Fremantle coach Chris Connolly believes the growing chemistry between forward spearheads Chris Tarrant and Matthew Pavlich will ignite the Dockers despite their stuttering start to the AFL season.

Now winless in two matches - the latest a 10-point loss to Essendon at Telstra Dome on Sunday - Fremantle's afternoon did at least offer a tantalising glimpse into the possibilities of the Tarrant-Pavlich double-act up forward.

The pair kicked four goals each, and dragged the Dockers back into a match they looked out of until the third quarter.

Both gave opponents Mal Michael and Dustin Fletcher, two of the league's best backmen, a torrid time and combined freakishly for Pavlich's memorable fourth goal in the third term.

Pavlich bicycle-kicked a ball back into play off the boundary line, Tarrant gathered the ball at ground level, then squeezed out a handball while at full stretch to Pavlich running back into play.

The skipper then hooked the ball through for a brilliant goal, just one example of a growing understanding which, if it continues, will cause problems for rivals all year.

Connolly said Tarrant - criticised last year for his lack of output at Collingwood before crossing to the Dockers in trade week moves which also netted ex-Bomber and best mate Dean Solomon - was still a month away from reaching his peak.

And Connolly praised Tarrant's workrate as a significant contributor to freeing up Pavlich for a productive year, though the ex-Magpie is still recovering from off-season surgery.

"The one thing that impressed us about Chris Tarrant was his selflessness to assist his teammates, and if you go into work with Matthew Pavlich with that value as a starting point, then you have great chemistry," Connolly said.

"We don't think he'll (Tarrant) be at his best until about round six with his fitness, and they'll just get stronger and stronger.

"(Tarrant) and Dean Solomon give us different avenues to goal, and that's important, particularly for Matthew Pavlich.

"Now at least they can share the load."

Solomon's return to Melbourne to play former club Essendon was a mixed bag, though he played solidly and kicked a goal in a losing side.

He was also reported in the third quarter for striking Essendon's Angus Monfries, but the innocuous incident looks likely to be thrown out by the match review panel on Tuesday.

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