UNDERPERFORMING small forward Hayden Ballantyne is not under any selection pressure despite a lean start to the season, says Fremantle coach Ross Lyon.

Ballantyne has kicked just seven goals in six games. He's been held goalless three times including in each of the last two weeks.

He did cop a heavy cork early in the loss to Carlton and carried that into the trip to Adelaide to face the Crows last week.

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The 28-year-old was named All Australian in 2014 after kicking 49 goals for the year but he has managed just 22 goals in 21 games since.

But Lyon said goals were not the measurement he used to grade Ballantyne and said he is pleased with his effort this year.

"I don't focus on (goals) too much," Lyon said.

"I'm really pleased with his attitude, his leadership and his courage really."

Lyon said he might look to move Ballantyne into the midfield to free him up.

"It's really hard as a small forward," Lyon said.

"We've seen the shift in Michael Walters so we'll look to do that with Hayden as the season goes on, release the pressure valve. It's the hardest position in the AFL, small forward, particularly in a team that's not playing that well.

"I'm really pleased with Hayden. I really respect him, I value him and he's certainly under no pressure at all."

Walters spent more time in the midfield last week against the Crows and collected 29 disposals, a career-high, and kicked three goals. 

The Dockers goalkicking was abysmal at Adelaide Oval last week. They kicked 8.16 from 52 inside-50 entries. The Crows kicked 14.13 from the same number of entries. Lyon said it was disappointing but he was more concerned about the Dockers' work without the ball.

"It was really blustery, windy conditions, which is hard to get a feel for, sometimes," he said. 

"We should have adjusted better and put them through. But they (Adelaide) had some real difficulty as well.

"Going in we had been quite accurate. We don't want to make it an albatross around our neck. We just continue to try to improve our execution.

"Basically, our work without the ball isn't of a really high order. They really counter-punched us quite easily, because we didn't lock it in very well, or we were disorganised behind the ball. 

"We had a look at that. That's disappointing, because that's controllable." 

Lyon said it was vital to work hard without the ball this week against a Greater Western Sydney side that was full of power runners.