How long is is since an opposition team has complained about our toughness.....Keep it up Tiges as long as it's fair play. 
Knocked Docker back on deck
By Bevan Eakins
Perth
April 16 2003
Paul Hasleby might not have seen it coming but he did expect it.
After a season-high 37 disposals against St Kilda in round two, Fremantle's star midfielder knew he would be a marked man against Richmond at the MCG.
It did not take long. Tiger first-gamer Tim Fleming copped him fair and square in the first quarter, forcing Hasleby from the ground.
"I expected a bit of pressure from them but I didn't expect one that hard," he said before training at Fremantle Oval last night.
"I didn't see him coming. He got me pretty good but I was all right after half-time."
A philosophical Hasleby said it "was my turn" and that the close attention would not make him change his game. Asked if he would now be more wary of the hunters, he said: "I just want to keep my eye on the ball and hopefully the umpires will look after people who get hit like that."
None of his teammates remonstrated with Fleming after the incident and Hasleby said he would have if it had happened to somebody else.
There was also an explanation for the lack of reaction.
"It was in the play so many guys might not have seen it," he said, admitting that Fremantle could perhaps do with some physical presence from a tough nut or two.
"It's a funny thing," he said. "Some clubs have them. We have a lot of hard players at the ball and maybe we have to look at trying to protect some of our players."
Hasleby showed no ill-effects from the knock and trained hard but Robert Haddrill was still suffering from the bruising encounter.
Richmond's Greg Stafford kneed him in the back and the key defender did not train with the main group.
He had kicking practice over a short distance with a couple of trainers and was not extended, although he appeared to move relatively freely.
Haddrill would be sorely missed against the Kangaroos at Subiaco Oval on Sunday, especially if Shane Parker and Luke McPharlin remain unavailable.
Hasleby said the club was "super disappointed" with the thrashing handed out by Richmond and were determined to atone.
"We thought we had a good chance of winning that one with a few of their key guys out," he said.
"We made a meal of it and have got to deal with the consequences."
- West Australian
Knocked Docker back on deck
By Bevan Eakins
Perth
April 16 2003
Paul Hasleby might not have seen it coming but he did expect it.
After a season-high 37 disposals against St Kilda in round two, Fremantle's star midfielder knew he would be a marked man against Richmond at the MCG.
It did not take long. Tiger first-gamer Tim Fleming copped him fair and square in the first quarter, forcing Hasleby from the ground.
"I expected a bit of pressure from them but I didn't expect one that hard," he said before training at Fremantle Oval last night.
"I didn't see him coming. He got me pretty good but I was all right after half-time."
A philosophical Hasleby said it "was my turn" and that the close attention would not make him change his game. Asked if he would now be more wary of the hunters, he said: "I just want to keep my eye on the ball and hopefully the umpires will look after people who get hit like that."
None of his teammates remonstrated with Fleming after the incident and Hasleby said he would have if it had happened to somebody else.
There was also an explanation for the lack of reaction.
"It was in the play so many guys might not have seen it," he said, admitting that Fremantle could perhaps do with some physical presence from a tough nut or two.
"It's a funny thing," he said. "Some clubs have them. We have a lot of hard players at the ball and maybe we have to look at trying to protect some of our players."
Hasleby showed no ill-effects from the knock and trained hard but Robert Haddrill was still suffering from the bruising encounter.
Richmond's Greg Stafford kneed him in the back and the key defender did not train with the main group.
He had kicking practice over a short distance with a couple of trainers and was not extended, although he appeared to move relatively freely.
Haddrill would be sorely missed against the Kangaroos at Subiaco Oval on Sunday, especially if Shane Parker and Luke McPharlin remain unavailable.
Hasleby said the club was "super disappointed" with the thrashing handed out by Richmond and were determined to atone.
"We thought we had a good chance of winning that one with a few of their key guys out," he said.
"We made a meal of it and have got to deal with the consequences."
- West Australian
