FREMANTLE coach Mark Harvey understands why Melbourne is trying to lure ruckman Robert Warnock east, but doesn't want a poaching trend to start in the AFL.

In rugby league, players and coaches can sign with rival teams during a current season, and Harvey hopes that Melbourne's meeting with Warnock last week isn't a sign that football will follow suit.

Warnock's brother Matthew is a defender with the Demons and Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said on Tuesday that he and football manager Chris Connolly had spoken with him.

"I thought it was interesting tactics," he said. "What we have to be careful of is not going down the track of other codes, and you should be able to read into what I say there.

"I understand business but it's how it is done sometimes. It also puts the kid under a lot of pressure, but Robbie has a very good constitution about him so it shouldn’t be a problem."

But Harvey had a light-hearted take on it, joking that he would meet with WA-bred Demon Cale Morton when he's next in Perth.

"Young Morton, I might take him out for a milkshake when he comes back home for a holiday," Harvey said.

Despite the media trying to find tension between Harvey and Connolly, he only had good things to say about the man he replaced as coach of Fremantle.

"I understand how clubs have to woo players and try to re-establish their own list, but it's about how it is done," he said. "I'm not going to get into Chris because I have a good relationship with him and he's trying his best to get that club up and running.

"He appears to be doing a terrific job in many areas, but we will wait and see the outcome of what happens with Robbie. I've spoken a lot to him about the importance of playing his football with Aaron (Sandilands) along with the emergence of other young players, which he is a big part of."

With two games remaining in the season, Fremantle meets Richmond at the MCG on Saturday and Harvey hopes his side will rebound from its disappointing 43-point loss to St Kilda.

Half-forward Des Headland should play his first game since round four, while onballer Josh Carr is also a chance to return after missing the clash with the Saints.

"The challenge is to beat sides that are playing for finals," he said. "We are now down to 26 players, so that's where we are at, but there's opportunities for the guys playing to see if we can play better than a finals contender.

"This week, with a six-day break, we will have a lighter week to sharpen them up.

"Richmond plays an interesting game with a low inside-50 count and we will see how we go at trying to counteract that."