Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich is hopeful the AFL club can taste premiership success this year, but admits their effort will need to improve drastically over the next few weeks if they are to achieve their goal.

The Dockers will start the season as one of the flag favourites following last year’s impressive run to the grand final.

However, the early signs aren’t great for Fremantle, who were off the boil in Tuesday’s 84-point hammering from West Coast.

Fremantle’s delayed start to the pre-season means they’re still behind most of their AFL rivals in terms of their physical preparations.

But Pavlich said a lack of effort was mostly to blame for the inept display.

“Our effort was way off the mark. A team who had a new coach wanting to impress absolutely smashed us,” Pavlich said at Fremantle’s season launch on Thursday.

“It’s a good reminder that if you’re not switched on and ready to go, you’re going to get found out pretty quickly.”

Fremantle president Steve Harris says the No.1 goal for 2014 is to improve.

Pavlich is hopeful that improvement will lead to a premiership, but he warned there was no guarantees.

“The obvious outcome of improvement is going one step further,” Pavlich said.

“But improvement doesn’t necessarily mean you get what you absolutely desire in life.”

New recruits Colin Sylvia and Scott Gumbleton have made low-key starts to their time in the west.

Gumbleton, who played 35 games during seven injury-riddled years at the Bombers, is slated to play a key role in attack alongside Pavlich.

Sylvia was recruited to add some grunt up forward and through the midfield, but the former Demon needs to improve his fitness after a modified start to his pre-season.

Pavlich played only the second half against the Eagles, but expects to see more game time in Wednesday’s clash with the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.

Fremantle open the AFL season with a blockbuster match against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium on March 14.