RUMBLINGS about the direction of Fremantle's rebuild could be heard long before last Saturday's shocking capitulation against Geelong.

But critics found full voice after the club's biggest-ever loss – a 133-point hammering at the Cattery, blighted by an AFL record 23 unanswered goals.

It has been "an intense week", according to coach Ross Lyon, who has been riding the hot seat more than anyone.

Opinions are divided if he is the right man for the job, with former champion Paul Hasleby among the doubters.

But it would take a dramatic turn of events for Lyon not to remain in charge in 2019.

He still has two years to run on a lucrative contract, signed when his stocks were still sky-high following a minor premiership in 2015, and he has been publicly backed by CEO Steve Rosich.

However, pressure has mounted after one of the darkest days in Freo's history.

Last week's loss to Geelong brought Freo's rebuild into sharper focus. Picture: AFL Photos

Purple-hearted legend Matthew Pavlich, who threw full support behind Lyon, has called for scrutiny on key on-and-off-field personnel.

A review of a concerning run of soft-tissue injuries is underway, and addressing glaring skill deficiencies will be top of the agenda.

In the face of criticism, Lyon has hammered home that the Dockers need to stay the course and that there is no quick fix – although Hawthorn looks to have proven otherwise.

There are also no guarantees, as Freo will be painfully aware looking at Carlton and St Kilda's plights.

"We know it's not done in three years, if you ask head office, they know it's five to six years," Lyon said after the Cats debacle.  

"We also understand teams have done it for 10 years and failed.

"You have got to bring the right talent in and have the right strategy and you have got to build it up."

We know the Dockers are roughly halfway into a four-draft list overhaul, but have they got the right talent and strategy?

Are they really on the right track?

The season

All sorts of numbers can be thrown up to evaluate Freo's campaign.

But the most essential stat is that, unless they upset Collingwood on Saturday, the Dockers are destined to finish with eight wins and percentage somewhere in the 70s – basically level with last year.

Defensively, they have made marginal gains, conceding four fewer points per game (94, AFL No.15).

Their scoring power has dipped only slightly to 71 points (AFL No.15) in a year when scoring has dried up across the board.

Lyon, who takes a "glass half-full" view, notes Fremantle's averaging winning margin (28.3 points) has nearly doubled (15.5) from last year.

He also points to the 22 recruits added over the past two off-seasons, eight debutants this year and games pumped into the kids as investment in the future.

Since the round 10 loss to North Melbourne snuffed out any realistic chance of finals football, Freo has followed through on Lyon's vow to "double down" on the rebuild.

From the past two draft crops, Luke Ryan (31 games), Brennan Cox (25), Adam Cerra (20), Bailey Banfield (20), Andy Brayshaw (17) and Sean Darcy (14) look real finds, and will all be in the best 22 next season.

Adam Cerra's development has been a bright spot for the Dockers. Picture: AFL Photos

Griffin Logue hasn't had a run at it this year due to a foot injury, although he should make it as a third tall defender.

But one of the major problems at Fremantle is depth, or rather the lack of it.

Too much is left to too few, and the kids are being exposed.

Re-signing Aaron Sandilands, who turns 36 in December, and in particular Hayden Ballantyne raised eyebrows.

Their experience can still be useful to a developing group, but if Fremantle is to move forward next year, neither should be a regular member of the side.

The Dockers need more second-tier players to step up consistently.

Damaging wingman Langdon has gone to another level, Connor Blakely could be a star, ditto Ryan, and Joel Hamling and Alex Pearce are solid defensive foundations to build around.

But how many others, outside of the kids, have improved?

If Nat Fyfe, Lachie Neale, David Mundy and Michael Walters haven't been at or near their best this season, Freo has generally struggled.

That's why the nail-biting round 12 win over Adelaide was so full of merit, because Blakely, Cox, Cerra and Langdon led the way.

But that was a rare highlight on a painful run home.

Since round eight, they have gone 4-9, with two of those victories against bottom-placed Carlton.

There have been nine defeats by at least 50 points this year, the most in the competition.

Fans have grown increasingly frustrated by a dour game style, and numbed by repetitive hammerings on the road.

A pitiful interstate record (1-8) is punctuated by an average losing margin of a whopping 62 points away from home.

While the thumpings have kept stacking up, Lyon has repeatedly stated there's a bigger picture than just the scoreboard.

But, ultimately, that's what counts.

What do they need?

Fremantle's recent strategy to lure WA players home has had mixed success, but the hits have helped plug some sizeable deficiencies on the list.

Nathan Wilson and Hamling have been excellent additions to an evolving backline, which is taking shape now that Pearce is back and Ryan has been unearthed.

Bradley Hill has had a forgettable 2018 after his Doig Medal win, but the club would expect a resurgence next season.

At full-strength, Freo's midfield can compete with the best, and injury-plagued Harley Bennell – on his last chance next year – remains a wildcard.

Will the Dockers finally get some belated benefit from Harley Bennell? Picture: AFL Photos

But, as has been the case since Pavlich's decline and retirement, the forward mix just isn't consistently threatening and recruits haven't solved the problem.

Cam McCarthy has lost his way after showing so much promise at the Giants, ex-Cats forward Shane Kersten is fighting for his career as a defender, and Brandon Matera hasn't nailed his spot after crossing from Gold Coast.

Walters leads the goalkicking with just 22 majors, after McCarthy claimed the award with 25 last season.

It is nowhere near enough.

There were high hopes for Matt Taberner, who became a contested marking beast before breaking his foot in round five, and if Brennan Cox's goalkicking ability (22.25 in his career) ever matches his overhead ability, the Dockers will have a beauty.

But the forward line – and connection with and skill level of those delivering the ball – remains a work in progress.

Freo ranks 15th for marks inside 50, a slight improvement from 18th last year, and has been the lowest-tackling side inside 50 for the past two seasons.

Those issues need attention. 

How can they get better?

Fremantle traded away future draft selections last year and currently holds no picks between its first (currently pick No.5) and fifth-round picks.

It's a tricky position to be in, especially after list manager Brad Lloyd's untimely departure to Carlton.

The Dockers are reluctant to trade their first pick for multiple later selections and, in any case, many believe they should be targeting a standout tall forward – possibly one of the King twins Ben and Max – at the top-end of the pool.  

They need marking targets, and reports have linked them to a play for Giants ruck-forward Rory Lobb, who is contracted for next season.

Mitch McGovern is rumoured to be unhappy at Adelaide. If he leaves the Crows and Fremantle, where his father Andrew played, doesn't feature in the conversation, then many would wonder why.

How Freo plans to get back into the second and third rounds of the draft will be intriguing.

Cerra and Langdon would have currency back in Victoria, but parting with either would be a bold move.

Lyon says he would be shocked if Bradley Hill requested a trade back to Melbourne after just two seasons in the west.

The reality is there would be few others the Dockers would let go that would prick rivals' interest and net decent returns, so trading future selections might have to be on the table again this year.

What will be expected in 2019?

The way the Dockers lit up Optus Stadium early in the season – when they averaged 98 points in the first four home games – showed what this group is capable of.

They should be better than what has been dished up in a disheartening second half of the campaign.

But Freo needs to keep its best players on the park, and the review into strength and conditioning will be important. 

Wins and losses might not be everything during a rebuild – just look at the excitement generated by Brisbane in a five-win season – but putting up competitive performances at home and away on a consistent basis will be the minimum expectation.

The gap between Fremantle's best and worst must narrow next season.

With the right pieces in place, the wheel can turn quickly. The Dockers only need to look at the last two premiers for inspiration.