Fremantle midfielder Lachie Neale has urged his young teammates to use the rest of the season as a platform for development after conceding the club’s finals dream is over for another year.

The Dockers’ slim hopes of making a late charge at the top eight were effectively torn to shreds in a 54-point demolition at the hands of Melbourne in Darwin on Saturday night that left them wallowing in 13th spot on the ladder.

Veteran goal sneak Hayden Ballantyne is rated an “outside chance” to return from an ankle injury against Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium on Sunday and young defender Taylin Duman could be recalled, having been dropped last month.

Cam Sutcliffe could also be in the mix after filling the role of travelling emergency in Darwin, while coach Ross Lyon has hinted first-year midfielder Tom North is edging closer to an AFL debut.

But the number of players putting their hands up for selection is dwindling because of poor WAFL form and a long injury list.

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Neale said it was “a fair assumption” that Fremantle would miss out on September action for a third straight season.

“But the last seven games, whether we make finals or not, it counts for pre-season to get a bit of momentum,” Neale said.

“It counts for next year, it counts for guys learning and growing and bringing them on as quick as we can to become a good football team.”

Fremantle face five top-eight sides plus finals-chasing Essendon during a tough run home.

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Even last-placed Carlton can’t be underestimated by the Dockers, who suffered a humiliating defeat to lowly Brisbane at Optus Stadium in round 15.

“I go into every game thinking we can win,” Neale said.

“We know that they’ll be really big challenges but we’ve seen the AFL change a bit over the last few years and on any given day a team can come in and roll another team regardless of ladder positions.

“That’s the mindset I have.”

Fremantle have lost their past two games against Port Adelaide by an average margin of 70 points, both at Adelaide Oval.

The Power have moved into the top four and underlined their premiership credentials with wins in seven of eight matches since their last trip to Perth, when they were beaten by West Coast in round seven.

“They were going pretty well in 2016 when we were going s***house and we beat them,” Neale said.

“We play them at home and the boys have got an eight-day break, as they (Port Adelaide) do as well.

“It gives our boys a chance to learn and implement at training a couple of times throughout the week.

“The last two times we’ve played them at Adelaide Oval, they’ve pantsed us.

“We’ve had a couple of big losses in a row now so if we can stem that flow and get one on the board, that would be nice.

“That winning feeling is our motivation.”

Camera Icon The Dockers want to get back on the winners’ list. Credit: Getty Images

Neale fought valiantly against Melbourne in the absence of long-time engine room partners Aaron Sandilands and Nat Fyfe but was beaten by his tagger Jack Viney.

Neale copped several heavy hits in the physical affair, including an off-the-ball body blow that could land Demons forward Jesse Hogan in hot water with the match review officer ahead of his side’s clash with the Western Bulldogs on Saturday.

“I had a couple of corks and a couple of cheeky hits in the ribs that are a bit sore now,” Neale said.

“It was just in the sweet spot. He (Hogan) didn’t really hit me too hard. It was just right in a good spot.

“I tried to give out a couple but they’re big boys, so they didn’t go down like me.”