FREMANTLE interim coach David Hale says the players must focus on improving their skill execution in the pre-season after the Dockers were plagued by costly errors during their 43-point loss to Port Adelaide on Sunday.
The Dockers ended their season on a disappointing note, recording their third loss in a row and finishing with only two wins from their final 10 games.
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Things started well enough for the Dockers, who kicked 5.1 in the first quarter to enter the second term nine points up.
But from there Fremantle made numerous skill errors, particularly in the back half, that cost them dearly against the Power.
"(We) started well. First quarter around the stoppages we were pretty good, surged the ball forward … and we were able to capitalise on most of our entries," Hale said post-game.
"Then we struggled to get out of the back half from there on in. In the third quarter they had 18 (forward 50) entries to one, so we got penned in in our back half.
"It was the story of our year. Our skill execution and ability to move the ball by foot especially in our back half hurt us."
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Hale said the Dockers needed to focus on improving their skill execution in the pre-season if they wanted to improve, regardless of who took on the coaching job full-time.
"That was the final message really. Individually and collectively, (skill execution is) something we need to get better at," Hale said.
"You can have as many ball movement strategies and structures in place but if you keep giving the ball back to them it makes it hard."
Hale said he enjoyed his first taste of senior coaching and would sit down with friends and family in coming days to consider his next moves around the full-time role.
He said the club had not yet indicated if it preferred a younger or a more experienced coach for the job.
"No idea, had no word at all, so that's a big decision for the club and board to make going forward. They'll make the best decision in the interests of the club," Hale said.
The Dockers have been plagued by injuries to a raft of important key position players this year, including Jesse Hogan, Alex Pearce and Luke Ryan.
Hale said he believed Fremantle's list was in good shape if it could get some better luck on the injury front next season.
"I think early in the year when we had our full complement of players we were more than competitive," Hale said.
"When we've lost pretty much our entire spine with centre half-forward, ruck and three key forwards (it) makes that hard.
"Our best 22 (to) 25 is more than competitive, it's the depth after that (where) it starts to become a little bit tough."
