A LONG 2008 continues to have its distractions for Fremantle, but one shining light is ruckman Aaron Sandilands and he is enjoying the new midfield combinations.

With long-term injuries to Des Headland and Paul Hasleby and with Peter Bell retiring last week, Sandilands likes the fact that the bond he's creating with the likes of Rhys Palmer can now last for much of the next decade, as could his combination with Robert Warnock if he re-signs with Fremantle.

Warnock and Sandilands have the potential to be the best ruck pair in the AFL and Sandilands is hoping Warnock stays in order for them to achieve that.

"I haven't personally spoken to him about it, it's Robbie's' decision, but I'd like to have him around the club," Sandilands said.

"I reckon we can do some damage as a ruck combination and hopefully we can build up a pretty good relationship on the field in the next several weeks so that he can stay.”

The fallout from the loss to Geelong on Saturday has been huge in the media, with Dean Solomon's hit on Cameron Ling the main focus, but as far as Sandilands is concerned the club has to focus on Melbourne this Sunday and put it behind them.

"I haven't had a chance to talk to Dean but he's very disappointed about what happened. Getting reported is definitely not acceptable and to lose a good player who could be playing for us is really unacceptable."

Without Hasleby, Bell, Headland and even with Josh Carr spending less time in the middle, Sandilands has had to adjust to having new midfielders around his feet and is creating a tremendous combination with Palmer.

"Having that calibre of players out certainly hurts us, but hopefully we are building something for the future," he said.

"I had a pretty good relationship going with Hase before this year and Rhys Palmer's come into the midfield and we're starting to build a pretty good relationship. We get Hase back next year which is going to be a big positive and Des could still come back this year, we're not sure."