The form of Sam Switkowski and an energetic display from Luke Jackson have brought a smile to Justin Longmuir's face, but the Fremantle coach faces some sleepless nights pondering how to fix to the club's midfield wobbles.
Switkowski was a revelation in the midfield during Sunday's 41-point win over West Coast, with his energy, poise, and intense pressure proving crucial in the 16.12 (108) to 9.13 (67) triumph.
The 26-year-old finished with 21 disposals, six tackles, two clearances and two goals in arguably the best performances of his 49-game career.
Jackson, who copped heavy criticism following a lacklustre start to his Dockers career, was another bright spot on the way to 12 disposals, three marks, seven tackles, 17 hitouts and two goals, while mixing his time as a big-bodied midfielder, key forward and ruckman.
Fremantle's swifter ball movement meant their forward line looked more dangerous, and they reaped the rewards with their highest score since round 17 last season.
But the fact Fremantle only won the clearances 39-35 against the injury-hit Eagles despite dominating the hitout battle 69-16 is a concern.
"We'd like a better result out of clearances," Longmuir said.
"It's not as easy as everyone thinks to get your ruck-mid connection right when the opposition expects to lose the hitouts.
"So we'll keep devising plans and coming up with plans to try to maximise our hitouts, our ruck-mid connection.
"I just think at times we're not as fleet of foot around the contest as we need to be."
Jackson's derby display was promising rather than spectacular.
But it was still a significant step in the right direction after quiet performances against St Kilda and North Melbourne.
"He's been getting his hands to a lot of aerial contests and he still dropped a few today that he would love to take, (but) he was able to get some reward for effort," Longmuir said.
"His first goal was special, but the one in the last quarter when he just launched at the footy and marked at the highest point, that's what we've seen all summer.
"He just needs to keep putting himself in the right positions and keep rocking up and they'll stick."
Switkowski's stand-out display has him in line to become a semi-permanent fixture in the midfield this season.
"You would have seen his speed and agility, but he shows great composure with ball in hand and he very rarely wastes a possession," Longmuir said.
"When the ball hits the deck you need good ground ball players that hunt the footy, and if they can't hunt the footy, they hunt the man.
"He does that all over the ground, so he's a good centre bounce player."
Defender Heath Chapman is in doubt to take on the Crows in Adelaide next Saturday after suffering a calf injury, while all eyes will be on Nat Fyfe this week as he attempts to overcome his plantar fasciitis ailment.
