Fremantle coach Mark Harvey wants Matthew Pavlich to be remembered for more than just the amount of AFL games he’s played, saying the 29-year-old’s ability to inspire his team-mates deserved more recognition.
Pavlich booted three goals from 25 possessions in his 250th game on Saturday, helping Fremantle overcome a three-point halftime deficit to post a convincing 50-point win over Gold Coast.
The Fremantle skipper, who is contracted until the end of 2014, is on track to become the first Western Australia-based player to reach the magical 300-game milestone.
And with the Dockers’ premiership window set to open in the next few years, Harvey hoped Pavlich’s leadership would prove to be his defining legacy.
“When you play 250 games at this level … somewhere along the line there’s some sort of acknowledgement about greatness and the way that you perform,” Harvey said.
“He has to aspire to make sure that in the end it’s not recognised just as the amount of games that he played.
“Pav’s got a unique ability to be able to kick the goal when you need him to, create the decision that no one else sees (and) to be in the right spot at the right time.
“But I said (to him) the most important thing … from a team aspect is the way that you embrace your team-mates when they’ve done something well and when you put your fist in the air on the back of not only what you’ve done, but what the team’s done, because everyone’s hanging off you.
“Great leaders have that aura about them and I think he’s really starting to develop in that area and he’s really lifted over the last couple of weeks.”
The win over Gold Coast lifted Fremantle to an 8-6 win-loss record ahead of next week’s bye, but the Dockers’ final eight games of the year are all against sides vying for spots inside the top-eight.
Veteran Adam McPhee (knee) is on track to play in the WAFL next week while defender Nick Suban could join him there in a fortnight.
And with gun midfielder Michael Barlow set to resume after the bye, Harvey is confident his team’s form would continue to improve despite the tough run home.
The Suns matched Fremantle in the first half but conceded 10 goals to two thereafter to slump to the 17.10 (112) to 9.8 (62) defeat.
Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett was best afield in a losing cause with 34 possessions, 14 tackles and three goals, but the Suns finished the game with several injury concerns.
Sam Day (knee) is set to miss up to three weeks and Sam Iles (foot) and ruckman Josh Fraser (foot) are set to undergo further assessment.
“I think when the troops are up and about, we certainly did our best and to halftime the boys had a crack and moved the ball the way we wanted to,” Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said.
“But obviously with such a young group when we lose even one player, let alone three, obviously things are going to turn nasty and they certainly did in the second half.”
Fremantle ruckman Jonathon Griffin played his best game for his new club, tallying 26 disposals, 30 hit-outs and two goals in place of injured big man Aaron Sandilands.
brendan
Guest
Fremantle are not accountable for there poor record since joining the Afl.Everyone is too kind to them and while i rate Pavlich as a player i think he hasnt got them over the line enough in finals to be rated or payed as highly as he is.The word Fremantle and rebuilding go hand in hand and we have been all waiting to see the finished product since Neesham was coaching them.Maybe this year injuries have made it hard but invariably they do well (in the regular season)one season ,drop off the next and then plateau for another season.
Tim
Guest
I initially had no desire to reply to this article until i read the one solitary comment it solicited. The only people to complain about Freo's performances are the fans for their inconsistant effort. They are a fair and hard-at-the-ball team, with a 2011 tribunal record that reflects this. Suffering arguably the worst run of injuries of 2011, at their best they are an excitng team to watch and with many players due to return in the coming weeks and a formidable draw will hopefully prove that such comments as the one above will only become more foolish as the season progresses.
Suzanne
Guest
the Fremantle Dockers should be rubbed out of the AFL from the first game 2011 they have inflicted pain and suffering to opponents, they play the man not the ball and ugly to watch