FREMANTLE has overcomeinjuries to skipper Matthew Pavlich and clever forward Michael Walters tothrash Melbourne by 68 points at the MCG on Sunday.
The win put the undefeated Dockers one game clear on the top of the ladderafter five rounds.
The Dockers won 18.10 (118) to 6.14 (50) after using the ball far moreeffectively after half-time.
They kicked seven goals to none in the final quarter to dominate the Demons.
Walters'injury occurred before quarter-time when he accidently ran into Lynden Dunn ashe hunted the ball and then Pavlich clashed heads with Demons defenderColin Garland after marking just before half-time.
Melbourne also lost promising defender Christian Salem to concussion athalf-time after Dockers' forward Matt Taberner cannone
d into him just beforethe long break.
The Dockers' usual suspects dominated possession in the midfield, withNathan Fyfe (30 disposals), Michael Barlow (32), Lachie Neale (25) and DavidMundy (28) able overwhelm the Demons at stoppages.
Danyle Pearce was also impressive with two goals, 22 disposals and nineinside 50s.
The Dockers recorded 59 inside 50s to Melbourne's 39 but performed the basicskills much better after half-time to stretch the margin from 20 points to 68points.
Dockers' coach Ross Lyon said he was really pleasedwith the fast start and despite a few errors his team did the job he expected.
"[It was a] dominant midfield performance,plenty of opportunities and I thought all divisions played their part,"Lyon said.
"I felt weshould have been further ahead. I was a little bit frustrated. [In the] thirdquarter we had 16 entries and just slaughtered the ball a little bit and if youtake away a 50, free kick off the ball and a slip over, they're probably threeless goals."
Fyfe didn't do his reputation any harm with his usual bullocking, brilliantperformance although he spent significant time up forward.
He will still be in line for three Brownlow votes.
In Pavlich's absence, Chris Mayne stepped up with 12 tackles overall,kicking three goals (he finished with four) and taking four marks in the thirdquarter when he was most needed.
At the other end, the experienced Luke McPharlin defeated Jesse Hogancomprehensively and seemed to unsettle the young forward at times.
The Dockers' early dominance around the stoppages upset Demons' coach PaulRoos, who gave his team a fearful burst at the first break.
The obvious conclusion was that he wasn't happy with the pressure beingapplied at the contest, and given the Demons had conceded the first four goalsof the game his displeasure was reasonable.
The Demons responded with an excellent second quarter, only losing the termby one point and breaking even in the clearances.
At times they moved the ball with dare and looked an improved side despitenot yet being in the Dockers' class.
However Roos was unimpressed with the effort of histeam.
"They were five(goals) up (at three quarter time) and we played poorly and then we playedworse in the last quarter," he said.
"Idon't think they had to play that well to beat us. We know they can play well.But you have to take your chances. You can't miss goals and you can't turn theball over against a good team."
In his 100th game Jack Watts struggled and finished with just sevendisposals.
More impressive was Angus Brayshaw, who had 16 disposals and kicked onegoals, and key defender Tom McDonald who battled against the odds all day.
Jeremy Howe also tried hard, taking two spectacular marks and making acontribution at both ends of the ground while Jeff Garlett kicked three goalsand looked dangerous at times.
MELBOURNE 2.2 5.4 6.8 6.14 (50)
FREMANTLE 5.3 8.6 11.8 18.10 (118)
GOALS
Melbourne: Garlett 3, Hogan, vandenBerg, Brayshaw
Fremantle: Mayne 4, D Pearce 2, Suban 2, Neale 2, Taberner 2, Mundy 2, Hill, de Boer, Fyfe, Sandilands,
BEST
Melbourne: Brayshaw, McDonald, Grimes, Garlett, Cross
Fremantle: Fyfe, Mayne, McPharlin, Neale, C Pearce, Mundy, Suban
INJURIES
Melbourne: Salem (suspected concussion)
Fremantle: Walters (concussion), Pavlich (concussion)
SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Jordie McKenzie replaced Christian Salem (concussion) in the third quarter
Fremantle: Matt De Boer replaced Michael Walters (concussion) in the second quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: O'Gorman, Ryan, Pannell
Official crowd: 22,892 at the MCG
