Brownlow Medallist unloads on 'selfish' Dockers and 'uninspiring' coach as star recruit 'read the riot act'

Brad Hardie has unloaded on Fremantle, labelling the group "selfish" and coach Justin Longmuir "uninspiring", following the club's 10-goal loss to St Kilda on Friday night.

The Dockers only managed 33 points in perfect conditions under the roof at Marvel Stadium, and continued a trend of poor performances away from home this season, which includes a loss to Melbourne and a belting from Geelong.

The Brownlow Medallist has not missed in his top-to-bottom assessment of the club, suggesting the coach isn't up to it and even calling out star recruit Shai Bolton's performance so far this season.

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"Justin (Longmuir's) been there six years now. They've only made the finals once. They thought they had all the pieces, they told us they had all the pieces of the puzzle, they've gone and got Shai Bolton this year, it hasn't worked out," Hardie told 3AW.

"In fact, a couple of times I think (Bolton) has been called in and read the riot act on just how to conduct himself, particularly when you're on big money and are a leader of a club.

"Fremantle has a lot of issues and I get sick of the talk ... Justin on three occasions this year has said (the team) has been a little bit soft and even on Friday said 'we weren't up for the contest'. Seriously? You've been beaten by 10 goals.

"He's a lovely man. He's a great assistant coach, some people are better suited to that. From my point of view, he's very unimpressive.

"That was a putrid and pitiful performance on Friday night."

The Dockers gave up picks 10, 11 and 18 to secure Bolton and pick 14 in last year's trade period. Since his move, the 26-year-old is averaging 16.9 disposals and 3.3 marks per game, to go with eight total goals.

Hardie spread the blame further than Longmuir and Bolton however, calling out the entire team for seemingly caring more about individual accolades than results.

"Unfortunately, they've got selfish players. They're not really a great team. They're a selfish group of very good players who look after themselves. Who are more interested in getting data and stats than moving the ball and keeping it in play," the prominent Perth media figure said.

"Now, we've seen them do that sometimes in the past and it looks fantastic, but they don't do it often enough. When the pressure comes on, they go back to the old ways. Short, sideways, backwards. Luke Ryan kicks to Jordan Clark. Back to Luke Ryan. Short to Caleb Serong.

"You wouldn't want to be playing forward there, I assure you."

Freo were one of the pre-season darlings, with many predicting they could leap from outside the top eight to inside the top four.

They boast two star ruckmen, two emerging young key forwards, a trio of A-grade midfielders, a backline filled with individual accolades and Bolton as the cherry on top.

Hardie feels the Dockers have talked a big game, but have struggled to back it up.

"They (hype themselves) up enough themselves. The 'Flagmantle' title and 'we've got all the pieces', very matter of fact," he said.

"The new chairman (Chris Sutherland) gets up and says 'stop talking, start doing'. (CEO Simon Garlick) is a great operator, but a few years ago he promised two premierships - one AFLW, one men's before 2025, well they haven't got the ladies' yet and they're as far away in the men's as they have been in the last 10 years."

Fremantle won't have a heap of time to reassess as they host Collingwood at Optus Stadium on Thursday night, before their next big road test the following week, facing GWS at ENGIE Stadium.