MATTHEW Pavlich says Fremantle's convincing win over the Sydney Swans on Saturday highlighted the character of a club that had been earlier distracted by Michael Johnson's drug charge.

Fremantle sits third to Geelong and Collingwood on percentage and in breaking a 14-year hoodoo at the SCG, showed it may indeed have what it takes to go deep into September for the first time since 2006's preliminary final.

Pavlich could not have been prouder of the resilience of his teammates after the scrutiny of a week that saw Johnson suspended by the club, fined $5000 and dropped from its leadership group.

"I think this win says a fair bit about the players and a fair bit about the club in general," he said.

"There was an issue at hand and it was a distraction early in the week but the guys stayed focused and got the job done.

"The entire club took it on board that it was about the game on the weekend. We had to move on immediately and it says a lot about the playing group that we got it done.

"I think it's a really great junction for the group to move on and get the four points. I think we can look at this point and say hopefully this is where the true Fremantle stood up and showed what we're about."

Pavlich also intimated that the players had discussed Johnson's issues and decided that they couldn't let their football be affected.

"To be honest, the guys have been great," he said. "We rallied around each other and really galvanised as a group and focused at the task at hand.

"What we had to do was narrow our focus as quickly as possible ... and that was Sydney, and understanding how they want to play and for us to pick what was to be our way to victory."

Pavlich said it was too early in the season for Fremantle to consider its finals aspirations or how it compares to its 2006 side.

However, he acknowledged that it was a unique situation for the club, which has won seven of its nine games.

"It is a point where we haven't been to before but it's important to make sure all the guys stay level-headed and make sure all the things we've been doing ... we continue to do, because that is what has got us the winning formula so far," Pavlich said.

"There is no need to change too much, just make sure we keep focused on the job ahead.

"It was nice to come up here and win for the first time in 14 years so ... but the guys also understand how to win on the road and understand the process of getting the job done."

Fremantle laid 97 tackles against a Swans team renowned for its hardness and Pavlich said that pressure had been his side's strength all season.

Chris Tarrant was central to the defence, nullifying the influence of star Swan Adam Goodes.

"He (Tarrant) probably had a bit of a down week last week against Collingwood, but he's a professional and bounced back well this week," Pavlich said.