The Demons kicked 22.17 (149) to 8.12 (60) to inflict Freo's 10th consecutive loss at the MCG. It hasn't won at the home of football since April, 2007.
It was also Melbourne's highest-ever winning margin against Fremantle, but some of the gloss of the win was lost when defender Colin Garland hobbled off in the third quarter with what looked to be an aggravation of the ankle injury that had kept him out for the past month.
The Demons burst out of the blocks with the first five goals of the game, but Fremantle hit back in the second quarter thanks largely to Michael Johnson who booted three goals.
However, that was Fremantle's only winning quarter as the Demons called the shots for much of the day.
They finished off the job with eight goals in the final term to be emphatic victors.
Fremantle conceded far too many turnovers that resulted in Melbourne goals, while the Demons showed much more aggression than they did in the previous week's loss to Collingwood.
The undersized Fremantle defence struggled to cope with the rotation of Stefan Martin and Max Gawn.
The big pair took turns in the ruck and in attack and both looked dangerous when they were in front of goal, including an unintentional drop kick goal from Martin in the third quarter.
Gawn's game highlight came in the third term when the 208cm ruckman chased down a running Fremantle player on the half-forward flank. The tackle resulted in a turnover, which ended with a goal to Jack Trengove.
The pair has benefitted from the opportunities that arose after Mark Jamar's knee injury and for the first time in a long time, the Demons look to have genuine depth in the ruck.
Tom Scully starred out of the middle for the Demons, gathering 26 touches including 11 contested. His influence cooled as the game progressed but he played a vital role in setting up the win.
Brad Green shook off a recent form lapse to be his team's most dominant forward. He finished with five goals and 19 possessions.
Jack Watts played one of the best games of his career, booting a career-high three goals. He kicked majors in the opening minutes of the second, third and fourth quarters.
Jordie McKenzie played a blinder in the midfield on Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich. McKenzie had 28 touches and kept Pavlich to just 17.
Melbourne 6.5 10.7 14.12 22.17 (149)
Fremantle 1.4 6.6 7.10 8.12 (60)
GOALS
Melbourne: Green 5, Martin 3, Watts 3, Howe 2, Jurrah 2, Frawley, Gawn, Nicholson, Petterd, Sylvia, Trengove, Jones
Fremantle: Johnson 3, Mayne 2, Pavlich, Pearce, McPharlin
BEST
Melbourne: Martin, Green, McKenzie, Watts, Scully, Howe
Fremantle: Fyfe, Barlow, Mzungu, Johnson, McPharlin
Injuries
Melbourne: Garland (leg)
Fremantle: Grover (leg), Crowley (back)
Substitutes
Melbourne: Colin Garland replaced by Jamie Bennell at three-quarter time
Fremantle: Antoni Grover replaced by Ben Bucovaz in the second quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Kennedy, Leppard, Wenn
Crowd: 19,092
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
