FREMANTLE coach Mark Harvey was critical of the Dockers mistakes in the NAB Cup loss to Adelaide on Sunday, but the versatile Daniel Gilmore believes it could be a blessing in disguise.

Despite a terrific start and finish to the game, the Crows proved too strong for Fremantle and Harvey was not impressed with poor skills and decision-making by his players.

However, Gilmore believes getting over that loss is all part of developing in the pre-season and is looking forward to playing North Melbourne this Saturday night under home and away season rules.

"It was a pre-season game so we aren’t stressing about the loss, Gilmore said. “We had a great start to the game, our pressure skills and endeavours were quite good for the four quarters, but the decision-making and skill level we showed was a little questionable during the middle part of the game."

"It is that time of year where guys are getting match fit, have been training their guts out and what happened to us in the second and third quarters can happen to any team at this time of the year. All we can do is get back on track and get on with it."

Gilmore doesn’t believe the skills shown by either team at AAMI Stadium will reflect what is ahead in 2008 and is looking forward to seeing how the Dockers measure up against one of last season's losing preliminary finalists.

"Our skill level in the windy conditions wasn’t where we would like it to be, but neither was theirs; they just capitalised on our turnovers better than we did," he said.

"We are feeling fit and can now go into our next two practice games with normal rules and get on with setting up our structures for round one. The Kangaroos were a top four side last year and will be looking to be again and I look forward to playing them on Saturday night."

Gilmore arrived at Fremantle in 2003 and has played 33 games, but only cemented his spot in the team in the second half of last year as a mobile ruckman when Aaron Sandilands went down injured. With Sandilands fully fit and Rob Warnock expected to return this Saturday, Gilmore hopes Harvey allows him to develop in another spot.

"It will be great to see the two tallest men in the world play together," he said.

"Even though I've been doing a bit of back-up rucking in this pre-season and last year, I'm versatile enough to be able to play in every position on the ground, so hopefully I can cement another spot," Gilmore said.