TonyK
CibbuanoHarvey lashes wayward Farmer
August 24th 2008 00:50
FREMANTLE small forward Jeff Farmer's chances of securing a new contract appear slim after Dockers' coach Mark Harvey took a swipe at the controversial veteran for letting the side down at a crucial stage during the seven-point loss to Richmond at the MCG on Saturday.
The Dockers had just taken a defensive mark 20 metres from the Richmond goal when Farmer caught Edwards high in a needless tangle and instead of the Dockers clearing the ball out of defence, the kick was reversed and Mitch Morton kicked an easy goal for the Tigers.
When Shane Tuck goaled three minutes later, the Tigers had an undeserved 13-point lead.
Before the Farmer incident Fremantle was controlling the match, but the Tigers turned the tables midway through the third term and controlled the tempo in the final quarter.
Harvey insisted the latest in a long line of undisciplined acts by Farmer would have no bearing on whether the former Demon keeps his spot on the list next season but he was critical of the 31-year-old's lack of leadership.
"They (his young players) have to work harder to get back into the game so it probably does (deflate the young blokes)," he said.
"You don't necessarily need senior players that have been in the game for so long making off-the-ball decisions like they do."
Farmer was dragged straight off the ground after incident but Harvey refused to blame him for the loss.
"I am not going to blame just him (for the loss)," Harvey said.
"There were other aspects to it as well and Jeff will take that loss as hard as anyone."
"(But) it just makes it so hard for the younger group to gain any sort of resolve when things like that (Farmer's costly off-the-ball free kick) happens."
Despite the loss Harvey said there were plenty of positives the club could take from the game.
In particular he was delighted with the way his forward line performed given the absence of skipper Matthew Pavlich and Chris Tarrant.
"I don't want to commend losing and there were frustrating periods in the game which we just don't handle well," Harvey said.
"(But) the forward line played really well."
"We went with a small forward line (in the absence of Pavlich and Tarrant) and quite often we caused a lot of confusion in the Richmond defence and that was the pleasing part when you haven't got the organisational skills of Pavlich and Tarrant down there."
The Dockers had just taken a defensive mark 20 metres from the Richmond goal when Farmer caught Edwards high in a needless tangle and instead of the Dockers clearing the ball out of defence, the kick was reversed and Mitch Morton kicked an easy goal for the Tigers.
When Shane Tuck goaled three minutes later, the Tigers had an undeserved 13-point lead.
Before the Farmer incident Fremantle was controlling the match, but the Tigers turned the tables midway through the third term and controlled the tempo in the final quarter.
Harvey insisted the latest in a long line of undisciplined acts by Farmer would have no bearing on whether the former Demon keeps his spot on the list next season but he was critical of the 31-year-old's lack of leadership.
"They (his young players) have to work harder to get back into the game so it probably does (deflate the young blokes)," he said.
"You don't necessarily need senior players that have been in the game for so long making off-the-ball decisions like they do."
Farmer was dragged straight off the ground after incident but Harvey refused to blame him for the loss.
"I am not going to blame just him (for the loss)," Harvey said.
"There were other aspects to it as well and Jeff will take that loss as hard as anyone."
"(But) it just makes it so hard for the younger group to gain any sort of resolve when things like that (Farmer's costly off-the-ball free kick) happens."
Despite the loss Harvey said there were plenty of positives the club could take from the game.
In particular he was delighted with the way his forward line performed given the absence of skipper Matthew Pavlich and Chris Tarrant.
"I don't want to commend losing and there were frustrating periods in the game which we just don't handle well," Harvey said.
"(But) the forward line played really well."
"We went with a small forward line (in the absence of Pavlich and Tarrant) and quite often we caused a lot of confusion in the Richmond defence and that was the pleasing part when you haven't got the organisational skills of Pavlich and Tarrant down there."
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