AFL

We're Focused And Ready: Pavlich

Tuesday 19th January 2010

Author: LMSC

Photographer:

Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich said he and the rest of his team mates are focused on the upcoming challenge of AFL season 2010 and won’t be distracted by their coaches future.

The club’s senior coach Mark Harvey enters this season on the final year of his contract, and while he doesn’t have huge expectations on him and his side during another rebuilding year, Harvey’s future will inevitably be a discussion point at some point in the year.

"From our perspective it's always business as usual from the playing group and it's certainly not discussed at any level," Pavlich said of his coach‘s rein.

"We are all focusing on preparing the best we can, both from a game-plan and strategic point of view as well as physiologically come round one.

"Hopefully we can remain that for the whole 22 rounds."

The club still has a relatively inexperienced list, and has added more youth during the recent draft period.

But regardless of the high turnover in playing stocks in recent times, Pavlich says the playing group will be reaching further heights this season.

"Having 10 guys debut last year and the likes of Des Headland, Michael Johnson, Roger Hayden, Rhys Palmer and Ryan Crowley all playing less than 10 games, we feel as though we have a lot of improvement left in us," Pavlich said.

"I'm excited at what we can possibly do early on in the season.

The team is also tracking well in its fitness and conditioning with defender Steven Dodd recovering well after there were initial concerns he cold miss a major part of the season due to wrist and shoulder surgery.

Young exciting midfielder Stephen Hill has also been putting in some solid work in the gym to help him add some bulk to his frame to go with his blistering speed.

"Steven Dodd's running really well, has a lot of volume of work in him and he's progressing a lot quicker than the outlook was early in the pre-season,” Said Pavlich.

"I would suggest that he could play one or two games towards the end of the NAB Cup or Challenge."

"(Hills’) certainly holding his body a lot better as compared to 12 months ago and that's no surprise given he's had time to mature and with a weights and strength program.”

"He's an unbelievably exciting player with the things that he does will be great for the Fremantle fans in the years to come.”

"Stephen is looking bigger and stronger, but at the same time he still has that explosive pace.

"It's a delicate balancing act because you want him to stay the same Stephen Hill we recruited him as, but at the same time he has to be able to hold his own a little better than he did last year."

Fremantle host Melbourne to officially open their pre-season NAB cup campaign on Sunday Feb 21 at Subiaco Oval.