Former Essendon star Matthew Lloyd is worried about Fremantle Dockers following loss to Brisbane Lions

Triple Coleman medallist Matthew Lloyd has questioned Fremantle’s ability to handle the pressure of big games following Friday night’s loss to Brisbane and turned up the heat on under performing players ahead of Sunday’s season deciding showdown against the Western Bulldogs.

The Dockers had their chance to secure their spot in the top eight on Friday but were no match for the Lions, losing by 57 points.

Fremantle are now staring down the barrel of potentially missing finals despite being inside the top four at the business end of the season for the second year in a row.

Even coach Justin Longmuir admitted he felt the players didn’t handle the occasion against Brisbane and Lloyd said there were too many alarm bells surrounding the Dockers.

“You don’t want to hear that where he’s second guessing. Where are we at? Why didn’t we go after them? Why weren’t we nasty? Why weren’t we hungry?” Lloyd told The Sunday Footy Show.

“Why were we missing these shots? Did the pressure get to us when trying to secure a finals berth, just like last year? I’d have to say it did.

“I think Brisbane are a wonderful team. When Brisbane lose the week before, they come out and make a real statement. What they did to Collingwood at the MCG and what they did in this game - they are the best big game side.

“There was no Lachie Neale and they smashed them in the midfield. There’s a lot of Fremantle players I still question, so I cannot wait to see how they play against the Western Bulldogs.”

The Bulldogs have a phenomenal record at Marvel Stadium, repeatedly thrashing teams under the roof. they beat Fremantle by 67 points at that venue last season, kicking 23 goals along the way.

The Dockers also lost to St Kilda by 61 points in their only visit to Marvel stadium this year.

But Fremantle beat the Dogs in perth earlier this year and will enter the game having not lost successive games since May.

“They’ve performed well across the last 10 weeks which has been enormous from them,” former Adelaide captain Rory Sloane said.

“But there’s no tougher task than the Doggies at Marvel. They move the ball so quickly. They’re so clean in there. So their pressure is going to have to lift. Don’t get beaten by what you know. The Dogs’ hands are elite. they’re going to have to pressure them.”