FREMANTLE midfielder Matt de Boer says the Dockers will make the "mental commitment to go again" after Saturday's Grand Final defeat has sunk in.

 

One of the most openly devastated players in the Fremantle rooms post-match, de Boer wore the scars of a game spent fearlessly throwing himself at the contest. 

 

He said he was "100 per cent proud" of the players, but they recognised they need to improve next season.

 

"We probably need a couple of weeks to take it all in and then we need to make that mental commitment to go again," he told AFL.com.au.  

 

"We will. I can't wait to get stuck back in, get around the boys and have a chat about the year that was and then get stuck back in.

 

"We will grow because the commitment from the boys is there and we want to be a part of something special. That could have been today but we fell short, so we need to get better."

 

De Boer finished with 16 possessions and spent time trying to blanket Hawk Shaun Burgoyne in a typical blue-collar performance.

 

He said players couldn't be held accountable for skill errors that proved costly because their effort didn't waver.

 

Teammate Michael Barlow, who was among the Dockers' best with 23 touches and eight tackles, agreed their hardness or desire to get involved could not be questioned.     

 

"The resolve of the group and the strength of the group is we opened ourselves up to be devastated I suppose, because we didn't comprehend all through the week that we'd get rolled," Barlow said.

 

"We were confident all through the week that if we brought our effort and desire for the contest that we'd be on top of the tree at the moment.

 

"I'm absolutely 100 per cent proud of the group."