He has played only 13 AFL games but already Fremantle are missing first-year midfielder Michael Barlow.

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said his side lacked poise and skill in the centre of the ground in Saturday night's defeat to Richmond at Etihad Stadium, which left the Dockers with some work to do if they are to earn the double chance.

Harvey said skill turnovers and bad decisions cost his side dearly in the 15.10 (100) to 11.15 (81) defeat, in which Barlow was a notable absentee.

Barlow had been a revelation in the midfield after starting as a mature-age rookie this year, until he badly broke his leg in round 14.

"We were just looking for a bit of polish and poise and we didn't have that ... we couldn't control the game enough to be able to assert ourselves," Harvey said.

"We were tending not to find a player who was unpressured and turning it into a pressured situation - that's (poor) decision making." Fremantle play five finals aspirants in their last seven games, but Harvey took heart from the Dockers' consistency this season as an important attribute in the run-home.

"I think we've come a long way as a team and we haven't been beaten by big margins so, that's a reasonable trait to have," he said.

Fremantle expect some big names to be available for next Sunday's home game against Melbourne.

Harvey said defenders Chris Tarrant, Luke McPharlin and Antoni Grover have recovered from their injuries and would be considered, along with midfielders Des Headland and Nathan Fyfe.

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