FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon is searching for a quick fix for his side's wastefulness up forward after it cost them dearly against Essendon on Saturday night.

The Dockers' profligacy came back to bite them as they wasted several gettable chances during a seven-point loss to the Bombers in a game that featured plenty of skill errors from both sides, under the roof at Marvel Stadium.

The loss marked the fourth time in nine games the Dockers have failed to crack 60 points.

BOMBERS EDGE DOCKERS Full match coverage and stats

"Inefficiency's a real concern. It's becoming a pattern," Lyon said.

"I thought our effort for most of the night was there. We certainly had entries but we've got to finetune our method, really. Can't keep walking in (to the press conference) and keep talking about how we need to get better in that area.

"The starting point is we're getting entries, and we're getting the ball back centre-forward. That's two weeks in a row now.

"Typically, that's the signature of a good AFL team and we think it still is, but we've got to get efficient with those opportunities. It's as simple as that."

When players did have shots, they were often wasteful. Key forward Jesse Hogan finished with 1.4, plus a soccered attempt that went out on the full.

Perhaps the biggest brain fade of all though was from wingman Brad Hill, who marked directly in front in the third term but instead of going back and taking his shot, opted to quickly snap, and missed a sitter.

WATCH Ross Lyon's full post-match press conference

Lyon queried the 2017 best and fairest's thinking, asking what Alastair Clarkson, his coach at Hawthorn, would have made of that decision.

"He (Hill) said 'Clarko would be quite frustrated, not as calm as you'," Lyon said.

"Then he would've said 'Be composed, go back, take the shot and go through your routine'. So it's exactly what we ask for.

"Brad's a triple premiership player, highly regarded and I think we had four players that didn't take their shots tonight, for whatever reason. It's a principle. Principles are either right or wrong.

"The right principle is go back, be composed, go through your routine, give everyone a rest, take your full 30 seconds and give yourself the best opportunity."

Lyon doesn't have a problem with his charges choosing to snap but wants to see them work through the situation in a logical manner.

"If you execute it (a snap), you're not talking about it. It's part of the modern game," Lyon said.

"As long as you practice it at training. Not everyone kicks a drop punt."

Fremantle will attempt to break a three-game losing streak next Sunday when it hosts Brisbane.