Fremantle coach Ross Lyon insists the 2013 grand finalists are on track for a strong start to the AFL season despite indifferent practice match form.

Fremantle rounded out their pre-season campaign with a 19-point loss to West Coast on Thursday night.

Their only win of the pre-season was an unconvincing victory over the Western Bulldogs, and the Dockers enter next Friday’s season opener against Collingwood with a number of concerns.

Goalsneak Michael Walters faces a nervous wait after he was reported for a high hit on Eagles youngster Brant Colledge.

Ruckman Zac Clarke will miss the start of the season with a knee injury, while Nat Fyfe (knee) and Hayden Ballantyne (corked leg) are coming off minor niggles.

High-profile recruit Colin Sylvia is set to start the season in the WAFL after struggling to hit peak form and fitness, while former Bomber Scott Gumbleton will miss three months with a hamstring injury.

Fremantle’s appearance in last year’s grand final meant they started their pre-season later than most other clubs.

Lyon admits his team had a fair bit of catching up to do over the past month, but he isn’t concerned heading into Friday’s clash with Collingwood.

“We tick off a strong summer,” Lyon said.

“There’s been some angst along the way and I’ve been at the players a little bit.

“At the end of the day we’re a club that’s coming from a month behind (after playing in last year’s grand final). That’s the reality.

“And we open the season, so we have lots to do and little time to do it.

“But I think we couldn’t have done any more and I thought we ran it out really strong (against the Eagles) on a hot night and on a big ground.”

Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui is on track for round one after playing more than a half against the Dockers.

Naitanui showed no signs of the groin troubles that plagued him last year, and rookie coach Adam Simpson was thrilled to see his trump card make it through the game unscathed.

Should Naitanui make it through next week’s intra-club hit-out, he would be almost certain to appear on the round-one clash with the Bulldogs at Patersons Stadium on March 23.

West Coast won all three of their games during the pre-season, but Simpson was a tad disappointed his side lost the clearance and contested possession count against the Dockers.