Harvey set to make a mark

by LES EVERETT

MARK HARVEY arrived in Fremantle on Sunday night and attended his first training session on Monday morning.

While for the most part he observed from a distance he did give a taste of his style by barking out instructions during a couple of drills. "I'm in their face and fairly aggressive, that's the way I coach," he said later. "Hopefully the players will respond to that."

During his 206 game career with Essendon Harvey had the sort of qualities coaches and fans love. He was versatile, skilful, tough and his courage has been matched by few others.

Harvey played from 1984 to 1997 and missed many games with a range of leg injuries and concussion. He was a key member of Essendon's premiership teams in 1984, 1985 and 1993 and was an assistant coach when the Bombers won the flag in 2000. Harvey won Essendon's best and fairest award in 1992, was the club's leading goal scorer in 1985 and an All Australian in 1985 and 1993.

The new assistant coach liked what he saw at his first training session at Fremantle: "There was a lot of direction out there from the leaders and a lot of talk generally," he said, "perhaps even a bit more talk than Essendon on the training track which surprised me." Harvey also noted that the skills were good then added a rider: "...for this time of the year... "We hope to get this team up and running," he said.

Fremantle picked up Marcus Drum from Murray Bushrangers, Garrick Ibbotson from East Fremantle and 205cm youngster Robert Warnock from Sandringham Dragons in last weekend's AFL national draft.

The club is likely to add Paul Duffield and Toby Stribling to the rookie list to complete the list for 2006.

From the Fremantle Rooster.

New Fremantle assistant coach Mark Harvey at a post-training press conference at Fremantle Oval this week. Photo by Les Everett.

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