The visitors had lost their last eight encounters against the Bombers at the venue, but this Freo Dockers side didn’t care much for past results.
The youngsters from the West withstood a first-half barrage from an inaccurate Essendon to go into half-time only four points down.
Sparked by livewire forward Hayden Ballantyne, who booted three team-lifting goals, and led in the midfield by mature-age recruit Michael Barlow, Fremantle made its move late in the third quarter and overpowered the Bombers to win running away.
The final margin was 44 points, but it was soured somewhat by an ankle injury to star defender Chris Tarrant in the last minute of the game.
Barlow proved his explosive round 1 debut was no flash-in-the pan with a dominant midfield display.
He had 34 disposals, 12 of which were contested, four inside-50s and a goal.
Aaron Sandilands was his usual influential self with 22 disposals, eight marks and 39 hitouts, while Stephen Hill offered plenty of run and carry among his 19 possessions.
Fremantle went 2-0 and would go on to win six of its first seven games to start the 2010 season.
Fremantle - 17.11 (113) defeated Essendon - 9.15 (69)
Best: Barlow, Sandilands, Pavlich, Hill, Ballantyne
Multiple Goals: Ballantyne 3, Headland, Pavlich 2
Brownlow Medal: 3 - Sandilands, 2 - Barlow, 1 - Pavlich
