While Fremantle's horror injury toll was the primary cause of the club's disappointing finish to season 2011, coach Mark Harvey feels it's given him a better insight into his list.
With 24 players indisposed over the closing rounds, the Dockers had no choice but to promote the next in line who would otherwise have been plying their trade in the WAFL.
"We've had a really good review in AFL games of our list," said Harvey after Saturday's final-round loss to the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
"That's pleasing because sometimes we can judge them at WAFL level and there can be a different outlook on the player that's not necessarily conducive to AFL level.
Finishing the season with seven straight losses, Harvey conceded, was hard to swallow.
He predicted the next few weeks at the club in the lead-up to November's national draft would be 'interesting'.
"It's been a long seven weeks, but what it quickly makes you realise is you probably do have to reassess the situation." Harvey said.
"So we'll make some hard decisions based upon that in the coming weeks."
"The reality is we've probably got too many 'depth' players in the side at the moment."
"We need speed defensively, in the midfield and a key forward."
"That would be the areas that we would be looking at."
"I think you'll find a lot of trading will be done because of the compromised draft."
Harvey said he expects the club to sit down with out-of-contract midfielder Rhys Palmer, who's been linked with expansion club Greater Western Sydney, early next week.
The coach singled out first-year midfielder Tendai Mzungu, key defender Alex Silvagni and Chris Mayne, who filled a tagging role on Ryan Griffen, as players who held their own against the Bulldogs.
He said his side was competitive for three quarters, but there were 'too many mistakes' and 'too few highlights'.
"It's one thing me taking it that way, but you've got to make sure that your players understand so that they don't find themselves in these situations and we don't make excuses for unavailability," Harvey said.