FREMANTLE faces one of the toughest road trips in football at the weekend, a week after fading to a dispiriting loss at home to Essendon in round 13.
But forward Chris Mayne says his team will tackle Collingwood at the MCG with confidence despite Saturday night's defeat against Essendon.
Mayne said the last quarter fade-out against the Bombers was different to other lapses that have cost the team this season.
Fremantle failed to kick a goal in the final term against the Bombers, who outran thehome team after three-quarter time to notch their first win in Perth since 2008.
It was the sixth time Fremantle has kicked no more than one goal in a quarter this season (including twice against Carlton and West Coast).
However, Mayne said the players gave "great effort" in the final quarter and they should be encouraged ahead of a daunting trip to face ladder-leaders Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.
"There have been other occasions where a quarter has hurt us and I thought that was due to not giving effort," Mayne said. "But [against Essendon] was a bit different.
"I think we gave great effort, even in the last quarter, and it was unfortunate that they were getting numbers back and numbers to the ball and really spreading hard.
"In the end we didn't capitalise when we had the ball. We wanted to really take the game on in the last quarter and try win it from there."
After having more of the football than the Bombers over the first three quarters and restricting their running game, Fremantle lost the uncontested possession count 75-39 in the last term.
Mayne, who kicked a team-high four goals to take his season tally to 22, said Essendon won the game on the back of hard-running and clean ball-use in the final quarter.
"Both sides were really giving it their all, and there were some great efforts through the night from both teams," he said.
"In the end they really did get on top of us with their spread, using their numbers.
"They were getting the ball deep inside 50, and when they did they capitalised on the scoreboard.
"It hurts the boys, but it also gives us confidence that we can match it with the best.
"We've got another great challenge this week when we come up against the Pies."
Nathan Schmook covers Fremantle news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan
