- Jan 27, 2007
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Fremantle set to play Farmer
IF JEFF Farmer plays football this weekend, it will be in a Fremantle jumper.
While the club continues to reserve the right to suspend its equally wayward and brilliant forward for his latest indiscretion — he will appear in court today on a charge of criminal damage after being ejected from Perth's Burswood casino last Wednesday night — that penalty is almost certain to be ignored.
"If he's available, he'll be playing at Subiaco Oval," said Fremantle chief executive Cameron Schwab, scotching the idea that Farmer could again be exiled to his WAFL club, South Fremantle, as he was throughout a six-match suspension earlier this season.
"An absolute call hasn't been made on what is to be done, but if we don't suspend him he will play. And the club's advice is that to cut him free or abandon him is not the best course, certainly for Jeff and, as one of our best players, probably not for us."
Fremantle plays ladder leaders Geelong at Subiaco Oval on Saturday in a match that will pit former Essendon teammates and close friends Mark Harvey and Mark Thompson against one another as coaches for the first time.
Harvey suggested in an interview on a Perth radio station yesterday that it was his opinion that a further suspension would not be appropriate under the circumstances.
"I am not going to pre-empt anything, but hopefully we can come around to Jeff and make the right decision for the members and supporters and the team itself," he said.
"You just don't like to deprive people and supporters of their best players. Jeff has got a court case on Wednesday, we will wait for that outcome, and assess things after that.
"But we certainly went the other way with Jeff last time, suspending him for six weeks, and that appeared to not help him. So we may look at a different way to approach that."
The Dockers are expected to announce their penalty tomorrow, after Farmer makes his appearance before a Perth magistrate today, his second in two months. In May, Farmer was convicted of assaulting a nightclub bouncer, fined $3000 and warned he could face prison if found guilty of any further violence. Fremantle's action on that matter was to fine Farmer $5000 and ban him for six matches.
Farmer missed the past two matches due to a groin strain. He has since recovered and is physically able to play, which, according to Schwab, specialists have said is probably the best outcome for Farmer, who admitted on Monday to having a drinking problem.
"Whilst he's still capable of playing the game at a high level and we are in a position to help him by offering him that opportunity, then you take that choice every time," Schwab said.
Thompson expects Fremantle to show the same spirit it produced against Adelaide and said that Harvey added "another dimension" to Saturday's match at Subiaco.
"They certainly played with a free spirit, they enjoyed their footy and that will be there again this week, that's the way we're preparing," he said.
Defender Matthew Scarlett, a late withdrawal from last Friday night's 75-point drubbing of the Bulldogs, is likely to return despite still having the flu.
"Scarlett is still pretty sick at the moment, so he's no certainty to play," Thompson said, before adding that the biggest problem was who would make way for the 28-year-old.
David Wojcinski is expected to play after a knock to a knee forced him from the ground last Friday night.
"The doctor said he'll play, he's still got to get through training, but he's pretty good," Thompson said.
Stephen Rielly and Martin Boulton | July 25, 2007
IF JEFF Farmer plays football this weekend, it will be in a Fremantle jumper.
While the club continues to reserve the right to suspend its equally wayward and brilliant forward for his latest indiscretion — he will appear in court today on a charge of criminal damage after being ejected from Perth's Burswood casino last Wednesday night — that penalty is almost certain to be ignored.
"If he's available, he'll be playing at Subiaco Oval," said Fremantle chief executive Cameron Schwab, scotching the idea that Farmer could again be exiled to his WAFL club, South Fremantle, as he was throughout a six-match suspension earlier this season.
"An absolute call hasn't been made on what is to be done, but if we don't suspend him he will play. And the club's advice is that to cut him free or abandon him is not the best course, certainly for Jeff and, as one of our best players, probably not for us."
Fremantle plays ladder leaders Geelong at Subiaco Oval on Saturday in a match that will pit former Essendon teammates and close friends Mark Harvey and Mark Thompson against one another as coaches for the first time.
Harvey suggested in an interview on a Perth radio station yesterday that it was his opinion that a further suspension would not be appropriate under the circumstances.
"I am not going to pre-empt anything, but hopefully we can come around to Jeff and make the right decision for the members and supporters and the team itself," he said.
"You just don't like to deprive people and supporters of their best players. Jeff has got a court case on Wednesday, we will wait for that outcome, and assess things after that.
"But we certainly went the other way with Jeff last time, suspending him for six weeks, and that appeared to not help him. So we may look at a different way to approach that."
The Dockers are expected to announce their penalty tomorrow, after Farmer makes his appearance before a Perth magistrate today, his second in two months. In May, Farmer was convicted of assaulting a nightclub bouncer, fined $3000 and warned he could face prison if found guilty of any further violence. Fremantle's action on that matter was to fine Farmer $5000 and ban him for six matches.
Farmer missed the past two matches due to a groin strain. He has since recovered and is physically able to play, which, according to Schwab, specialists have said is probably the best outcome for Farmer, who admitted on Monday to having a drinking problem.
"Whilst he's still capable of playing the game at a high level and we are in a position to help him by offering him that opportunity, then you take that choice every time," Schwab said.
Thompson expects Fremantle to show the same spirit it produced against Adelaide and said that Harvey added "another dimension" to Saturday's match at Subiaco.
"They certainly played with a free spirit, they enjoyed their footy and that will be there again this week, that's the way we're preparing," he said.
Defender Matthew Scarlett, a late withdrawal from last Friday night's 75-point drubbing of the Bulldogs, is likely to return despite still having the flu.
"Scarlett is still pretty sick at the moment, so he's no certainty to play," Thompson said, before adding that the biggest problem was who would make way for the 28-year-old.
David Wojcinski is expected to play after a knock to a knee forced him from the ground last Friday night.
"The doctor said he'll play, he's still got to get through training, but he's pretty good," Thompson said.
