The Suns might matched Fremantle in close, leading in contested possessions and tackles, but crucially also led the clanger count 58-38. These skill errors are not acceptable for such a talented squad, most of whom are into their third year of AFL football. Too often a succession of handballs was followed by a handling error or bad kick.

In a game where there were few stand-out performers, the overall display from the Dockers must be applauded. There was real hope on the Gold Coast that Guy McKenna’s side was getting Fremantle at the perfect time - without Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands, Stephen Hill and Nathan Fyfe. The fact that the Suns never looked like getting the four points is to the Dockers’ credit. That they do not stumble against a team they should beat is an important skill in a long season.

In the absence of Sandilands and Pavlich, the Dockers had little in the way of tall targets. Jonathon Griffin certainly stood tall when he moved into the forward 50 from the ruck. Three set-shots resulted in three goals, in addition to his match-leading 31 hit-outs. Griffin's effort suggested that of its injury absentees, Sandilands may be the one Freo can cover best.

A week after winning a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination, Jaeger O’Meara was again excellent for the Suns. Two weeks ago in the defeat to Port Adelaide, McKenna said O’Meara's effort put his teammates to shame. Though his teammates were much better against Freo, he still led the tackle count with nine and nailed his two set-shots from just inside 50m.

Very rarely will you see Gary Ablett involved in a wrestling match on the floor. Even less often will he initiate it. And even then not in the opening minutes of the match. Ablett went on to have just four touches in the first quarter, a mark of the job his tagger Ryan Crowley did on him mentally as well as physically. Ablett went on to have 28 disposals and notch a superb goal but he was never allowed to dominate the match in the way the Suns would have hoped.