The Fremantle Dockers, despite having one of the strongest forward lines in the AFL on paper in 2025, struggled to hit the scoreboard consistently, kicking the fewest points of all top eight sides.
They also scored 100 points or more on just six occasions - less than half the amount of times that same feat was accomplished by the likes of Gold Coast, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs.
It's surprising, considering seven Dockers kicked at least a goal per game in 2025 (minimum 15 games played). No other AFL side had more than six.
Resolving that concern has been a key focus during pre-season for the Cockburn-based outfit, according to key forward Josh Treacy, as Justin Longmuir's side look to weaponise their supreme combination of tall and small forward options.
"They're all running around my feet, the small forwards. I'm trying to tell them where to run and I'm trying to get out of the way," Treacy joked to media on Wednesday.
"But those two or three extra goals we need will come from more than one avenue. Whether that be forward 50 pressure or ball movement, we feel like we can add that through natural progression and really take it in our stride."
In terms of forward 50 pressure, the Dockers will be aiming to provide support to Shai Bolton in that area, who was elite in his first year in the purple chevron guernsey.
Bolton was involved in 29.9 per cent of all Fremantle scores, a team-high, and gathered 2.2 forward 50 ground balls per game (fourth in the AFL). However, as a team, the Dockers ranked 13th in this metric, illustrating the ways they have to go to support their talls.
Treacy, meanwhile, has quietly been one of the better key forwards over the past two seasons, kicking 89 goals since 2024 with a shot accuracy of close to 70 per cent.
He also wins 33.8 per cent of his 3.0 offensive one-on-one contests per game, a rate that ranks eighth league-wide (minimum 2.0 one-on-one contests and 15 games played).
Two players who may help with the delivery inside 50 to the 23-year-old are recruits Mason Cox and Judd McVee, who Treacy stated he was excited to play alongside in 2026.
"I'm a little unsure [what Cox's role will be] but what he brings means he can slide in almost anywhere for us," Treacy said.
"Not only Mason but we've brought in Judd McVee from Melbourne as well who will bring a nice dynamic off half-back for us. I'm looking forward to catching a few of his kicks."
2025 was a big year for Treacy in an off-field sense too, included into Fremantle's leadership group for the first time. He senses a lot of growth in that space at the club, believing it could drive them toward premiership success next year.
"Through the lessons and games we played this year, I think the club as a whole took strides in that space," Treacy said.
"I took a lot out of this year in that sense; the experience of having that role of being a leader for the first time.
"I took a few big steps but certainly have a few more to go. It's still a phase I'm trying to figure out along with a few other things but it's something that's come a long way this year."
Treacy and Fremantle open their season against Geelong for a second consecutive year in Victoria, taking on the Cats at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday, March 14.
