Senior coach Ross Lyon is searching for the right combination of available players as Freo looks to get back to winning ways against Sydney at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
Fremantle have lost four consecutive games as the absence of key personnel takes its toll, including key defender Alex Pearce and forwards Jesse Hogan, Matt Taberner and Brennan Cox.
Lyon said Fremantle need to find a way to continue to play their best football with their available players, highlighting Freo’s struggles to make their most of their forward entries in recent weeks.
“(Scoring efficiency) has been our biggest drop (and) we’re being scored against a little bit more easily,” Lyon said.
“We’re still creating opportunities but our efficiency inside 50s - we don’t really want to go to personnel, but the style we were playing and the directness with Hogan, Taberner and Cox in, was really important.
“All of those guys are missing, and we understand that, but we’re looking for a way to overcome that.”
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Lyon said that star midfielder Nat Fyfe would continue to be an option through the forward line.
Fyfe was one of the best on ground against Hawthorn in round 17, kicking three goals as he rotated forward.
“We’re still getting the ball there, we’re trying to construct,” Lyon said.
“Having Fyfe (up forward) really had an influence, there’s no doubt about that. We did rotate Fyfe, (David) Mundy through there and (Michael) Walters.
“We’re trying to find that mix and we know our system, with full availability, we were beating the top teams in the competition.
“Our effort has been strong, our system has been there but we haven’t been able to capitalise.
“Underneath, there is some real confidence that our best was very good and we want to find ways to win when we’re challenged for personnel.”
Lyon agreed with the suggestion that sending versatile mid/defender Connor Blakely through the midfield would allow Fyfe to spend more time forward.
He added that the presence of experienced midfielder Stephen Hill down back may allow Blakely to spend more time in the middle.
“It’s a good point and Connor is really, I wouldn’t say desperate to get in there (the midfield), he’s liking his role (in defence),” Lyon said.
“I thought he was quite good last week and our midfield has really been our strength.
“Stephen Hill coming back was good for us and (defender) Taylin Duman has found some form for Peel, so if we can build our back six enough where Connor can go in there and get that blend right, he certainly can.
“Connor’s a great ball winner, we know that, he loves playing midfield and it’s great that he’s a two position player now.”
