So that’s it. It’s all over. Fremantle’s 2018 is done and dusted.

The year started with a few positive signs, but had significant lows throughout, none lower than last week’s effort against Geelong.

But supporters are never more positive than during the off-season, so now that the Dockers are heading into theirs, we thought we’d kick-start things with a few good things to take out of the year.

Adam Cerra and Andy Brayshaw

The two top-five draft picks did everything asked of them this year, and only injury stopped them both playing virtually every game of the season. Brayshaw was the first to get a game after an impressive summer, and finished the season averaging 16 touches and four tackles per game. It was his tackling and hunger for the contest which was most impressive. Brayshaw isn’t flashy, but he’s very, very effective. Cerra on the other hand showed serious class, and played out the year despite having virtually no pre-season. His 30-possession game against Adelaide was one of the best individual displays from a first-year player this season (Tim Kelly aside... obviously). Brayshaw has extended his contract already and the Dockers will no doubt look to get Cerra locked down quickly over this summer.

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Camera Icon The two top-five picks both delivered. Credit: Getty Images

The backline is almost set

The Dockers’ issues this year haven’t been because of their back six. In Joel Hamling, Alex Pearce, Nathan Wilson and Luke Ryan, the club has found the core of their backline for the next five years plus. Add Griffin Logue in there, should he develop as expected after he puts his foot issues behind him, and it’s starting to look pretty good. The midfield pieces are there too, some of them just need a few more games under their belt. Next year it’s all about building a workable forward line.

Ed Langdon and Connor Blakely

Both players showed real signs of improvement this season, even if Blakely’s was cut short by injury. Langdon in particular made the jump this season from fringe player to regular in the best 22. He’s still got work to do on his form away from Optus Stadium, but he threatened to be a match-winner at times with his line-breaking pace and ability to find the footy. Blakely was good at half-back last year and early this year, but he’ll eventually be an inside midfielder, and showed that when he pushed up the ground around the middle of the season. Finished averaging 24 touches from his 13 games.

Their form at home

There were some big losses on the road, but the first step any rebuilding side needs to take is getting their form right on their home deck. The Dockers won seven of their 13 games at Optus Stadium and managed to kick more than 100 points in three of them. It wasn’t perfect, but if WA teams can make their home ground a real fortress, it doesn’t take much from there to earn them a finals berth.

Camera Icon Ed Langdon has been a bright light among the club’s emerging players. Credit: AFL Media

There are finally some talls at the pointy end of the draft

Fremantle’s slide down the ladder came at a time where the best players in the draft were pretty much all midfielders. That’s not ideal for a side which has been crying out for a key forward. This year the Dockers will go into the draft armed with a pick in the top six, and are a good chance of finally getting the tall they need. Jack Lukosius is set to be off the board within the first couple of picks, but Max and Ben King could still be in the mix when Freo make their pick. Both have shown ability at either end of the ground, and would slot in nicely.

The real Nat Fyfe is back

Last season Fyfe returned from a broken leg and was Fremantle’s best player. This year all the speedbumps were out of the way and he was back to being one of the competition’s three best players. He didn’t have the game he would have wanted against the Pies, but going into it he was still averaging a career-high 29 touches, seven clearances and 16.5 contested possessions. You would think he’ll be leading the Brownlow count half-way through. Expect more of the same next year.