ROSS Lyon wants Fremantle to become an "anyone, anywhere, any time" team again but has declared talk is cheap ahead of a challenging round one trip to face Port Adelaide.
The Power belted the Dockers by 89 points in round two last year, sparking a significant shift towards promoting youth into the rebuilding line-up.
While Lyon believes Fremantle has improved over the summer, returning to Adelaide Oval – where the Dockers also lost to the Crows by 100 points last year - will be an early test.
However, they will take confidence from hammering West Coast in their final JLT Community Series clash and have regained Doig medallist Bradley Hill (quad) for Saturday's contest.
"It (Hill's return) certainly helps. Not fond memories (at Adelaide Oval) last year, but previous memories in Adelaide have been okay," Lyon said.
"Senior experience helps but we were quite experienced last year and didn't get it done.
"We feel like we're playing a better brand of footy.
"It's still a formidable challenge.
"We felt the JLT we grew a bit. It's a bigger challenge, the intensity will be right up and a roaring crowd, but mental toughness is responding powerfully to challenge.
"It's a very fit and available team. We'd like to think we've grown, but talk's cheap, everyone can talk it up.
"Everyone's had a great summer, everyone's improved their footy, but we're match-fit and we're ready to go."
The Dockers will have four new faces on Saturday, with No.2 NAB AFL Draft pick Andrew Brayshaw and rookie bolter Bailey Banfield to debut alongside recruits Brandon Matera and Nathan Wilson.
On paper, Fremantle's strongest line-up looks competitive and the Dockers aren't putting a ceiling on what they can achieve in 2018.
"We're trying to run a dual narrative of develop and get a blend of youth and experience and bang games in while we win games of footy," Lyon said.
"Because there's economic realities for our club, new stadium, new facility, it's a challenging model the football model.
"We'd like to bring some on-field wins to help our commercial operations team."
Hill trained strongly on Thursday morning to confirm his availability after Lyon admitted it initially wasn't looking good when he strained a quad two weeks ago.
His brother Stephen is aiming to return from his calf issue in round two, but it remains to be seen if he will have to start at Peel after failing to appear during pre-season games.
Lee Spurr (knee) is looking at a lengthy stint on the sidelines, but Lyon is confident the veteran backman can play a role this year.
"Unfortunately, it's one of those injuries that's going to take six-or-seven weeks to settle down and get moving," he said.
"He'll play a part – that's the thing everyone's got to play a part in the campaign – and he'll come back and play well for us."
Meanwhile, Harley Bennell still doesn't have a timeframe for his comeback from his latest calf problem.
"He's just rehabbing that calf. When he gets well he'll train and he'll play. He's got plenty of time," Lyon said.
