Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said last year’s defeat to St Kilda was a turning point for this current group as they now eye history against their former mentor Ross Lyon.

The Dockers, who have adopted the name Walyalup for Sir Doug Nicholls Round, will meet Euro-Yroke (St Kilda) under Friday night lights as they aim for a club record 10th straight win.

Early last year, a disastrous 61-point defeat to the Saints had the Dockers seemingly at a crossroads, with pressure mounting on the club and coach.

But since then, the Dockers have won 21 of the next 26 games with Longmuir proud of how the group have come together since that loss.

“I think a lot has changed, we were a little bit inconsistent at the start of last year due to some injuries,” he told 7NEWS.

“It was a bit of hardship when we were under that pressure, but I think it galvanised the group and we really learned a lot about how we play our best footy and what we stand for as a team.

“But we started getting a healthier team and playing a little bit more consistent football, I think clearly you learn from those types of experiences.

“I’m really proud of how the players bounced out of that and how consistent we’ve been as a team since then. There’s still a lot of work to do, but clearly we’re on the right path.”

They will have to achieve history without their captain Alex Pearce, the short five-day break from their Essendon win, making a return too risky.

“Unfortunately, he’s going to miss this week, given the short break, it’s just not worth the risk, but we’re hoping next week he’ll be right to go,” Longmuir said.

Longmuir was more hopeful for small forward Isaiah Dudley, who was crunched in a big hit against the Bombers.

“I thought he was gone at halftime, but he found big courage to be able to go out there in the second half and contribute. We’ve got a short break, but all signs are positive at the moment,” he said.

Midfielder Jaeger O’Meara could be back for the first time since round five, having recovered from multiple facial fractures after a freak training injury.

With Young still out with a concussion for another round, O’Meara could be in line for a recall should he get training on Wednesday.

“Jaeger completed a session over the weekend and is progressing really well. He will be back into main training tomorrow and will be a test to play,” performance director Adam Beard said.

Utility Corey Wagner is more likely for an instant recall after he picked up an abductor injury late last which saw him miss the MCG trip to face Essendon.

Longmuir also responded to Sydney superstar Chad Warner’s claims he was leaning towards a return to WA before re-signing with Sydney last year, saying the Dockers are always looking to improve their list.”

“I’m sure we’ll have that discussion when it comes about, but at the moment, he’s a contracted player at another club, so I’ll just let that one go to the list management committee,” he said.