FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon says the Dockers' centre square problems are 'fixable' and they will 'stick with what they're doing' despite the abject failures of the first two rounds.
Lyon cited a new centre square set-up as a major factor in the Dockers' first two losses this season.
The Dockers conceded 6.1 from centre square bounces against Gold Coast and are currently ranked 18th in the AFL for scores conceded from centre bounces across the first two rounds after being the number one ranked team in 2015.
But Lyon said the Dockers have identified some of the problems and they would not change too much heading into Saturday night's Western Derby.
Match preview: West Coast v Fremantle
"There are some challenges in there," Lyon said on Wednesday.
"Fundamentally we'll stick with what we're doing. Maybe there has been overplays and misunderstanding of what we need to do.
"We've enjoyed some of the outcomes, obviously some other things went south, but they're fixable."
The Dockers did kick 100 point against the Suns, something that Lyon saw as a major positive.
The centre square battle looms as a vital one this week with ruck stars Aaron Sandilands and Nic Naitanui set to lock horns.
West Coast's ruck combination of Naitanui and Scott Lycett is reasonably settled, while the Dockers experimented with youngster Alex Pearce last week.
Lyon said he was pleased with Pearce's efforts in the ruck given he is predominantly a key defender but he may need to turn to Jon Griffin this week.
"It's something that's been on my mind," Lyon said.
"Jon Griffin was maybe a little bit unlucky to go out of the team. You talk about team balance, players don't like to hear it, but this is the week where it's horses for courses a little bit and obviously Lycett and Naitanui are really experienced. So it would throw a real challenge at Alex.
"The combination of Lycett and Naitanui together is quite formidable so we've got to look at Griffin because if you win the ball and get ground position it puts everyone under a bit of pressure."
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Winning the ball at stoppages was also a major problem for the Eagles last week against Hawthorn. They lost the clearances by eight, the centre clearances by six and the contested possession count by 25 in the 46-point defeat at the MCG.
"The main part for us was winning the ball and a lot of our problems stem from that," Simpson said on Wednesday.
"So we need to get that right."
Simpson said he would keep the faith with star recruit Lewis Jetta despite his quiet start to the year.
The ex-Swan gathered just eight possessions against the Hawks after collecting just three touches in his only other full game in the Eagles' first NAB Challenge match against Adelaide.
He had eight disposals in the first quarter against the Gold Coast in the second NAB Challenge clash before succumbing to calf injury.
"We have to give him some patience," Simpson said.
"But he has to perform at the same time. We'll back him in."
Matt Priddis also had a quiet day last week but Simpson expected his star midfielder to bounce back in his 200th game.
Lyon said the thought of two Brownlow medallists in Priddis and Nat Fyfe going head-to-head was salivating.
