Justin Leppitsch has described the Lions' Round 12 loss as "embarrassing" and said there were 10 or 15 cringeworthy efforts.

After scores were level at quarter-time, Fremantle dismantled the team that sat alongside them on one win prior to the match.

Leppitsch said his team did not do the basics, alluded to the fact they played soft, said they did not fight and admitted he was playing players that probably didn't deserve a game.

"You get a couple of punches on the chin and that's it, game over. I can't explain that," he said.

"We go into our shells, and that's a terrible term to use, but you normally fight back don't you? We're just not.

"We have to fight back better when that happens."

He also took aim at the team's leadership, saying when things got hard, they had to perform better.

And just how do the Lions try and turn it around in time to play West Coast at the same venue in seven days time?

"I'm sick of repeating myself. We're two-and-a-half years into this build.

"I watched the Saints lose by 77 last week and my old mob, Richmond (where he was an assistant coach for six years), lost by a big margin last week.

"You're going to have these days and no-one likes it but we've got to make sure we review it well."

More on Lions.com.au

  Match Report: Round 12

  Reserves Report: Round 11

  How the night unfolded: v Fremantle