FREMANTLE defender Garrick Ibbotson said his side paid the price for basic skill errors in the Dockers 27-point loss to the Tigers last Sunday.

The loss has seen Fremantle's six-point gap in fifth place on the AFL ladder reduced to two and now places heavier emphasis on Saturday night's clash with the Crows at Patersons Stadium. 

Ibbotson cited a number of frustrating instances where Dockers players turned the ball over because they were too close to the man on the mark, one of which resulted in a goal to Richmond's Jack Riewoldt.

"We had maybe six or seven where we didn't back off the mark, it's something simple and it's basics.  

"We're not being worked too hard that we can't get back off the mark. That's something that's really simple and anyone can do that." 

Richmond also dominated Fremantle at the stoppages, winning 17 more clearances and kicking five goals from stoppages to the Dockers three behinds. 

"We got beaten in the contested ball and stoppages," Ibbotson said. 

"We knew that was going to be a strength of theirs, their stoppage work, and they got on top of us during the day so that's a couple of things we've taken out of it. 

"We've got our main review coming up so we'll find out a bit more."

Ross Lyon suggested on Perth radio on Monday night that there would be some home truths delivered to certain players in the Dockers review this week. 

Ibbotson knows exactly what the players are in for, having received the same honest feedback from Lyon earlier in the season. 

The 25-year-old is having a stellar year but it began in the WAFL as Lyon asked him to make significant improvements in certain areas.  

"Early in the season I did play some footy with East Fremantle and I spoke to Ross. We had a pretty honest chat about what was going on and what he thought I needed to focus on to make sure that I'm contributing to the footy club in the best way possible.”

Ibbotson already had 102 games to his name over six seasons when Lyon dropped him to the WAFL. He said the coach had not been unnecessarily hard on him, but instead was grateful for the honest feedback.

"I don’t think he was hard on me at all," Ibbotson said. 

"He was honest and that's probably the most important thing. 

"I really appreciated the fact that he was really honest with me and it made it easier for me to improve."