The Fremantle playing group returned to the club on Monday highly motivated to redeem themselves following a disappointing derby result, according to general manager of football Peter Bell.

Bell said that the group was hurting from Saturday night’s loss in RAC Derby 50, but was channelling that emotion into their review and preparations for their next test against Hawthorn in Launceston this Saturday.

“As raw as it is and as emotional as it is for supporters, I can guarantee that we - who are heavily invested in the football club and are working so hard - we feel it just like the supporters,” Bell told 6PR on Monday night.

“We’re not licking our words and feeling sorry for ourselves. All you can do in this situation is to review the game very hard, and there were some tough things to learn, and then get back to work.

“Feeling sorry for ourselves is not going to help us this week against Hawthorn.”

Bell said the loss was an outlier in the context of Freo’s season so far.

“The criticism that’s been levelled at the football club is absolutely valid,” Bell said.

“Prior to last weekend, our average losing margin had been 11 points and we’d been reasonably consistent with a lot of areas to improve on.

“We’ve been pretty consistent and the season is still wide open (but) there weren’t many areas (against West Coast) where we could hold our heads up high.”

Bell said he backed the coaching and playing group to get the season back on track.

“The saying is that it’s never as good and it’s never as bad as it seems,” Bell said.

“A short time ago we were really pleased with how we were progressing at seven and five and we’ve lost three on the bounce now and the one on the weekend was in a disappointing fashion.

“Overall we have been very consistent. Ross (Lyon) has been coaching and continues to coach really well and I’ve witnessed first hand the connection he has with the players.

“The job now is to respond against Hawthorn.”