Former Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna has urged Fremantle fans to be patient as they wait for the team’s scoring to improve, saying it will be the final piece of the club’s rebuild.

The Dockers are ranked 14th for scoring this season despite being eighth for inside 50s.

Their scoring problems have been badly exposed away from home where they’ve kicked 60, 51, 33 and 52 points from four games this season.

They are also ranked last for tackles inside 50 and have laid only seven inside their forward arc in the last two games.

But McKenna, who led Gold Coast for their first four seasons, said Fremantle’s struggles were predictable given coaches always built from the back.

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He said playing only five forwards allowed the opposition to have an extra defender who could exploit younger players.

Camera Icon Cam McCarthy has been struggling for form in recent weeks. Credit: Getty Images

McKenna said Fremantle were always going to be vulnerable with teenagers Adam Cerra, Brennan Cox and Mitch Crowden playing in attack.

“You won’t play two kids in the midfield and you won’t play two kids down back. That means the forward half is your youngest half because that’s the last piece of your coaching puzzle,” he said.

“On a particular week, those kids will stand up. They’ll take a mark and kick a goal or they’ll hit targets and it will look OK.

“But young fellas who are learning their way at AFL football will be consistently inconsistent. If you’ve got a young group and most of them are in one area, then brace yourself.

“If they’re outmanned or outnumbered, you’re really throwing them in the deep end, but you’ve got to do that.”

McKenna said Fremantle should take heart from their ability to win possession in the midfield and drive the ball forward. He said they would eventually reap the benefits when the forwards gained experience.

McKenna said key forward Cam McCarthy’s struggles were another sign Fremantle lacked experience inside 50.

McCarthy averaged 13 disposals, six marks and kicked seven goals in the first five games.

But opposition defenders have focused on him since Matt Taberner broke down with a foot injury and McCarthy has averaged eight possessions, two marks and kicked four goals from the past four matches.

“His numbers were really good at GWS, but that’s because they used to play big monsters down there,” McKenna said.

“If you put Patton, Cameron, Lobb and McCarthy down there, then who do you put your best defenders on?

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“McCarthy is getting the third or fourth-best defender. At Fremantle, he’s getting the best each week.”

The Dockers are preparing for another challenge against North Melbourne at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

The Kangaroos have the best defence in the league this season, conceding just 71 points per game. But Fremantle have performed significantly better in Perth, averaging 96 points per match at Optus Stadium.

McKenna said fans shouldn’t expect significant scoring progress this year.

“There wouldn’t be a coach alive that would try to stack their forward line up before their back line or midfield,” he said.

“That’s the last bastion.

“It takes time to get the other positions locked away.”