Fremantle defender Paul Duffield has praised the efforts of his younger teammates in a difficult season for the club.

Dockers coach Mark Harvey has given AFL debuts to seven players this season, with Hayden Ballantyne and Tim Ruffles earmarked as debutants eight and nine for the year.

Top draft picks Stephen Hill and Nic Suban have taken most of the plaudits among the Dockers' younger brigade, with Matt de Boer also making a name for himself in recent weeks.

But it was hard-working defender Greg Broughton who Duffield singled out for acclaim after the Subiaco product's performance opposed to Geelong forward Steve Johnson last weekend.

A three-time premiership player at WAFL level with the Lions, Broughton held his own against one of the national competition's star goal sneaks.

While Johnson had 23 disposals and kicked three goals, Broughton won 29 disposals himself and limited Johnson's impact.

Duffield said the key now for his 22-year-old teammate was to play consistently at that level.

"He was fantastic on the weekend, he did a great job," Duffield said.

"Steve Johnson is one of the premier forward's of the competition and not only did (Broughton) win his fair share of contests with him, which is tough in itself, he actually did gather the ball as well.

"It's a great stepping stone for him considering the footy he's played so far and I think the key thing now if he gets another good forward this week is to do another good job."

Despite injuries to key players Ryan Crowley, Michael Johnson, Roger Hayden and Rhys Palmer, among others, Duffield feels the Dockers have been more competitive than their 3-9 record suggests and believes another win is just around the corner.

"We certainly feel like we've been very competitive, it is a bit frustrating," Duffield said.

"We've been right in games and it's probably a sign of where we're at with our youth and our game plan, but we certainly see that we've been right in the hunt to win a few more of these games.

"It's just that little bit of class and that little bit of polish that we need to make better of circumstances and better of moments in the game.

"I'm sure with a bit more time and a bit more experience we'll start to capitalise on those and hopefully we can win a couple towards the end of the year."

Despite a strong showing in the 19-point loss to the Cats, Fremantle's task gets no easier this week with a trip to the MCG to take on a Collingwood side on the rise.

The Pies have won their past four games and will fancy their chances against a Dockers outfit yet to grace the MCG turf this season.

PERTH SHAYNE HOPE