FREMANTLE can "absolutely" still play finals after starting the season 0-3, according to veteran Docker Matthew Pavlich.
The task does not get any easier for the Fremantle Dockers as they face North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. They will be without skipper David Mundy and veteran ruckman Aaron Sandilands due to injury.
No team in the 18-team era of the AFL has started the season 0-4 and played finals, but Pavlich said that wouldn't stop Fremantle from trying.
He said history counted for nothing, just like when Australia II became the first challenger to win the America's Cup in 1983 after 26 failed challenges over the course of 132 years.
"Australia II turned up didn't they in 1983 after 100-odd years of not winning it," Pavlich said.
"It's not going to stop us turning up and having a go."
When asked if he thought Fremantle could still play finals, his response was emphatic.
"Yes, absolutely," Pavlich said.
The veteran said he was keeping the club's slow start to the year in perspective.
He played in 2001 when the Freo Dockers lost their first 17 games of the season on their way to the wooden spoon.
Pavlich said the team are not where they want to be, but there is no need to panic.
"I think through experiencing a lot of different emotions and things that occur in football, it gives you relatively good perspective and an ability to compartmentalise things and be able to move forward," Pavlich said.
"I think certainly with the point we face right now it's not where we want to be, but we believe it allows us a strong opportunity to really grow and improve."
Pavlich said Freo had completed a thorough review of their ball use and decision making out of the defence over the last couple of days.
Coach Ross Lyon said after the loss to West Coast that the coaching staff and the pre-season program were to blame for the players' failure to execute their skills under pressure in the first three rounds.
But Pavlich said the players needed to take responsibility as well.
"There's an element of both really," Pavlich said.
"What we've reviewed over the last couple of days is the players certainly feel like we need to take more ownership with the decisions we're making with the ball in hand.
"It's an overall aspect of the football program. But realistically it's the players, I believe."
Pavlich was firm in saying that the players will be able to execute Lyon’s new playing style.
"The game plan has actually changed a fair bit from last year, and that's where we've been tinkering and trying to improve," Pavlich said.
"With any type of shift or change, there's a bit of a lag time before it actually gets executed the way we want.
"Ross and the coaches are doing a great job at explaining that, teaching us that, but the players are just trying to get up to speed as quickly as we can. It's up to the players now to take responsibility and execute it."
