Midfield Coach Dale Tapping said the Lions’ fourth quarter against Fremantle was a learning opportunity for the side, as they start to become a more successful and competitive team in the AFL.

The Lions led Sunday’s match against the Dockers for 92 minutes of a possible 115 minutes but ultimately lost the match after Michael Walters kicked a behind after the siren.

“The fact that we’re improving as a team and continuing to grow … we’re finding ourselves in a lot more bigger games and tighter games,” Tapping told lions.com.au.

“So we’re going to be faced with situations in games that we need to better understand.

“There were some things in the last quarter that we need to continue to do well under pressure.

“We didn’t have to provide any tricks, we just had to be very consistent with how we play.”

Two players who were brilliant for the Lions on Sunday afternoon were Harris Andrews and Captain Dayne Zorko.

Andrews is only three weeks back from a hamstring injury but managed to keep Fremantle forward Jesse Hogan goalless.

He also took nine intercept marks for the match, which is the highest for any player across the competition.

“He just reads it really well,” Tapping said.

“He saves us a bit.

“He plays the game beyond his years so it’s a credit to him.”

Zorko, who has not missed a match this year, is in blistering form. He leads four stats categories including goal assists, pressure acts, tackles inside 50 and inside 50s. He also sits second for tackles.

Tapping said this sort of form is normal from Zorko as he has always been highly admired at the Lions for his work on field.

“For me it’s always been there,” he said.

“I think now, it probably ties in with us winning more games, so people start to take notice.”

Despite the heartbreaking loss to Fremantle, Tapping said the mood has been positive since the team returned from Perth on Monday night.

“Going by today’s light session the energy was up and there was a few laughs,” he said.