AN HONEST two-way conversation between Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow and coach Ross Lyon has led to Barlow's rejuvenation in a new role as a run-with midfielder in recent weeks.

Barlow produced a career-best performance against Port Adelaide on Saturday just three weeks after spending a fortnight in the WAFL to recapture some form.

Barlow, 28, had never been dropped previously in his seven seasons at AFL level. But Barlow said he was crystal clear on what was required after some forthright conversations with the coach.

Full match coverage and stats

"I have a really close relationship with Ross," Barlow told AFL.com.au.

"I feel really comfortable challenging him and clearly he is comfortable challenging me. I think that's a great environment to be in.

"Especially with the challenges of going back to the WAFL mid-year and having the honest conversations and not ducking and weaving around the corridors and being a little bit clouded as to the direction I was going personally and the club might have been going.

"I have full faith in him and the coaching staff. "

Barlow has returned in a run-with role in the last three weeks and has been phenomenal in the Dockers' three consecutive wins.

He has had jobs on Essendon's David Zaharakis and Brisbane Lion Daniel Rich in the last two weeks. Zaharakis had just 11 touches while Barlow gathered 26 and kicked a goal in round 11. Rich had 18 disposals and a goal to Barlow's 23 last week.

On Saturday, he produced his finest performance to-date on Port Adelaide star Robbie Gray. Barlow had 43 disposals, 20 contested possessions, nine clearances, eight tackles and kicked two critical goals. Gray had just 18 disposals, only his second sub-20 disposal game this year. The other came against Geelong when he injured his hamstring.

Barlow revealed he had been talking to close friend and former teammate Ryan Crowley weekly to get some advice on his upcoming opponents, although Crowley didn’t have much insight on facing Gray.

"I text him every week," Barlow said.

"He hadn't played on Robbie Gray before so he wasn't much help. He sent me a few wide-eyed emojis. It was like, 'I can't help you here mate'.

"But me and Crowls are really, really close. I couldn't actually tell him the first week because it was Essendon. But I was pretty quick to tell him after the game when I shook his hand. I said, 'I'll call you during the week about it as I'll probably do this again next week'. He'd played on Rich a couple of times. So I look forward to having a 30-minute chat with him again."

Five talking points: Fremantle v Port Adelaide

Barlow said he was enjoying the new role despite getting less sleep each week.

"I wouldn't call it a complete lockdown tag," Barlow said.

"It's really important to have 18 productive players out there. I'm enjoying the role but I get a lot of help from my teammates.

"I think it really strips back my focuses going into a game. I probably get a bit more anxious and lose a little bit more sleep throughout the week knowing some of the players I'll be playing on. But the focuses are really clear going into the games and what's expected of me is really clear."

Barlow was unsure who he would face against Collingwood given the depth in the Magpies midfield.