A FRANK Ross Lyon says his Fremantle side simply needs to get "stronger" after they were "flattered" by a 54-point loss to Melbourne on Saturday night.

The Dockers managed just 28 inside 50s compared to Melbourne's 78 at TIO Stadium, beaten heavily from centre bounces 16-6.

Combined with 83 turnovers, including a number of costly efforts in the defensive half in slippery conditions, Lyon said there was no sugar coating his team's performance.

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"I always say, 'Never as good, never as bad (as we think)', clearly it's pretty bad tonight," Lyon said post-match.

"Sometimes you're just not good enough, we weren't good enough tonight. That's just sometimes the facts.

"Our ability to transition the ball out was at the low end, (we) turned it over a lot (and) couldn't get out (of our half)."

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After a 55-point loss to Brisbane last week, Lyon said the lessons for his young midfield would continue to come. He highlighted first-year midfielders Andrew Brayshaw, Stefan Giro, Bailey Banfield and Adam Cerra's growing opportunities against Melbourne's senior core.

"We put Cerra in the midfield and Andy Brayshaw down back, that's a good lesson (for Andy), if you're not going to put your midfield pressure on, this is what it feels like, mate," Lyon said.

Ahead of a round 17 clash with Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium next week, Lyon said he expected the side that played in Darwin to be much of the same.

WATCH Ross Lyon's full post-match press conference

Veteran Hayden Ballantyne would be an "outside chance" to return from his ankle injury, while few were putting their hand up through the WAFL.

"We need to go and assess if there's anyone available pushing in, it's probably unlikely, our Peel Thunder team didn't play that well and we've got a fair injury rate at the minute," he said.

Lyon singled out young defender Taylin Duman as a chance to earn his spot back for the first time since he was dropped after round 11.