It was the AFL trouncing Fremantle needed to have.
The Dockers were labelled “unwatchable” by Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett following their 48-point capitulation to West Coast in round nine, with coach Ross Lyon copping the brunt of the criticism.
Fremantle managed a paltry 5.6 (36) in that game – their lowest ever score at their home venue.
But as painful as the defeat was, it forced the Dockers to confront a number of glaring issues.
Using three ruckmen in that game failed dismally, and a dearth of runners in defence proved costly.
But it was their lack of attacking spark – both in the midfield and up forward – that was the biggest eyesore.
That has since been fixed, with Matthew Pavlich starring as a permanent forward and Chris Mayne enjoying his best year ever as the third tall.
Goalsneaks Michael Walters and Hayden Ballantyne form a dangerous pair at ground level, while the inclusion of Matt de Boer in the midfield has given the Dockers a harder edge.
Fremantle averaged just 75.4 points per game over the first nine rounds, but have averaged 93.6 since the derby loss, with Pavlich booting 36 goals in his past eight games.
Although western derby XXXV was a dark day for Fremantle, it could prove to be a season-defining point in their season.
The Dockers, on the back of a four-game winning streak, sit just percentage adrift of eighth spot and could take a major step towards securing a finals spot with victory over fifth-placed West Coast.
But with the Eagles fighting tooth and nail to stay in touch with the top-four, Fremantle face an uphill battle.
West Coast have won the past three derbies, and will enter the latest match against their arch-rivals full of confidence following their blistering second-half display in the round-nine triumph.
But of the 22 Dockers who took to the field that day, only 15 remain for the latest installment, with the likes of Nat Fyfe, Adam McPhee, Garrick Ibbotson and Walters important inclusions for western derby XXXVI in what has become a more balanced outfit.
In an added bonus for the Dockers, West Coast will be without suspended skipper Darren Glass and injured midfielder Matt Rosa (jaw), while injury clouds still surround ruckman Dean Cox (ankle) and Daniel Kerr (hamstring).
Lyon described his side’s horror showing in the last derby as “ancient history”.
“There’s lots of personnel changes on both sides,” Lyon said.
“We learned a lot of lessons and we’ve improved our football.
“We’re a bit more bouncy out of the back six now.
“We’ve got another small forward in the line-up with Walters, which makes us a bit more dangerous, and some midfield (class) back with Fyfe.”
West Coast recalled Mitch Brown and Tom Swift, while the Dockers welcomed back fit-again defender Zac Dawson.
