I really must be going forwards to the past.  After another sad loss on the road, for some reason I am in a forgiving mood towards my boys this week.  Perhaps it was the pleasant Queensland weather.  Or maybe it was just because I feared a real slaughter was on the cards.  Either way, it's an uncomfortable feeling, being back in 2001.

They certainly do things differently in the Sunshine State.  Where else would you have a primary school incorporated into the grounds of the stadium?  Where else would you see such an eye-scorching colour scheme for the seating?  Where else would you find people actually cheering Fremantle on because they preferred a close game?  In fact, the most obnoxious Lions supporters I came across were the people in the row ahead of me on the plane home, and they came from WA!

One again, the Dockers were competitive, but let themselves down horribly with yet another 10 minute period where the opposition were allowed total dominance.  I want answers from whoever decided that Dean Solomon was the best match-up in the team for Jonathan Brown.  Solly being the champ he is, he tried manfully, but the big boofhead is an even bigger champ and it was his rapid sequence of two goals that essentially broke the game open.  My Dockers/Sharks heart was alternately horrified and delighted at the performance of Simon Black, who was the difference in the midfield, dive or no dive.

I also want to speak to Michael Prior.  Don't necessarily believe everything you read about the wind at the ground - it was erratic, and blew quite strongly at certain points, but it was not a factor in the extraordinary skill errors on display for the whole game.  Now, Brisbane made many clangers as well, and credit to the defenders for cutting off as many kicks as they did; but Fremantle's errors were always more costly and really hurt in the final shake-up.

On the plane, I wanted to go up to Rhys Palmer and ask that he immediately dispose of the boots he had worn.  Brilliant goal at the end of the third notwithstanding, Staples proved totally unable to capitalise on his spirited ball-winning ways and his efficiency was way under par.  However, he was limping something shocking as he went past, so I decided against it for fear of cursing him for the rest of the year.

However - there were certainly a few highlights.  Palmer's goal was brill, but I was equally thrilled with Chris Mayne's, which was an even tougher shot.  Indeed, the frizzy-haired one had his best game since returning from injury.  Supermac took another classic mark.  Sandi's work around the ground has improved out of sight since 2007, even if he still needs some goal kicking practice.  Robbie Warnock went well in his "Oh-my-God-he's-going-to-leave-if-we-don't play-him-soon" match.

The only other thing that struck sour notes - apart from the field kicking - was the inclusion of Mark Johnson and Shaun McManus.  As I have said previously, at this point in a wrecked season neither have as much to offer as we have to possibly gain by playing other players on the list.

Finally, Mark Harvey's on-camera spray from the rooms totally eluded those of us at the ground, and I only heard about it this morning.  If it helped to stave off a total collapse in the second half, bravo to him.  But ultimately selection policy is in his hands, and he may have been spared some of the shouting had that been done correctly.  I'm sure he is aware that it was a home game against North Melbourne that destroyed his predecessor - so let us hope that it all comes together this week.

Forever Freo!