Fremantle defender Luke Ryan says the player group are right behind Justin Longmuir as the sixth-year coach battles a wave of criticism ahead of a crunch period.

The Dockers' goal of landing their maiden flag this season is on shaky ground after opening with a 4-5 record.

A 78-point loss to Geelong in Geelong in round one was hard to cop, but it was their diabolical 61-point defeat to St Kilda a fortnight ago that raised major alarm bells.

Fremantle lost the clearances 50-22 and inside-50m count 61-34 against the Saints in what was arguably the club's worst and most uncompetitive loss under Longmuir's reign.

The Dockers were much better in last week's 14-point loss to Collingwood, dominating the clearances 43-30 and inside 50s 62-34, with only their sub-standard mid-to-forward connection costing them victory.

Fremantle face GWS at Engie Stadium on Saturday, before taking on Port Adelaide (home) and Gold Coast (away) in what shapes as a season-defining period before their bye.

Longmuir is under the pump to produce results, and Ryan was quick to jump to the defence of Longmuir.

"It's pretty s***house what he's copping," Ryan said.

"We're all right behind him. The players respect him, the players love him. He's a really kind bloke.

"He's just a good human being and a good coach, and he's always got time for a chat and always reads the room well. So yeah, we're all behind him."

Ryan said Longmuir wasn't the one to blame for the team's hapless loss to St Kilda.

"If you had been in our team review (in the wake of that game), you would have known that wasn't the coaching, it was definitely the players," Ryan said.

"And that's the same again (for the Collingwood game). We had the plan, we've done the right things. We won the inside 50s by 30.

"So we're playing some good footy. We're just missing a few things, but it can turn pretty quickly."

The Giants (5-4) got their campaign back on track with a pulsating four-point win over Geelong last week.

Former Docker Jesse Hogan looms as the key man to stop for Fremantle.

The 30-year-old kicked seven goals against the Cats to bring his season tally to 25 from just six appearances, with Fremantle skipper Alex Pearce likely to match up on him.

Fremantle will be without Sean Darcy (knee), meaning Luke Jackson will handle the bulk of the ruck load.

GWS will be bolstered by the return of Toby Bedford (eye) and Darcy Jones (knee), but Jake Stringer will miss the next three to four weeks with a hamstring injury.