GOLD Coast coach Stuart Dew knew why Fremantle got on top and pushed on to a 28-point win on Saturday at Optus Stadium – its big guns fired when they had to. 

"We were in it in the second and third quarters but … Freo’s class through the middle went harder for longer and was just able to overpower us. They stepped up as the guns do," Dew said.

Dew also conceded Fremantle superstar Nat Fyfe and veteran ruckman Aaron Sandilands had a massive influence on the contest.

FYFE-TASTIC: Full match coverage and stats

"I think Sandi got the better of Jarrod Witts but Wittsy never stops trying," he said.

"It’s hard to get on top of Sandi, particularly early in the season when he’s fresh.

WATCH: Stuart Dew's full post-match media conference 

"I can’t ever question Wittsy’s heart and his intentions and that’s all we ask from him.

"But Sandi was really good today. Fyfe was unstoppable and Sandi helped him along the way.

"I still think when we were staring down the barrel at quarter-time, (conceding) 21 inside 50s, it was a great response from our group (to hit the front in the third term). 

"We would have liked for it to have lasted a little bit longer but it didn’t." 

Gold Coast will be without Pearce Hanley for some time, with Dew saying the club would reassess whether to send the Irishman for surgery after he dislocated his shoulder again at Optus Stadium.

WATCH: Hanley's shoulder goes again 

One positive for the Suns was the three-goal effort from Sam Day on his way back from a serious hip injury. 

"We have been so rapt with Sam’s journey since I got the job," Dew said. 

"If we were sitting here five months ago saying he’s played three AFL games … we would be ecstatic but now he’s just one of the team and that’s fantastic. 

"It’s a good sign of the type of character he is to push back from that injury." 

STRIFE FOR SANDI: Five talking points

But one player who had a day to forget was Aaron Hall, kept to just five disposals by third-game Docker Bailey Banfield. 

WATCH: Hall put down behind play

"He had a down game Hally so he’s got to bounce back," Dew said.

"Full credit to the young lad in his third game, he got a big scalp. Hally’s got to learn how to get through. Yes, we can help him but also Hally’s got to push through that." 

"In the end Fremantle out-worked us and the last 30 minutes is where they really got on top."