FREMANTLE can look back to how it rebounded from a late-season hammering last year to move past its dismal display against Hawthorn on Friday night.
The Dockers were outplayed in every area against the Hawks at the MCG, giving up a 37-point lead before even scoring in the first quarter, and falling to a 58-point defeat despite some belated resistance in the second half.
Coach Ross Lyon said his men could take some solace from the way they had recovered after a 41-point defeat at the hands of Geelong in round 14 last year, to then go on and make the Grand Final.
"[Against Geelong] was very similar to this – conditions, attitude, effort, coaching performance. As a coaching group it starts and stops with us and our players," Lyon said post-game.
"So we don't separate ourselves, we win and lose together. Last year … [against] Geelong, everyone said the same thing: 'How do you leave losses like that behind'? Well, we did it last year, you learn from it and you improve, and you keep going forward."
Statistically, Friday night’s loss ranks as Lyon's worst defeat in charge of the Dockers after conceding the highest total (137) in his reign as Fremantle coach, and the highest half-time score (79).
But after losing the second half by just a point, Lyon was encouraged enough by patches of play after the main break and said he wasn't about to start worrying.
"I've been in bigger holes than this," Lyon said.
"I'll never forget 2007 (Lyon's first year as senior coach at St Kilda), and people coming over the fence then.
"It was a pretty difficult time. I learnt a lot of lessons about a lot of things. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Certainly been in bigger holes than this, more people coming over the fence than this one.
"It doesn't worry me, I'll learn from it."
The Dockers will not spend long reviewing the defeat ahead of next week's clash with Essendon, instead focusing on the most uncompetitive parts: the first quarter and some of the second.
Even that, Lyon said, had its limitations.
"The review is too late. We'll go and identify in the review, but it's too late. You've got to get it done on the night and try to bank the four points. There's precious few opportunities to win games of football," he said.
Lyon had no update on the injuries suffered to Garrick Ibbotson (dislocated shoulder), Chris Mayne (ankle) and Michael Walters (ankle). He said the team had won without missing pair Nat Fyfe (suspended) and Michael Barlow (injured) before, and that their absence shouldn't be used as an excuse for the loss.
"I thought Stephen Hill fought on like a caged lion. But when the whips were cracking, there wasn't too many winners in their positions," he said.
"I thought they dominated us all over the ground. We were really disappointing in nearly all positions and all facets so it's not something we're proud of.
"We're pretty keen to rectify it."
