FREMANTLE coach Mark Harvey believes his team's inability to capitalise inside its forward 50 is the pivotal reason why it went down to Collingwood by 26 points at the MCG on Saturday.

Harvey's men finished with three more forward 50s than the Magpies – 52 to 49 – and he was adamant this was the reason for the loss and not the fact Fremantle didn't inject any youth, such as draftee Rhys Palmer, into its line-up for the opening round.

"I don't think that's the issue [not playing Palmer]," Harvey said post-match when asked about his side not playing any debutants.

"We actually had more inside 50s than the opposition, so it's just about a couple of different areas in the game that we've got to really scrutinise to get better at.

"We had 20 more possessions than them, so it's the quality in the decision making that matters most – particularly when the game's in the balance."

Harvey also said losing playmaker Heath Black, who suffered slight concussion, was also frustrating from a structural point-of-view.

"We lost Heath Black early and against a side that rotates 90 [times] – in your structure that can hurt you early," he said.

Harvey defended Fremantle's decision to play several veterans in its side when asked if Shaun McManus, Matthew Carr and Mark Johnson could all play in the same side together.

"That's selection. To judge them on one performance is harsh, so [I'll] sit back and work it out over the next couple of weeks and see where the team needs to [improve]," he said.

"It's not an easy campaign, but we've got to try to win these games on the road, as well as at home, so the team knows that and they've missed one chance."

Harvey was pleased with Luke McPharlin's (three goals) contribution in attack when he was shifted from defence, but conceded Chris Tarrant's game was not one of his best.

"It was his first game [of the season] against his old club. He just couldn't get into it today," he said.

"You'd like your forwards to be in the game constantly."

Although Harvey conceded his team tired throughout the match, he was pleased with its ability to fight out the contest.

"We just never threw the towel in at any stage and that's the pleasing part about it," he said.