FREMANTLE is unsure what Jesse Hogan's right foot problem is at this stage, but has cleared the star forward of a repeat navicular injury. 

Hogan twice came from the field in the opening term of Saturday's 14-point loss to Melbourne at the MCG and took no further part after quarter-time.

The sight of him struggling to run evoked memories of his season ending prematurely last year because of a stress fracture in the navicular bone of the same foot.

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However, coach Ross Lyon told reporters post-match that Hogan hadn't suffered a recurrence and he hoped the foot issue was "on the lower range".

"Our doctors speak to us and say it is not in the navicular area," Lyon said.

"It is something else, so I think Jesse was really concerned as well.

"It was always going to be a tough day playing your old club – it's always tough, whether you are a coach or player, but in particular a player where you have been since you were 16 or 17.

"So it didn't pan out well, but it is done and dusted now. He is a Dockers player and we all move on."

Jesse Hogan chats with former teammate James Harmes and Nathan Jones. Picture: AFL Photos. 

The Dockers are already without fellow key-position players Rory Lobb (foot), Alex Pearce (ankle), Matt Taberner (foot) and Aaron Sandilands (calf).

They also lost Stephen Hill (left hamstring) for the rest of the match early in the third quarter, while Nathan Wilson (ankle) and Sean Darcy (ribs) were among the others to battle through.

Lyon was confident Hill's setback was a minor one.

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The Demons kicked four goals to one in the final term to erase a five-point three-quarter time deficit, and the coach said having so many wounded players was "challenging". 

Lyon was just as concerned with his side's overuse of handball and its lack of control in the clinches as Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn dominated proceedings.

WATCH Ross Lyon's full post-match media conference

"I thought we didn't play the conditions that well … (and) I thought we improved that a bit, but not as much as we like," he said. 

"All year we have got it done around the ball, as in clearances, and even in the last quarter when it was even, we couldn't get it done around there.

"I thought Gawn and his midfield, they consistently won the clearance and got ground position, so that was really challenging for us all day, so it is disappointing.

"But our midfield has been so good all year in getting it done, so we need to learn our lessons on overuse in the conditions and improve our stoppage work a bit and move swiftly onto Carlton."

Lyon also responded to speculation about star winger Bradley Hill, who is contracted until the end of the 2021 season, unsuccessfully requesting a trade back to Hawthorn in 2018. 

"As always, it's inaccurate. There was no request for a trade last year," he said.

"There are a lot of back stories to everything that gets reported.

"There are a lot of stakeholders that are involved in contracted and uncontracted players, there are other clubs, there are other clubs' accumulated money, there are player managers who play a big part. 

"When you're on the inside, is roll your eyes the right thing? No, it's just part of the industry."