"We've got work to do."
That was Justin Longmuir's frank assessment of his side after it slumped to consecutive losses to start the 2023 AFL season.
Considered a finals fancy, the Dockers are staring down the very real prospect of sliding to 0-3 when they play an improved West Coast in the first western derby of the season today.
Since 2012, when the league became an 18-team competition, only two of 28 sides have recovered from a 0-3 start to make the finals – they were Sydney and GWS, in 2017 and 2021 respectively.
For a side already grappling with a sub-par start, three losses to open the season would add enormous pressure to the playing group and sharpen scrutiny on Longmuir.
The focus would then shift to a difficult trip to Adelaide in round four.
The contrast is that winning puts them at 1-2, which provides a far more promising outlook on the season and would instil some belief in the side.
Following last week's loss to North Melbourne, Longmuir stated his side is "trying to fix the source".
No synergy
The lack of connection between the Dockers midfield and its forward line is stark.
Fremantle has gone inside its attacking arc an average of 59 times this season, resulting in just nine marks inside 50 per game.
The loss of Rory Lobb has placed extra pressure on Matt Taberner, who has been subbed out of both games, and has seen increased scrutiny on the effectiveness of former captain Nat Fyfe as a key forward.
But while connection with the forward line is an issue, it stems from the Dockers inability to win the ball at ruck knocks, and its unwillingness to move quickly.
Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson have helped Freo win more hit-outs than any other side except Gold Coast, yet Fremantle is 18th in clearances.
They averaged 37 clearances a game in 2022, and that has dropped by a quarter to just 29 in the opening two games this season.
For a midfield boasting some of the game's rising stars, including the reigning MVP Andrew Brayshaw, it's an area of deep concern.
Inaction Jackson?
Jackson has received criticism for a perceived lack of return considering what Fremantle gave up for his services, but at just 21, he's still developing.
The Dockers and Jackson will no doubt be disappointed by his inability to complete marks in attacking areas, but there is a point to be considered.
Jackson wasn't recruited as a key forward. He is an enormous talent, but even at Melbourne, where he won a premiership, Jackson wasn't utilised as a forward.
He averages 0.5 goals a game across his 54 career appearances, and just 0.7 marks inside 50. He isn't the sole reason Fremantle is battling.
A lack of a big target has starved the small forwards of opportunity, making goals extremely hard to come by.
Sorting out the forward structure and getting competitive in the midfield remain the Dockers' biggest issues.
A resurgent West Coast?
At this point of the 2022 season, the Eagles were 0-2 and about to be thrashed by Fremantle in the derby.
They had fielded a team featuring top-up players as COVID-19 and injury ripped through the squad, and were preparing for a bleak season.
After its first-round loss to North Melbourne, there were again murmurs of another poor season.
Four club debutants featured, as the 2023 rebuild got underway.
And then, after a week of criticism including being labelled "only good at losing" by Gary Lyon, West Coast beat an admittedly depleted GWS.
Tim Kelly played arguably his best game for the club and Jake Waterman kicked four goals while offering a different attacking option, as the Eagles took the game on, playing with dash and dare.
It was evidenced by an improvement in clearances (26 in round one compared to 37 in round two) despite winning fewer hit-outs, while they also went inside 50 more (46 to 58).
While there's no doubt West Coast can't afford another 2022, their season will be measured by the metric of improvement in younger players, as they look ahead to a premiership challenge in the coming years.
For Fremantle and its current crop of stars, the window is wide open — but a loss on Sunday will see it starting to close for 2023.
