The back slapping has been easy to avoid but Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has urged his players not to cover themselves in social media praise as the race for an AFL finals berth heats up.
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The Dockers' four-point win over Richmond on Sunday thrust them into eighth spot but GWS, Essendon, Carlton, St Kilda and the Tigers are all within striking distance.
It's the first time Fremantle (9-10) have been in the top eight this late in a season since they won the minor premiership in 2015.
The Dockers' finals hopes are in their own hands and they'll be aiming to consolidate their spot when they host faltering Brisbane at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Fremantle are due to tackle West Coast and St Kilda in the final two rounds of the home-and-away season.
Dockers players, coaches, and staff members are still in quarantine after their recent trip to Queensland.
Although having to quarantine is not ideal, it's at least allowed Fremantle players to avoid the growing hype around them from their adoring public.
However, social media has proven to be trickier to avoid.
"It's pretty easy (to avoid the person-to-person hype), we're in quarantine at the moment, so we don't come into contact with anyone in the outside world," Longmuir said.
"So I'm not getting pats on the back too much at home. That's the only place I would get it at the moment.
"It's a balance of how much social media players consume, how much of the news players consume.
"They're the distractions we need to monitor and we need to deal with.
"When you win and you get pats on the back, you can't consume all that.
"When you lose and you're getting knocked on social media and in the media, you can't consume all that.
"As a player and as a footy club you've got to remain really balanced and not ride the highs and the lows."
The Lions (12-7) have lost three of their past four matches to slip to sixth spot.
Fremantle will be boosted by the return of key defender Alex Pearce (concussion), but are missing Nat Fyfe, Michael Walters, and Rory Lobb.
However, key back Brennan Cox, who suffered what was initially thought to be a season-ending hamstring injury in the round 12 loss to the Western Bulldogs, could return in the final round of the regular campaign.
"It's very realistic," Longmuir said.
"He's been ahead of the curve since he got into rehabbing that injury, and once we get out of quarantine next week he'll be back into full training."
Australian Associated Press
