few years we've had to change our midfield significantly and most of those players have moved on for various reasons.

"We've put 14-15 new players in those areas of the game where they need experience and need 20, 30, 40 games to evolve in that area."

Harvey firmly believes he is the right man to continue Fremantle's revival on the back of attracting some 27 new players to the Dockers in the past two years.

"I don't want this to look like I'm making a pledge to get a new contract," he said. "Look at the way some of our young players have emerged and what they do this season. Stability is always something that's important I think.

"A lot of our young players have signed long-term contracts.

"They're all little indicators that would suggest that we're doing a lot of right things. On top of that, we're producing some really good players through not sacrificing any of our draft picks for the short term. Hence in the short term the team will look good, but in the long term it's stability."

Harvey must contend with possibly the worst fixture draw in the competition, with the Dockers starting with games against serious top-four contenders Adelaide, in Round 1, and Geelong and St Kilda in rounds 3 and 4.

"There are a lot of things to take into consideration," he said.

"One thing for sure is that you'll see this young team emerge.

"While it (the team) is young, there's a lot of experience there too.

"In reality, some of our guys have only have three or four years left in them. What they want to get out of those three or four years is important now and how they drag those young players along with them."