Dockers need killer instinct

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey believes his side needs to develop a 'killer instinct' if it is to challenge other clubs for a finals' position.

In the past two rounds, the Dockers have allowed Geelong to overrun them in the last quarter and steal a one-point win before giving up a 50-point half-time lead to the downtrodden Demons and losing by a goal in one of the biggest comeback victories in history.

But, Harvey believes Fremantle's coaching staff has put measures in place to stop this happening against the unbeaten Western Bulldogs this weekend, while the coach also feels his club's overall form has been pretty good despite having just one win on the board from seven matches this season.

"The boys know they're close and they're anxious for a win," declared Harvey before training at Subiaco Oval on Wednesday.

"We have played three out of the top four sides and we're sort of within two to three goals."

"Our form's actually okay without winning and that's something we're addressing regularly and we're disappointed with that; to get so close without beating those top four sides."

"And, once again, we play a top four side in the Western Bulldogs and I imagine there won't be much in the game," he said.

Harvey said the team's leadership group would be responsible for implementing the strategies to stop run-ons like Geelong's six-goal haul in five minutes during the second quarter of their round 6 clash, which allowed the Cats to be right in the match at half-time despite playing their poorest half of football all season.

"The Geelong one (loss) was pretty hard to take. The way we played against them ... what we have to learn is not to let a side back into the game like that," said Harvey.

"It's about arresting momentum and not finding yourselves in that sort of situation where you let sides back in the game too quickly and too easily and that's something we've addressed over the break."

"To evolve the killer instinct, that's what we have to look at," he declared.

Harvey also nominated a host of changes to his team for the Bulldogs' game as several players recovered from injuries over the fortnight's break while the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute match was played.

The coach said that rugged defender Heath Black was a chance to play while veteran Roger Hayden would certainly be picked to shore up the Dockers backline.

He also said that Antoni Grover was a fifty-fifty chance for selection after suffering a corked thigh against Geelong, while spring-heeled Luke McPharlin would have tests done on his injured buttock on Thursday but would more than likely line up against the Bulldogs.

Former Bomber Kepler Bradley is also in line for selection, having not played for the Dockers since being signed by them late last year. However, Harvey said that Bradley's preferred position for the Dockers would be in the forward line, where he is facing stiff competition for the spot from New Zealand-born Adam Campbell, who kicked 10 goals in West Perth's 100-point WAFL victory over the Peel Thunder last weekend.