While full of praise for some of his younger stars, including Michael Barlow (32 possessions, three goals) and Stephen Hill (24 possessions, two goals), Harvey was disappointed with the efforts of most of his team.
“A lot of our older and middle-tier players had quiet games and the ones we need to have good games,” he said.
Harvey said an inability to control many areas of the game, in particular the revitalised Adelaide midfield, was reflected in an inside50 count his team lost 65 to 45.
Adelaide set up the win with a five goals to two second quarter, but Fremantle kept in touch until mid way through the last term.
“There was a fleeting moment in the last quarter where Kepler Bradley had a shot on goal and if he kicked it might have been level, but we didn’t deserve to be that close,” Harvey said.
His focus remained on his team’s game plan, despite the disappointing loss.
“We like to dissect and have a look to see what the opposition are doing, but more often than not play the way we want to play,” Harvey said.
It was inevitable his side would have its ups and downs.
“You’d be naïve to think that there are a lot of sides that will go through the home and away season like St Kilda did last year,” Harvey said.
“You will have your ebbs and flows; it’s a matter of whether you can arrest a situation quickly.”
At the end of the second term, ruckman Aaron Sandilands collided with Phil Davis, which forced the young Crow from the field on a stretcher with a suspected broken collarbone and concussion.
But Harvey said he thought the contact was fair and his player had little to worry about in the match review.
“The ball fell short and Aaron had to make a lunge for the mark, that is it,” he said.
